Petrochemicals
US chemicals outlook bolstered by expansion of shale gas market – PwC
Further downstream, specialty chemical entities are starting to feel the effects of natural gas and NGL prices on their business models. As the commercial distribution of ethane and ethane-based raw materials increases, it could trigger new innovations and investment in new technologies.
PPG to acquire US industrial coatings firm Spraylat
Privately-owned Spraylat holds a strong position in industrial markets such as automotive parts, architectural powder coatings, transportation, and general industrial niches, including mirror, electronic device, metal office furniture and storage, and sign coatings, according to PPG officials.
CB&I licenses technology to China coal group for new polypropylene project
The new plant will use the Novolen advanced gas-phase polymerization technology for the production of the full scope of polypropylene homopolymers, random copolymers and impact copolymers. The 200,000 tpy polypropylene project is expected to start up operations in 2014.
Petronas, LanzaTech agree to develop acetic acid from waste gases
In this collaboration, the two firms say they will work together to extend the technology to include carbon dioxide (CO2) containing gases from several sources, including refinery off gases and natural gas wells, to produce acetic acid. Investment terms were not disclosed.
Foster Wheeler to build packaging center for Saudi chemical complex of Sadara
The packaging center, expected to be completed in the second half of 2014, will serve as a logistics handling hub. The facility will handle packaging, storage and loading of chemical products and performance plastics for road and rail transport within Saudi Arabia and for export to overseas markets.
Clariant to expand production of dehydrogenation catalysts at Kentucky plant
The expanded production is planned to start up in September 2013. The catalysts are used in the petrochemical sector to produce C3- and C4-olefins from light paraffins (including butadiene) using the CATOFIN and CATADIENE technologies, exclusively licensed through CB&I.
Lanxess picks Foster Wheeler for engineering on Singapore polybutadiene project
The new facility, which LANXESS says is expected to be the largest of its kind in the world, will be designed to produce 140,000 tpy of Nd-PBR and will include process and finishing buildings, a central control room, a substation and a tank farm. Financial terms were not disclosed by the companies.
Dow Chemical agrees to market, sell products from Saudi Sadara venture
Products covered under the new agreement include polyethylene (PE), propylene oxide, polyether polyols, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) aromatic isocyanates, propylene glycol, butyl glycol ethers, amines and polyolefin elastomers.
OxyChem picks CB&I for engineering on proposed Texas ethane cracker
The scope of work for CB&I includes the basic engineering for the ethylene technology and five SRT (short residence time) cracking heaters from CB&I's Lummus Technology business unit. Feedstock for the proposed cracker is anticipated to be ethane derived from domestic shale gas.
Innospec makes takeover bid for US petrochemical company TPC Group
The TPC Group board of directors said it determined in good faith, after consultation with independent legal and financial advisors, that this offer could lead to a superior proposal. As such, the board said it will carefully consider and evaluate the non-binding proposal from Innospec in coming weeks.
- 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
- HAMR Energy receives additional funding for low-carbon liquid fuels projects 2/16
- Suffocating Western pressure may finally force Russian oil output cuts 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
