Borealis and Borouge are undertaking a 100,000-metric-ton cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) expansion at the Borouge 4 facility in Ruwais, UAE, that remains on schedule for completion by end-2025. Additionally, the company has completed a major upgrade of its semiconductive (semicon) compounding assets in Antwerp, Belgium, to meet a surge in demand for compounds for high-end cable applications.
May 26, 2025
Borealis and Borouge are significantly expanding their global capacity for cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) and semiconductive (semicon) compounds, supporting its customers to deliver the power cables essential to distribution and transmission grids.
In the Middle East, a 100,000-metric-ton capacity expansion at the XLPE 2 unit at the Borouge 4 facility in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, is on track for completion by the end of 2025. As co-investment between Borealis and ADNOC, the project will produce XLPE compounds using Borealis’ proprietary technology to meet rising demand across Asia and the Middle East.
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Additionally, in Europe, a key milestone has been reached with the completion of a major upgrade to semicon compounding assets in Antwerp, Belgium that also covers Borealis’ XLPE operations in Stenungsund, Sweden. Alongside increased capacity, Borealis is enhancing its quality assurance processes to further eliminate risks and better serve these sensitive applications—so customers can execute critical projects with confidence.
By the end of 2027, the two companies will have doubled their ability to serve the demanding cable applications, including innovative solutions for 220 kV subsea, extra-high voltage alternating current (EHVAC), and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems. Within five years, they will have increased XLPE and semicon production capacity at a rate twice as fast as the projected growth in global demand for power cables.
This expansion program is a direct expression of Borealis and Borouge’s ‘Building for the Future’ commitment. By 2040, solar and wind are expected to account for more than half of global electrical capacity, with offshore wind playing a major role. This shift is essential to decarbonizing electricity generation and achieving long-term sustainability in the global energy system.
HVDC technology will be essential to transmitting this energy efficiently over longer distances—especially as the increasing size of turbines pushes developments farther offshore into deeper waters. With global demand for HVDC cables expected to exceed 50,000 km by 2030, there is a pressing need to scale up the availability of high-performance cable systems. Borealis is helping to meet this need by providing customers with the advanced polyolefins used in the insulation and semiconductive layers of power cables that form the backbone of these grids. Progress is already underway on two major asset investment projects.
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Craig Arnold, Borealis Executive Vice President Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Base Chemicals, said, “These capacity expansions are a concrete demonstration of our in action. They enhance our capacity to deliver advanced materials—at scale and in the right locations—so we can stay ahead of our customers’ evolving needs.”
Together, these investments build on more than EUR 1 billion investment in wire and cable assets over the past two decades. Borealis and Borouge have more than 60 years of experience in the energy sector, and have produced materials for over 350,000 km of high-voltage (above 100 kV) cables—enough to circle the globe nearly nine times. This track record makes them reliable long-term partners, offering peace of mind to customers navigating the complexities of major energy infrastructure projects.
