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Asia/Pacific

China's CNOOC to buy Canadian oil sands firm Opti

Chinese oil giant CNOOC has agreed to acquire Canadian oil sands producer Opti Canada for about $2.1 billion. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Dow Chemical, Mitsui form biopolymers JV in Brazil

US-based Dow Chemical and Japan-based Mitsui & Co. have formed a new joint venture aimed at providing sustainable product solutions to the global high-performance flexible packaging, hygiene and medical markets. This represents the world’s largest biopolymers play and is Dow’s largest investment in Brazil, a country in which Dow has operated successfully for more than 50 years, officials said.

High electronics demand prompts Air Products to build Korea nitrogen plant, expand pipeline

Air Products will raise production of gaseous nitrogen and expand its nitrogen pipeline in the Gumi National Industrial Complex in Korea’s North Gyeongsang Province to serve increasing demand from electronics customers, the US-based industrial gases firm said on Monday.

CB&I to work on LNG trains at Chevron Australia Gorgon project

Chevron Australia has awarded CB&I a contract for the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation work on the Gorgon project on Barrow Island, Western Australia. The contract has an estimated value of $2.3 billion and is scheduled to be completed in 2015.

ConocoPhillips to spin off downstream business

ConocoPhillips’ board of directors has approved the separation of the company’s Refining & Marketing and Exploration & Production businesses into two stand-alone, publicly traded corporations via a tax-free spin of the refining and marketing business to shareholders.

BASF picks Fluor as engineering partner for Asia, Europe chemicals projects

Germany-based BASF has chosen Fluor as an engineering partner for chemicals and petrochemicals projects across Asia and Europe, the companies announced on Thursday. The partnering agreements will cover capital investment projects with separate service orders throughout Asia and Europe.

Foster Wheeler to design steam generators for Korea ‘green’ power project

Foster Wheeler has been given notice to proceed by Hyundai Engineering and Construction for the design and supply of four 550 MWe (gross megawatt electric) supercritical circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) steam generators for the Samcheok green power project from owner Korea Southern Power Co. (KOSPO).

Kobe Steel boosts compressor production in China

Kobe Steel has increased production capacity at its compressor plant in Shanghai, China, with a new manufacturing line starting commercial operations. Approximately 74 million yuan (600 million yen) was invested in the expansion.

Technip awarded engineering contract from Solvay to study China greenfield chem plant

Solvay awarded Technip with an engineering services contract to study construction of a greenfield chemical plant in Taixing, Jiangsu Province, China.

Floating LNG group eyes new Timor Sea project near Australia coast

The engineering division of Linde Group and project partner SBM Offshore have signed an agreement with PTT FLNG Ltd. and PTTEP Australasia to develop a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility in the Timor Sea off the coast of northern Australia.