Petrochemicals
Fujian picks KBC software for China petrochemical, refining optimization project
Under this multi-million dollar contract, KBC will provide a 5-year Petro-SIM and ProSteam software license, build a refinery and petrochemical integrated flowsheet model, online utility optimiser and complex-wide LP model, and will train company personnel on software model building and applications.
WR Grace acquires China catalysts firm Noblestar
WR Grace officially acquired Noblestar Catalysts, a Qingdao, China-based manufacturer of FCC catalysts, catalyst intermediates and related refining industry products. Grace said it expects to make additional investments at the site for environmental, safety and manufacturing upgrades.
Sinopec plans Hong Kong IPO for new downstream engineering business
Beijing-based Sinopec Engineering Co., which was set up in September with a registered capital of 3.1 billion yuan ($500 million), is hoping that a Hong Kong listeing could raise its profile in the international market, as it strives to secure more overseas engineering and construction projects, a source said.
US monthly chemicals output nudges higher – ACC
Chemical production rose in all regions except the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and West Coast, which declined. Within the manufacturing sector, output in several key chemistry end-use markets increased, the ACC noted, including appliances, aerospace and structural panels.
Sabic CEO sees technology, innovation as keys for Middle East petchems
The Sabic chief executive said that the global petrochemicals industry has worked hard to recover from the slump of late 2008 and early 2009. The Gulf petrochemical industry has also shown impressive strength and remarkable resilience, he added, noting that it remains in its infancy.
PTT to study petrochemical, refining proposals in Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar
Indonesia and Myanmar show potential, the company's CEO said. Meanwhile, a $28.7 billion, 660,000-bpd refinery and petrochemical complex at the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone in coastal Binh Dinh province is the subject of a completed feasibility study submitted to the Vietnamese government for approval.
Lanxess awards EPC work to Foster Wheeler for China synthetic rubber project
The new facility will be designed to produce 160,000 tpy of EPDM rubber. The plant is expected to start up in 2015. Germany-based specialty chemicals firm LANXESS says the new plant, which it describes as the largest EPDM rubber facility in the world, is its largest investment in China to date.
AFPM files petition for 2013 biodiesel volumes
The rule increased the volume of biomass-based diesel from 1 billion to 1.28 billion gallons.
November US chemical activity barometer slides half a percent
The November CAB showed a sharp, 0.5% drop over the previous month. The abrupt decline follows four consecutive monthly gains.
INEOS licenses polypropylene process for Shenhua project in China
INEOS Technologies has licensed a process for the manufacture of homopolymers, random copolymers and impact copolymers to China Shenhua Coal to Chemical Xinjiang Coal Chemical Co. The plant will produce a wide range of PP products to serve the growing market in China.
- BASF supports European 1,4‑butanediol supply security through increased production in Ludwigshafen 2/16
- Vitol backs proposed $3-billion LNG power plant for South Africa's Durban port 2/16
- SkyNRG starts construction on its first SAF plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands 2/13
- India's Reliance wins U.S. license for Venezuelan oil 2/13
- Singapore light distillates stocks hit over 3-yr high on robust imports 2/13
- Three contractors injured at ExxonMobil facility in Beaumont, Texas (U.S.) 2/13

