Rafnes Site and Porsgrunn Site, Norway

INEOS Norge AS
Rafnes
N-3966 Stathelle
Norway
Telephone: + 47 35 00 60 00

Introduction

INEOS ChlorVinyls operates two production sites in the Grenland region of Telemark, in the south of Norway.

Our PVC plant is located on the Herøya Industrial Park in Porsgrunn, whilst our chlorine/VCM plants are located on Rafnes Industrial Site in Bamble.  The two plants are situated on either side of the Frier Fjord, connected by a 3,500 meter pipeline tunnel.  The PVC plant has produced PVC since 1951, whereas the production of chlorine and VCM started in 1978.

INEOS ChlorVinyls is the only PVC producer in Norway.  The Company employs around 300 people in the region.

Processes

Our production in Norway is split between the manufacture of chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and PVC resin.  The chlorine/VCM plant supplies VCM for local PVC production, and also supplies VCM for our PVC manufacturing operation at Newton Aycliffe in the UK.  The PVC plant converts VCM into S-PVC and P-PVC resin.

Products

Rafnes:

	Chlorine
	Caustic soda liquor
	Anhydrous caustic soda
	Ethylene dichloride
	Vinyl chloride monomer

Porsgrunn:

	Emulsion PVC (EVIPOL™)
	Suspension PVC (EVIPOL™)

History of Porsgrunn Site and Rafnes Site

1950s - Production of 1kte P-PVC started at Herøya in 1951, followed by production of PVC compound and S-PVC.

1960s - A new VCM plant based on EDC was built. PVC production increased to 55ktes per annum.

1970s - Domestic VCM production was stopped and had to be imported.  The new petrochemical complex was built at Rafnes, being the largest industrial project in Norway at the time.

1980s - Investment in new PVC packaging facilities and modernised Paste PVC production unit.  Output of VCM increased at Rafnes Site

1990s - S-PVC production increases to 80ktes per annum.  PVC compound production ceases.  Further increase in VCM production to 450ktes per annum.

2000s - The decision is taken to merge the chlorine and VCM plants into a combined operation.  Investment in a new drying facility, and S-PVC production increased to 125ktes per annum.  A new P-PVC packaging unit is opened and P-PVC production capacity stands at 25ktes per annum.  Investment in a new PMMA plant for the production of monodisperse polymer particles.

2007 - INEOS acquires the Hydro Polymers businesses in the UK, Norway and Sweden from Norsk Hydro.  The operations at Porsgrunn Site and Rafnes Site become the responsibility of INEOS ChlorVinyls.

How to find Rafnes Site and Porsgrunn Site