The cogeneration unit will be built on the Lanxess site in Zwijndrecht, construction work is set to start in mid-2007 and the commissioning is scheduled approximately a year later.
The new cogeneration unit will have an electrical capacity of 55 MW and a thermal capacity of 40 MW to 85 MW. Around half of the generated electricity is intended for Lanxess Rubber. Electrabel will supply the remaining capacity to its other customers.
This new unit, which has an efficiency rating of around 89%, will lead to a saving of around 400 GWh of natural gas per year, the company says.