Braskem and The Linde Group Select Bilfinger Westcon as Lead Mechanical Subcontractor for Delta, to be the Largest Polypropylene Production Line in the Americas

LA PORTE, Texas and PHILADELPHIA, May 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Braskem (B3: BRKM3, BRKM5 and BRKM6; NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK), the largest thermoplastic polyolefins producer in the Americas and the worldwide leader in biopolymers, and The Linde Group (Linde AG - Frankfurt Stock Exchange: LIN and LINU), the lead engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for Braskem's new world-scale North American polypropylene (PP) production line, today announced that Bilfinger Westcon Inc. has been selected as the lead mechanical subcontractor.

Braskem has committed up to $675 million towards the design and construction of the new PP production line named Delta which is being constructed next to Braskem's existing production facilities in La Porte, Texas. With the initial steel erection phase now underway, the final phase of main construction remains on track and targeted for the first quarter of 2020.  The new plant will have a production capacity of 450 kilotons (kt), or the equivalent of approximately 1 billion pounds, per year.

Mark Nikolich, Braskem North America Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Today we are pleased to announce another significant step forward in the development of Delta, which is set to be the largest polypropylene production line in the Americas. With the recent milestone delivery of the reactors to the Delta site, Braskem and The Linde Group, as our lead EPC contractor have appointed Bilfinger Westcon, a leading construction service provider to the chemical and specialty chemicals industries, as our lead mechanical subcontractor. This appointment keeps us on track for our original Delta project timeline and further supports our leadership position as the largest producer of polypropylene in the Americas." 

Dr. Christian Bruch, Member of the Executive Board of The Linde Group and responsible for the company's engineering business, said, "We are glad to see that construction of Braskem's major Delta polypropylene project in La Porte is proceeding very well. With Bilfinger Westcon, Braskem and Linde have chosen a mechanical subcontractor with whom we have worked together successfully on the construction of several industrial plant projects."

As the lead mechanical subcontractor on the Delta project Bilfinger Westcon will be responsible for the installation of structural steel, piping, and industrial process equipment through the completion of the facility construction. The new Delta line will represent additional production capacity of homopolymers, random copolymers, impact copolymers, and reactor TPOs, building upon Braskem's current polypropylene production plant in La Porte which has a production capacity of 354 kt annually and will continue operations. Braskem also maintains a UTEC Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) production plant located at the same La Porte site.

The construction of Braskem's new Delta production line is expected to positively impact economic activity in the La Porte region, employing approximately 1,000 development and construction workers to fully construct the facility. The Delta production line design is being developed directly in-line with Braskem's commitment to sustainability and attention to eco-indicators such as emissions, water, and energy efficiency, as well as recycling and waste reduction.

For additional information on Braskem's new Delta production line announcement and progress, please visit www.braskem.com.br/usa/delta.

Braskem is hosting a client and partner pavilion at NPE2018, the world's leading plastics trade show and conference, from May 7-11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida and is offering attendees a virtual reality tour of new Delta PP production line. Visit us in the South Hall at booth S22001 to meet with the Braskem team.

ABOUT THE LINDE GROUP

In the 2017 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of EUR 17.113 bn, making it one of the leading gases and engineering companies in the world, with approximately 58,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business, with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development. For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com

ABOUT BILFINGER WESTON

Founded in 1981, Bilfinger Westcon is a diversified industrial construction company that provides a comprehensive range of construction services to large industrial processing facilities throughout the United States. The company specializes in large-scale construction solutions for a diverse mix of clients. The industrial markets served include oil and gas, refining, chemical, agriculture and food processing, power, biofuels, renewables, mining/minerals, and specialty services. To learn more please visit online at www.westconindustries.com.

ABOUT BRASKEM

With a human-oriented global vision of the future, Braskem strives every day to improve people's lives by creating sustainable solutions with chemicals and plastics. Braskem is the largest producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas and the leading producer of biopolymers in the world, creating more environmental-friendly, intelligent and sustainable solutions through chemicals and plastics. Braskem exports to clients in approximately 100 countries and operates 41 industrial units, which are located in Brazil, United States, Germany and Mexico, the latter in partnership with the Mexican company Idesa. For more information, visit www.braskem.com.

Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Braskem S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading producer of polypropylene in the United States, with six production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, an Innovation and Technology Center in Pittsburgh, and a new operation in Boston focused on leveraging groundbreaking developments in biotechnology and advanced materials. For more information, visit www.braskem.com.br/usa.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains projections and other forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) regarding future events. These statements reflect Braskem's current beliefs and expectations with respect to Braskem's business, the economy and other future conditions and are based on assumptions, subject to risk and uncertainties, and are subject to change at any time. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation: (i) the contraction or lack of growth in the market segments in which Braskem competes and in which Braskem products are sold, (ii) inability to anticipate future market trends and the future needs of Braskem's customers, (iii) the impact of natural disasters on Braskem's suppliers and (iv) other factors detailed in documents Braskem files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

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SOURCE Braskem