Rhenish Olefin Works

Rheinische Olefinwerke GmbH was the name of the first German company exclusively engaged in petrochemistry, located in Wesseling near Cologne. It is now an operating site of LyondellBasell.

After lengthy contract negotiations, the cooperation agreement between Shell and BASF was finalized in September 1952. The establishment of ROW took place on August 27, 1953, as part of a joint venture by BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, and Deutsche Shell AG, Hamburg, which contributed a share capital of 16 million DM and an equal amount in shareholder loans. The joint venture represented a complementary addition of know-how from both partners, as Shell was able to ensure the raw material supply for the plant from its refineries, while BASF contributed its experience in the production and application of plastics. The purpose of the company was the production of ethylene and further processing into polyethylene, which was marketed under the trade name "Lupolen." During the construction period, the partners agreed on an initial capacity of 10,000 tons, after it was determined that there would be no negative impacts on BASF's Styrofoam business.

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