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Asia/Pacific

IEA aims to halve road transport fuel use by 2050

In two reports published Wednesday, the IEA said there was massive potential for fuel efficiency improvements to reduce demand for transport fuels by 2050, even if the number of road vehicles doubles in the same period. The reports highlight technology available or about to enter the mainstream market.

Canada looks to Asian markets amid LNG glut in US

A decade-long boom in US production of natural gas drove prices to a record low of $1.91 per million British thermal units in April, and has created more energy independence for the US, which is virtually Canada's only energy export market. Thus, Canada has set its sights on energy-hungry Asian markets.

PolyOne expands polymer innovation centers in US, China, South Korea

PolyOne says its investment to upgrade the centers will further serve the needs of customers interested in collaborating to solve product and performance challenges, while accelerating their speed to market.

Fluor forms Philippines joint venture with modular engineering group AG&P

The new entity will provide a full range of integrated engineering, fabrication, module assembly and construction services to Fluor’s clients. AG&P, established in the Philippines in 1900, fabricates modules for refineries, power plants, offshore platforms and mining processing and refining operations.

IEA sees high refinery activity boosting fuel supply

The Paris-based energy watchdog, which represents major oil-consumer nations, expects refiners to process around 75.7 million bpd of crude in the third and fourth quarters, 1.3 million bpdmore than in the last quarter of 2011. Behind the output rise is unexpectedly high production in developed economies.

UOP licenses production technology to isobutylene, butane project in China

The new units, expected to start up in 2014, will produce 180,000 tpy of isobutylene and 150,000 tpy of normal butane at a facility in Heilongjiang Province, China. This will be the first facility in China to dedicate a process unit for isobutylene production using Honeywell’s UOP C4 Oleflex process.

Air Products acquires Guizhou China gas liquefier

Liquid product will be sold predominantly to the region's industries on the merchant market, with some also being sold to Guizhou Kaiyang Chemical. The Air Products-owned ASU and liquefier are to be onstream in October 2012. Investment terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Tyco signs global agreement with Shell to provide pressure relief valves

The five-year agreement covers Crosby and Anderson Greenwood direct acting and pilot-operated pressure relief valves, line block relief valves and supporting services for all of Shell's global operations. During 2011, Tyco was also selected by Shell to provide butterfly valves in a similar arrangement.

SK Energy, Kuwait agree to build Indonesia refinery, petrochemical complex

The refinery will have a capacity to produce between 200,000 and 300,000 bpd of Kuwaiti crude oil and will be located inside the petrochemical complex, which will be built in Balongan, West Java, according to KUNA.

CB&I commissions delayed coking unit on Essar Oil Vadinar expansion in India

The Vadinar refinery increased its capacity to 20 million tpy or 405,000 bpd, up from 10.5 million tpy and 200,000 bpd previously. The expansion allows Vadinar to process a much greater proportion of lower cost, heavy and ultra-heavy crude oils. Vadinar is the second largest, single-location refinery in India.