Petrochemicals
UOP lands technology deal on integrated propylene, isobutylene plant in China
The UOP C3 and C4 Oleflex processes have been selected to produce propylene and isobutylene at a new China project from Shandong Chambroad Petrochemicals. UOP will provide engineering design, technology licensing, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, staff training and technical service.
Methanex inks offtake deal with OCI for restarted Texas methanol plant
Canada-based Methanex has entered into a long-term offtake agreement with Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) for a significant portion of the production from the OCI methanol plant in Beaumont, Texas. OCI has said the Beaumont plant will produce 750,000 tpy of methanol.
Conoco refining spinoff Phillips 66 to join S&P 500
Phillips 66, the refining company splitting from ConocoPhillips, will replace Supervalu in Standard & Poor's 500-stock index at the end of the month. The index includes 500 leading large-cap US companies. Once complete, Phillips 66 plans to expand its chemical and midstream operations.
Mitsubishi, Notore form joint venture for ammonia, urea complex in Nigeria
Notore Chemical Industries has signed a joint venture agreement with Japan-based Mitsubishi to develop an ammonia, urea and other petrochemicals plant at its existing facility at Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria. The new plant, built on a brownfield site, is expected to come on-stream in 2016.
US monthly chemical output continues to rise - ACC
The US Chemical Production Regional Index (CPRI) rose by 0.1% in March from February, according to the ACC trade group, following a revised 1.0% gain in the prior month. Some of the largest gains were in man-made fibers, adhesives, industrial gases, inorganic chemicals, and pesticides.
Braskem-Idesa picks GE compressor technology in Mexico ethylene, PE venture
The Veracruz ethylene and polyethylene (PE) complex in Mexico, a joint venture between Brazil’s Braskem and Mexico’s Grupo Idesa, will use hyper compressor and booster compressor technologies from GE. The GE technologies will be key elements of the low-density polyethylene (LPDE) plant.
CNPC to supply natural gas feedstock to Chongqing petrochemical project
CNPC has signed an agreement with the Chongqing government to supply natural gas to be used as feedstock at petrochemical project in the southwest China municipality. The deal was announced during a meeting between CNPC Chairman Jiang Jiemin and Chongqing's new party leader, Zhang Dejiang.
Dow to build world-scale ethylene plant by 2017 at Freeport complex
The new Texas cracker is part of a plan to further connect US operations with low-cost feedstocks available from increasing US shale gas supply, says CEO Andrew Liveris.
HB Fuller to close six adhesives sites in US, Canada
HB Fuller will close six manufacturing facilities and eliminate approximately 130 positions across its North America adhesives business segment as part of its integration of the recently-acquired industrial adhesives business of Forbo Group. The closures will occur by mid-2013, the company says.
Ford looks to expand natural gas powered autos, may clash with US chems
The head of Ford says the auto industry is focused on expanding the use of engines powered by compressed natural gas, creating a potential clash with the US chemical sector. Any major use of compressed natural gas in passenger cars could wipe out the cost advantage enjoyed by US chemical firms.
- 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
- 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
