BASF FINA Petrochemicals to shut down for maintenance, plant improvements
Planned turnaround to begin March 24, will last for six to eight weeks

PORT ARTHUR, Texas, March 22, 2006 -- BASF FINA Petrochemicals Limited Partnership will be shutting down its naphtha steam cracker beginning March 24 to complete maintenance and make plant improvements. This activity, called a “turnaround,” will last about six to eight weeks. The company expects to have the site back to normal operations by mid May.

“We have been preparing for this turnaround for quite some time. Our focus is on implementing new measures to enhance the reliability of our operations, and, as a result, reduce the potential for flaring in the future,” said Mike McAtee, General Manager for the BASF FINA Petrochemicals site. “This will also help our site’s productivity and long-term strength as an employer here in Jefferson County.”

Manufacturing facilities such as chemical sites and refineries complete turnarounds from time to time to clean vessels, complete maintenance and inspect equipment, and make performance modifications.

Preliminary construction has been completed on a tower shell and other equipment across Highway 366 from the BASF FINA site. The tower, which stands about 70 feet tall and 35 feet in diameter, will be moved to the site for installation.

Approximately 500 contractors will be at BASF FINA during this time. Additional traffic control has been coordinated with local police to ease traffic congestion that might occur on the highways surrounding the site.

McAtee said that during turnarounds, it is essential that excess gas be removed from the steam cracker’s system. Flaring is a safe and environmentally sound way of removing this excess gas. BASF FINA utilizes a state-of-the-art ground flare that includes the most current emissions control technology and destroys 98 to 99 percent of all emissions.

While shutting down the plants and preparing equipment for maintenance, the BASF FINA site will be flaring for about three days. Flaring will also occur for approximately seven days during the re-start process that is expected to begin in May.

“We anticipate there may be noise coming from the site during flaring,” said McAtee. “We strive to be a good neighbor in this community and minimize flaring as much as possible. Our goal is to ensure our neighbors are not inconvenienced at any time, but especially during this important site-wide project.”

Area residents are encouraged to call BASF FINA’s Community Communication Line at (409) 960-5299 if they have questions about the company’s operations.

Construction of the $1 billion BASF FINA Petrochemicals steam cracker began in 1998 and production commenced in 2001. Approximately 3,500 people were employed in its construction, and the site currently employs about 220 people on a full-time basis.

BASF FINA Petrochemicals LP is a joint venture between BASF Corporation and Total Petrochemicals USA Inc. The Port Arthur facility operates the largest steam cracker of its type in the world, turning naphtha and light hydrocarbons into ethylene, propylene, and other chemical raw materials. The products from the cracker are in turn used to manufacture hundreds of consumer products.

BASF is also a part of Sabina Petrochemicals LLC in Port Arthur, a joint venture with Shell Chemical LP and Total Petrochemicals USA.

For more information, contact:
Mark Viator
BASF FINA Petrochemicals
Tel: (409) 960-5201
E-mail: viatorm@basf.com

Maureen Paukert
BASF Corporation
Tel: (973) 245-6077
E-mail: paukerm@basf.com