Europe
European process safety guru says 'macho culture' creates more accidents
Trevor Kletz, one of the world’s most revered experts on process safety, has cited industry’s ‘macho culture’ as one of the main causes of recent accidents. Kletz, who spent almost forty years at ICI before forging a second career as an author on process safety and loss prevention, says that while there has been no deliberate decision to spend less on safety, many senior managers have taken their eye off the ball and that a macho approach to ‘get stuck in’ has been the underlying cause of recent incidents.
EuroChem buys Belgium fertilizer assets of BASF
BASF has signed a contract with Moscow-based EuroChem to sell its fertilizer activities in Antwerp, Belgium. BASF also plans to sell its 50% share of the PEC-Rhin joint venture in Ottmarsheim, France, to EuroChem, it said. The total transaction value is expected to be approximately €700 million.
LyondellBasell to close 105,000 bpd France refinery
LyondellBasell will shut down operations at its 105,000 bpd refinery in Berre, France, after failing to find a buyer for the facility. As a result, refinery operator Compagnie Petrochimique de Berre (CPB) will soon begin work on a project to cease refinery operations, the company said.
Huntsman may close Swiss textile chemicals plant
Huntsman said that its textile effects (TE) division plans to implement a significant restructuring, including the possible closure of its production facilities and business support offices in Basel, Switzerland. The planned restructuring and the possible closures could affect approximately 600 positions in Basel, with potentially 500 job losses and 100 positions moving to other sites across the organization, to build capability closer to customers.
Celanese opens German engineered polymer plant
US-based specialty chemicals firm Celanese has opened its polyoxymethylene (POM) production facility in Frankfurt Hoechst Industrial Park in Germany. With a nameplate capacity of 140,000 tpy, Celanese’s new POM plant will be the world’s largest and strengthens the company’s Ticona engineering polymers business, including its global operations and advanced technical capabilities, the company said.
Netherlands opens first LNG terminal in Rotterdam
The Netherlands on Friday opened its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Maasvlakte near Rotterdam, proceeding with plans to become a regional gas distribution hub.
Oiltanking, PERN sign JV for Poland liquids terminal
Oiltanking and petroleum logistics firm PERN have signed a joint venture to jointly develop and construct a terminal for the storage and handling of bulk liquids in the Port of Gdansk, Poland. The terminal will potentially be able to store and handle crude oil, refined oil and petrochemical products.
Strategic buyers lead chemical M&A revival - report
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the global chemicals industry surged following the recession, driven by interest from strategic buyers in the specialty chemical sector, according to a report issued Wednesday from Fitch Ratings.
Neste Oil starts Rotterdam renewable diesel plant
Neste Oil has successfully started up Europe's largest renewable diesel plant in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the company said on Tuesday. Production of NExBTL renewable diesel at the new plant will be ramped up on a phased basis.
FMC Technologies to supply subsea equipment in North Sea
FMC Technologies has been awarded a contract by BG Group for the manufacture and supply of subsea production equipment to support the Knarr oil and gas field.
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- HAMR Energy receives additional funding for low-carbon liquid fuels projects 2/16
- NASCAR names POET official bioethanol partner: Becomes first major motorsports series to utilize zero-carbon bioethanol 2/16
- ExxonMobil starts third advanced plastics recycling unit at Baytown complex 2/16
- Geoinform, subsidiary of the MOL Group, signs strategic cooperation agreement with Baker Hughes 2/16
