Asia/Pacific
Sinopec, Huntsman agree to build propylene oxide, MTBE plant in Nanjing
Huntsman will own 49% of the joint venture, and Sinopec will own 51%. The facility will produce 550 mm lbs/year of PO and 1.6 billion lbs/year of MTBE at a capital cost of $750 million. It will be completed by the end of 2014 and it will utilize Huntsman's proprietary PO/MTBE manufacturing technology.
Sudan reaches agreement with China's CNPC to revamp Khartoum refinery
A deal to revamp the 100,000 bpd Khartoum refinery was reached over the weekend during talks between Sudanese Petroleum Minister Awad Ahmed Al Jaz and CNPC vice president Wang Dongjin. The refinery is a joint venture between the Sudanese government and CNPC.
Galata Chemicals opens India technical center for plastics additives R&D
The technical center offers a full range of analytical and testing capabilities in support of product and application development efforts as well as marketing and technical service for the area customers, according to Dr. Peter Frenkel, global director of technology and innovation for Galata Chemicals.
Reliance picks Foster Wheeler for engineering on India paraxylene expansion
Foster Wheeler’s scope includes detailed engineering, licensor coordination and procurement services for the new paraxylene plant. The project will be executed from the company's Indian and UK operations.
UOP licenses MTO technology to China's Shandong for coal-to-olefins project
China's Shandong Yangmei Hengtong Chemicals Co. Ltd. will use Honeywell UOP's advanced MTO process to convert methanol from gasified coal into ethylene and propylene, building block materials used in the production of films, packaging, plastics and other petrochemicals.
Shell to set up global technology hub in Bangalore
The company said the Bangalore site will become operational by around the middle of the decade and will have up to 1,500 technology specialists. It will provide technology services to exploration, production, refinery, chemical and other businesses, according to a company statement.
GDF Suez taps KBR to design Australia FLNG vessel
This award is one of two contracts being let by GDF Suez as part of an initial concept definition design competition for the vessel. The concept definition work is already underway in KBR’s London operations center in Leatherhead, and is expected to last up to 12 months, according to the company.
Vietnam strikes deal to build second oil refinery
Plans to build Vietnam's second oil refinery, which comes with a price tag of between $8 billion and $10 billion, has been hampered for years due to financing issues between the Vietnamese government and the two main partners, Japan's Idemitsu Kosan and Kuwait Petroleum.
India's Gulf Oil to buy specialty chemicals company Houghton International
The acquisition will allow Gulf Oil, part of the diversified Hinduja Group, to expand its lubricants and chemicals business. Indian companies have been increasingly looking overseas for acquisitions because red tape, corruption and land acquisition issues often hurt plans to expand at home.
PTT mulls building new China petrochemical plant
A feasibility study will be completed by the end of the year. Incorporated in late 2011 through a merger of PTT Chemical PCL and PTT Aromatics and Refining PCL, PTT Global Chemical has petrochemical capacity of 8.2 million tpy of olefins and aromatics and refining capacity of 280,000 bpd.
- 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
