Petrochemicals
ADM to end US bioplastics alliance with Metabolix
US-based bioscience firm Metabolix announced Thursday that Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has given a termination notice for its role in the companies’ Telles joint venture for PHA bioplastics. ADM said projected financial returns from the alliance were too uncertain.
BASF, Sinopec complete second phase of Nanjing petrochemical venture
German chemical company BASF said Tuesday it completed the $1.4 billion second phase of its petrochemical joint venture in Nanjing, BASF-YPC Co., with Sinopec. The second phase included expansions of existing plants and construction of new facilities.
UOP lands phenol technology deal in South Korea
Honeywell’s UOP has been selected by South Korea’s Kumho P&B Chemicals to provide technology to produce key petrochemicals for the manufacture of plastics. The new units, expected to start up in 2013-2014, will produce 900,000 metric tons of cumene and 300,000 metric tons of phenol annually.
AkzoNobel acquires China surfactants firm Boxing
AkzoNobel has completed its acquisition of China’s leading specialty surfactant producer, Boxing Oleochemicals. Based in the province of Shandong, Boxing had revenues of approximately €100 million in 2010.
Technip wins design deal on BP China PTA venture
Technip was awarded a services contract by BP Zhuhai Chemical Co., a joint venture of BP and Zhuhai Port Co., for the front-end design of a new world-scale purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant at their site in Guangdong Province, China.
LyondellBasell to shut two polypropylene lines in Germany
LyondellBasell will shut down two polypropylene (PP) lines in Wesseling, Germany, by mid-2012, seeking to reduce costs and maintain its competitive position.
KBR awarded construction deal on ExxonMobil lube base stock plant in Texas
KBR said Thursday it was awarded a construction contract for ExxonMobil’s new synthetics lubricant base stock facility to be built at ExxonMobil’s refinery and chemical plant complex in Baytown, Texas. The award came from Technip USA, the prime contractor responsible for EPC on the project.
PPG closes deal for European coatings group Dyrup
PPG Industries has completed its purchase of Denmark-based coatings company Dyrup A/S from its owner, public holding company Monberg & Thorsen. Dyrup, a European producer of architectural coatings and specialty products, had 2010 sales of approximately €190 million ($270 million).
Dow Chemical picks UOP for propylene production technology at Texas project
Honeywell’s UOP has been selected by Dow Chemical to provide technology to produce propylene at a Dow production site in Texas, the companies said on Thursday. The facility, scheduled to start up in 2015, will produce 750,000 metric tpy of polymer-grade propylene.
Jacobs wins engineering deal on new soda ash unit in Saudi Arabia
Jacobs has been awarded a contract from IDEA Soda Ash and Calcium Chloride Co. (ISACC) for engineering and project management on a $300 million soda ash and calcium chloride plant at Jubail's Second Industrial City. Commercial operations are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2015.
- 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
