Asia/Pacific
KBR, Yokogawa form ammonia technology alliance
Company officials say the fertilizer automation package will couple KBR’s ammonia process technology expertise with Yokogawa’s know-how of process control systems to streamline the work process, develop standard configurations and simplify interfaces between various suppliers.
Shell looks to sell Geelong refinery in Australia
The number of refineries in Australia has dwindled in recent years as vast new processing facilities have sprung up in India, Singapore and elsewhere in the region, producing products such as gasoline, jet fuel and motor oil more cheaply. Geelong is now Shell's only oil refinery in Australia.
US chemical group aligns with Indian oil industry to improve process safety
This communication may lead to joint meetings and conferences and peer review of each other’s publications. Leaders of both organizations say such cooperation is critical to incorporating process safety into companies’ management systems to prevent the recurrence of existing and former problems.
China to overtake US as largest oil importer
OPEC, whose members supply more than one in three barrels of crude consumed worldwide, said rising Chinese imports were backed by increased throughput at the country's refineries. The group quoted recent analysis saying China's oil imports could top 6 million bbl this year.
LyondellBasell licenses technologies to new China polyethylene, EVA plant
Key features of the Lupotech T tubular technology and the Lupotech A autoclave technology include low manufacturing and investment costs, fast start-up and grade changes, and high quality LDPE and copolymers with up to 40% EVA covering the entire range of melt flows and densities.
WR Grace buys Australian waterproofing company Chemind Construction
Chemind adds new waterproofing technology to Grace’s global construction products portfolio and establishes its first waterproofing R&D and manufacturing facility in Australia. The new site will make waterproofing materials for repair, maintenance and improvement markets and for new construction.
UOP technology picked at Brunei aromatics project
Aromatics products derived at the facility will help meet growing demand for plastics and synthetic fibers in the region, according to the company. The project, to be located in Pulau Muara Besar, Brunei Darussalam, is expected to be one of the largest aromatics complexes in the world.
ExxonMobil, BHP explain floating LNG export plans from offshore Australia
Exxon and partner BHP Billiton want to anchor a vessel extending 495 meters -- the equivalent of around five football pitches -- at sea to tap into the remote Scarborough natural gas field offshore Western Australia. They're seeking government approval and targeting first production as early as 2020.
Shale energy resources driving resurgence for ethylene industry
The abundant supply of North American shale energy resources is proving to be not only a boon for exploration and production (E&P) companies and energy consumers, but it is also changing the profitabi..
North American olefin producers riding the shale gas wave
With the prospect of abundant low-cost ethane, several producers have announced intentions to build new ethylene capacity.

- IHI, Vopak to launch ammonia terminal project in Japan 7/11
- India's BPCL plans to shut Bina refinery unit for 15-day maintenance in August 7/11
- Soaring electric truck sales deal new blow to diesel use in China 7/11
- Russia`s Tatneft launches new hydrocracking unit on TANECO refinery 7/11
- IEA: Global oil market may be tighter than it looks 7/11
- India must boost its petchem output to counter China's dominance, Reliance says 7/11