Borealis announces EUR 370 million investment for the wire and cable market

• Borealis invests EUR 370 million in its wire and cable business
• New 350,000 t/y low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plant
• Modernisation and streamlining of compounding
• Shutdown of old 230,000 t/y high-cost polyethylene capacity

Borealis, a leading provider of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, will invest EUR 370 million in Stenungsund, Sweden, , enhancing its capability to provide advanced materials for the growing wire and cable market, as well as for the Nordic packaging market.

The project, due for completion at the end of 2009, includes a new 350,000 t/y high-pressure LDPE plant, modernisation and streamlining of compounding, and related material handling facilities. 230,000 t/y of old, high-cost polyethylene capacity will be shutdown.

This significant investment builds upon the cross-linkable polyethylene (XLPE) capacity coming on stream during the second half of this year. It also reinforces Borealis’ commitment to the wire and cable industry and the development of infrastructure systems that ensure safe and reliable electricity supplies to consumers and industries.

“With well-known brands such as Supercure® and Visico®, Borealis is already an established provider of high value added materials for wire and cable infrastructure applications,” says Borealis Polyolefins Executive Vice President David Rolph. “Investment is essential for value creation in this business. We are building on our leadership and experience in the wire and cable, and advanced packaging markets, to provide advantages for the entire value chain.”

“This investment will also enable us to maximise the flexible feedstock-olefin-polyolefin integration at Stenungsund and, by improving our overall asset competitiveness, ensure long-term, profitable growth for the site,” adds Borealis Scandinavia General Manager Roy Vardheim. The total polyethylene capacity at Stenungsund will increase from 580,000 t/y to 700,000 t/y, making it a leading world-scale facility for advanced infrastructure applications.

For further information, please contact:

Craig Halgreen
Group Communications Director, Borealis
+43 122 400 334
media@borealisgroup.com

Liesbeth Denys
Trade Media Relations Manager, Borealis
+32 1547 9024
lypresbo@borealisgroup.com