A worldwide growth strategy
In order to ensure a long-term growth in a context of sustainable development, Total Petrochemicals is pursuing a strategy with four thrusts:
- become more competitive in mature markets
This means managing production assets more efficiently in so-called “mature” markets, such as Europe and the United States, concentrating on large integrated sites with direct access to sea ports. For example, one of Total Petrochemicals' aims is to improve energy efficiency in its plants by 2% per year over 10 years. Another is to ensure that by 2013, 40% of its world capacity can process raw feedstock other than naphtha.
- strengthen its presence in growth markets
In Asia, for example, Total Petrochemicals has manufacturing plants in China and Singapore. We have set up sales offices in the zone and have a long-standing partnership with Samsung in Korea.
- pursue projects involving privileged feedstock
This means large world-class sites (where possible integrated with an adjacent Group refinery), close to a high-growth market and having privileged access to feedstock (i.e. raw materials at preferential prices). The most recent examples here are the Qatofin project now completed in Qatar and our planned project at Arzew in Algeria.
- enhance know-how and technologies
Total Petrochemicals devotes significant investment to research and development. The most striking examples are the use of combined MTO (methanol-to-olefins) and OCP (olefins cracking) processes by the Feluy demonstration unit aimed at diversifying the raw materials, and the research on production of polymers derived from lactic acid. But the company are pursuing a number of other R&D programs aimed at further improvements in polymer performance. The aim here is to help customers develop innovative products and thus help them become more competitive in their own markets – for example by reducing their environmental impact either during conversion of polymers into end products or during the use of those end products.
Moreover, this thrust of our research is right in line with the Total Group’s recent launch of its Ecosolutions label, reserved for products and services with high-level environmental characteristics. Total Petrochemicals is playing a very active part in this program, which is based on international standards ISO 14020 and 14021.