Plastics Technology – Braskem Selected to Negotiate Federal Funding Award to Expand UHMWPE
November 12, 2024
Braskem has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to negotiate terms of a $50-million award under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will expand Braskem’s ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) production capabilities in La Porte, Texas, specifically targeting the lithium-ion battery separator (LIBS) market.
By driving innovation in Braskem’s Utec UHMWPE technology, this project would strengthen the lithium-ion battery value chain in the U.S. and is expected to generate more than 250 skilled jobs across engineering, procurement, construction and startup phases.