Tenenge will expand the Green Ethylene plant for Braskem

First plant in the world to produce polymers from a renewable source

Built between 2008 and 2010 by Tenenge for Braskem, the Green Ethylene plant located in the city of Triunfo (RS) will be expanded by the same construction company this year. The objective of the work is to add 30% to the current production capacity of 200 thousand tons/year, increasing it to 260 thousand tons/year, in order to meet the product high demand on a global level.

This was the first plant in the world to produce polymers from a renewable source. Green Ethylene is produced from ethanol extracted from sugar cane. The green polyethylene and the EVA, both developed from the sustainable raw material, are used for the production of bags, lids, footwear, and items for the automotive sector, and others. Renewable resins capture carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere, one of the elements responsible for the greenhouse effect.

The expansion of the plant is part of Braskem’s sustainable strategy, which has set the goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 15% by 2030 and becoming a carbon neutral company by 2050. The polymer made in the plant captures throughout its production chain 3.1 tons of carbon dioxide for each ton produced. It is estimated that since 2010, when it started being produced, green polyethylene has avoided the emission of 5.5 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

The construction work

According to Marcelo Hofke, Tenenge’s general director, this will be a challenging work as it will take place with the unit in full operation and there will only be a short stop for the interconnections of the new facilities. “We are very excited with this opportunity to work for such a qualified client as Braskem that shares with us sustainable concepts in its operation. As we performed the first stage works of this plant, we have all the necessary expertise in house to deliver the project required by the client, with the quality that an initiative like this demands,” he says. The detailed engineering project is in its final stage and Tenenge will be responsible for the construction, testing and pre-commissioning of the expanded stage.

The construction work will have a workforce of 600 people at its peak. 24 new mechanical equipment will be installed, 12 will be replaced, and another 10 existing pieces of equipment will be modified. New metallic structures will be assembled and dozens of tons of pipes dismantled to make room for the new ones.