Site

Shell Chemicals Park Moerdijk is one of Shell’s largest chemical production sites in Europe and is operated by Shell Nederland Chemie B.V. Located in North Brabant, the complex covers 325 hectares and employs around 1,300 people.

Main Activities and Products

• Base Chemical Production:
  Moerdijk produces large volumes of basic chemicals such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycols, styrene monomer, ethylbenzene, and propylene oxide. These are essential building blocks for plastics, synthetic rubbers, insulation, packaging, automotive parts, detergents, and many other everyday products.

• Naphtha Cracker:
  The site features a major naphtha cracker, which breaks down hydrocarbon feedstocks (naphtha, LPG, gas oil, hydrowax) into smaller molecules like ethylene and propylene. These are then processed further on-site or sent via pipeline to other Shell facilities, including Pernis.

• Chemical Recycling and Circularity:
  In 2024, Moerdijk started up a Market Development Upgrader (MDU) unit, enabling the site to process up to 50 kilotons per year of pyrolysis oil made from hard-to-recycle plastic waste. This oil is purified and used as feedstock for the cracker, supporting Shell’s shift toward circular plastics and reducing reliance on fossil feedstocks.

• Integration and Logistics:
  The site is highly integrated with Shell’s Pernis refinery and other European chemical plants, with a significant portion of raw materials and products transported via pipelines, ships, and rail.

• Sustainability Initiatives:
  Moerdijk is actively investing in decarbonization, including electrification, hydrogen, and carbon capture projects, as part of Shell’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions and more sustainable chemical production.