November 26, 2008

Alexandra Boy
Corporate Press
Tel.:	+49 201 177-3167
Fax:	+49 201 177-3030
alexandra.boy@evonik.com

Evonik to Triple Its Isobutene Capacity with New Production Facility in Antwerp

At its large site in Antwerp, Belgium, Evonik Industries plans to build a new production facility for manufacturing isobutene by splitting MTBE. The facility, with a projected annual output of 110,000 metric tons, is scheduled to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2010. The investment, in the high two-digit million-euro range, will triple Evonik’s isobutene capacity and will solidify the company’s position as one of Europe’s leading providers.

“We plan to keep improving the efficiency of our C4-based integrated production system. The additional isobutene capacity will significantly enhance our flexibility in controlling the product streams, while the alternative applications of isobutene decrease our dependency on fluctuations in the fuel market,” said Dr. Alfred Oberholz, member of Evonik’s Executive Board.

The new isobutene plant is part of an integrated C4 production facility in Antwerp that manufactures high-value source materials and intermediates from the C4 cuts obtained by processing petroleum. In the future, Evonik plans to provide its customers with ultrapure isobutene, as an indispensable raw material for their further growth, from the Antwerp plant.

Isobutene is used in the production of rubber for the tire industry as well as in manufacturing processes for plastics, antioxidants, and fine chemicals. Additionally, isobutene is the source material of polyisobutene, which is a precursor material for lubricant and fuel additives as well as adhesives and sealants.

Using its globally unique shared production systems in Marl and Antwerp, Evonik utilizes all components of the C4 cut to manufacture isobutene, butadiene, the anti-knock agents MTBE and ETBE, 1-butene, oxo alcohols, and plasticizers.  

Company information
Evonik Industries is the creative industrial group from Germany which operates in three business areas: Chemicals, Energy and Real Estate. Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals, an expert in power generation from hard coal and renewable energies, and one of the largest private residential real estate companies in Germany. Our strengths are creativity, specialization, continuous self-renewal, and reliability. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In its fiscal year 2007 about 43,000 employees generated sales of about €14.4 billion and an operating profit (EBITDA) of more than €2.2 billion. 

Disclaimer
In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.