Petrochemicals
Shell to expand Louisiana alpha olefins complex
Construction of the new unit will begin in the first quarter of 2016. The new capacity brings the total alpha olefins (AO) production at Shell’s Geismar site to more than 1.3 MMtpy.
LyondellBasell to buy polypropylene compounding business of India’s Zylog
Upon completion of the acquisition, LyondellBasell will double its automotive customer base in India and become the third largest producer of polypropylene (PP) compounds in the country.
Gas, NGL feedstock supply to remain robust for US chemical producers: Fitch
Despite a drop in oil prices, supply is expected to remain robust. Natural gas and NGL prices are expected to get some demand uplift from rebased manufacturing capacity, chemical cracker expansions, and coal power plant retirements, but this will not offset productivity gains in shale.
Natgasoline picks Yokogawa control systems for big Texas methanol project
Currently under construction in Beaumont, Texas, this facility will have a capacity of 1.75 MMtpy when it starts production in 2017, making it one of the world’s largest methanol plants.
BP to market sale of Decatur petrochemicals complex in Alabama
BP says its refocused petrochemicals strategy is to pursue a competitively-advantaged portfolio through world-scale, low-cost facilities that utilize BP's proprietary technology.
Chemours sells Texas aniline site to Dow Chemical
Chemours announced Thursday that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its aniline facility in Beaumont, Texas, to Dow Chemical for approximately $140 million in cash.
Sasol seeks more workers in Louisiana for $8.9B ethane cracker project
Sasol says there are job opportunities available in both the operational and construction phases of the project. Of the more than 500 full-time, Sasol positions to operate the new ethane cracker and derivative units, Sasol has hired more than 200 thus far.
Low oil jeopardizes Middle East chemical projects
The recent cancellation of the Al Sajeel and Al Karaana projects in the Middle East, consultant Sanjay Sharma said, are examples of how the oil price slowdown is already impacting specific investments in the region. He expects producers are going to be fairly cautious going forward with new investments.
Indian Oil plans $500MM expansion of Panipat naphtha cracker by 2019
The expansion would increase capacity of the Panipat cracker in northern India from about 850,000 tpy to 1.2 MMtpy by 2019. It would cost about half-a-billion dollars, a company official said.
Enterprise nears US ethane exports at new plant
The export terminal, which is on schedule to commence operations in the third quarter of 2016, will have the capability to load fully refrigerated ethane at rates up to 10,000 bbl/hour.
- TotalEnergies extends its fuel price cap policy in France until the end of April 4/7
- Navigating the montan wax challenge with renewable alternatives for polymers 4/7
- AFR selects Axens as technology provider for Texas (U.S.) refinery 4/7
- Iran has attacked Saudi Arabia's Jubail petrochemical complex, IRGC says 4/7
- Iran's Marvdasht Petrochemical complex attacked by US and Israel 4/7
- Fluor awarded engineering and design contract for America First Refining's refinery in South Texas 4/7
