Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak officiated at the groundbreaking of an integrated aroma ingredients complex, set up in Gebeng, Kuantan, by BASF and Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad via their joint venture company BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn Bhd.
The complex, to be built within the existing site in Gebeng, which is jointly owned by BASF SE and Petronas Chemicals Group, will house a facility to produce citral and its precursors as well as associated downstream plants to manufacture citronellol and L-menthol. Also present at the ceremony were Pahang Menteri Besar, Dato‘ Sri Diraja Haji Adnan Haji Yaakob; Dr Martin Brudermüller; vice chairman of the board of executive directors of BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific, and chairman of PCG who is also Petronas chief operating officer and executive vice president of downstream business, Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin.
In his speech, Dato’ Sri Najib said: “This project will benefit local people in Pahang through training and employment opportunities at all levels, as well as through a positive economic impact and enhanced expertise in the sustainable operation of large scale projects like this one.” Dr Martin Brudermüller said: “Our investment in the integrated aroma ingredients complex in Kuantan is a perfect example of how we are implementing our long-term strategy in Asia Pacific: we are collaborating with our longstanding trusted partner, Petronas; we are introducing an innovative production technology for the first time into Asia Pacific, and we are trying to achieve local production of 75% of the products we sell in Asia Pacific.”
