magazine for business and investment - Innovatives Niedersachsen

Image: Dow
“A key success factor
for the chemicals industry
in Niedersachsen
is its central role in an
integrated value chain.”
Renate Klingenberg, Deputy Managing Director VCI Nord
and Managing Director of ChemCoast e.V.
At the Bomlitz site in the Industrial Park Walsrode, Dow
Wolff Cellulosics manufactures products which make
everyday life easier from the renewable, natural raw
material of cellulose.
covers an area of about 500 hectares making it one of the
biggest industrial parks in Germany. Lingen has established
itself as a training location with the university, the professional
academy, the vocational training schools and the fulltime
vocational chemical college.”
Ineos is one of the largest worldwide chemical companies
with 60 production sites and 15,000 employees across
13 countries. The chemicals industry in Wilhelmshaven
specialises in PVC production. Ineos ChlorVinyls is Europe’s
leading PVC manufacturer, one of the largest chlorine
manufacturers in Europe and a worldwide leader in chlorine
derivatives. In Wilhelmshaven it operates the two production
sites in Voslapp and in Rüstersiel. Dr. Peter Prinz, Managing
Director of Ineos ChlorVinyls explains, “Our inventory includes
a chlorine plant with a production capacity of 137,000
tonnes of chlorine and 300,000 tonnes of sodium hydroxide
per year, a VCM plant with a production capacity of
400,000 tonnes, a PVC plant with an annual capacity of
380,000 tonnes, supply systems for the provision of energy
and operating resources as well as a harbour dock for
the import and export of raw materials, intermediate and
finished products.”
In Wilhelmshaven are also located the most important
and biggest crude oil import facilities of Germany. The
hub for handling, storage and transportation of crude oil
is Nord-West Oelleitung GmbH (NWO). In 2011 about 17.5
million tonnes of oil were handled by NWO and transported
by pipeline to the connected refineries in the Emsland (Lingen)
and to refineries in the Rhine- and Ruhr-Region as well as to
the refinery in Hamburg. Crude oil and its further processing
in refineries supplies the chemicals industry with the most
important raw materials. The total crude volume handled by
NWO makes up approximately one fifth of all German crude
oil imports. The provenience of most of the oil is Russia (7.5
million tonnes), however countries like the United Kingdom,
Norway and Nigeria are also important suppliers. Other comparable
plants and facilities in Europe are located in Trieste,
Rotterdam and Marseilles. According to Dr.-Ing Jörg Niegsch,
managing director of NWO, “This excellent location is very
beneficial and convenient for marine transportation. The ability
for ships to dock even with a draught of 18 metres makes
Wilhelmshaven a first-class and unique location. The Jade-
Weser-Port will additionally offer new opportunities to interconnect
the coastal area as a region for chemical industry.
Through these modern ports the location of Niedersachsen
can offer an excellent gateway for connections to the international
seaway network. In conjunction with the advantage
of location there is considerable potential for growth of the
German chemicals industry. With “Chem Coast e.V.” a skilled
contact partner is available in Niedersachsen. In a nutshell:
The chemicals industry is well-placed in the North!”
CoastSite is responsible for the promotion, marketing
and development of the location of Wilhelmshaven for
chemicals and technology companies. According to Andreas
Leonhardt, Chairman of CoastSite Wilhelmshaven e.V.,
“Wilhelmshaven is an energy nerve centre, a site for cutting-edge
chemicals and maritime technologies. The chemicals
location of Wilhelmshaven sees the container terminal
and the goods transportation centre in the Jade-Weser-
Port and its geographic and logistical benefits as an outstanding
opportunity to consolidate the coastal area as a
chemicals region.”
With international groups such as Dow, Honeywell and
Ineos, the new Jade-Weser-Port deep water harbour and an
outstanding infrastructure, the chemical location of Niedersachsen
is in a very good international position. Gerrit Lieske,
Head of the Industrial Park Walsrode is looking to the future,
“Sustainability, protecting resources and customised solutions
focused on the needs of people will form the foundations of
our activities over the next few years. The industry must not
only convey to people that chemical products are essential
parts of our lives but also that through our research and our
solutions the chemical industry makes a considerable contribution
to overcoming challenges such as global warming,
nutrition or mobility.”