TotalEnergies plans Antwerp steam cracker closure by 2027, impacting 253 employees

TotalEnergies will permanently shut down its oldest steam cracker unit in Antwerp, Belgium, by the end of 2027, in response to a projected surplus of ethylene in Europe and the non-renewal of a key client contract. The closure is part of broader industry adjustments, as other chemical companies like ExxonMobil and LyondellBasell have also closed or repurposed units amid weak demand and high costs. Despite the shutdown affecting 253 employees, TotalEnergies has assured there will be no layoffs, offering retirement packages or internal transfers instead. The company will continue operating its newer Antwerp steam cracker, which supplies ethylene to its own facilities. CEO Patrick Pouyanne has signaled a strategic shift towards converting underperforming sites into biorefineries focused on renewable fuels, following similar transformations at other company locations. The Antwerp site is also being prepared to produce sustainable aviation fuels, utilizing green hydrogen from TotalEnergies' offshore wind farms by 2027.