The steam boilers currently used by LANXESS Rubber date back to the 1960s and would require expensive upgrades to bring them in line with future environmental standards. LANXESS Rubber carried out a study showing a cogeneration unit is the most efficient solution to meet its future needs.
Based on its experience, Electrabel was selected as partner to construct and operate the new power plant. It is also investing in three back-up boilers to guarantee the supply of steam.
The new cogeneration unit will have an electrical capacity of about 60 MW. Having an efficiency rating of around 89 %, it will lead to a saving of around 400 GWh of natural gas per year, corresponding to a fall in CO2 emissions of around 80 000 tonnes compared to the current situation.
Construction works started end 2007 and the commissioning is scheduled for January 2009 (back-up boilers) and May 2009 (cogeneration unit).
