Petrochemicals
How leading refineries achieve operational excellence
Although cost cutting provides short-term financial benefits, it does not improve anything operationally in a plant. The reality is that most companies have already pushed such programs to their practical limits. So, what is left? The alternative approach is improving performance through operational excellence. This article will unpack this approach with examples of how producers have benefitted from it.
Solidec raises oversubscribed $2-MM pre-seed round to reinvent chemical manufacturing
Solidec's breakthrough approach to chemical manufacturing replaces centralized infrastructure with modular, efficient onsite production using only air, water, and electricity.
China's Shandong Yulong Petrochemicals to invest > $16 B to incorporate petrochemicals production at Yantai refinery
China's Shandong Yulong Petrochemical plans to invest $117.86 billion yuan ($16.42 billion) to produce chemicals at its refinery complex in Yantai, according to a government notice detailing the provisional plan.
Johnson Matthey’s tech enables successful start-up of the world’s largest single-train methanol plant
Johnson Matthey announced that the three methanol production trains of Inner Mongolia Baofeng Coal-based New Materials Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group, were successfully commissioned in November 2024, February 2025 and March 2025, respectively.
India's top gas importer Petronet seeks loan to expand petchem plant
The company is building a petrochemical plant in India's western state of Gujarat at the cost of 206.85 B rupees.
New catalyst breakthrough could make clean ammonia easier to produce
A new study offers a more efficient, greener method for making ammonia using only nitrogen from the air and water, with help from electricity.
PetroChina makes FID for new northeast refinery complex
The new complex comprises a 200,000-bpd crude oil refinery, a 1.4-metric MMtpy ethylene complex as well as a variety of downstream petrochemical units such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polyolefin elastomer.
Orlen's Unipetrol will start commissioning ethylene unit after power outage experienced earlier in July
The company expects full resumption of operations in the petrochemical part of the complex and simultaneous increase of production in the refinery section to standard levels by the beginning of next week.
Dow forecasts sales below estimates, slashes dividend as downturn takes a toll
Dow halved its dividend and forecast third-quarter revenue below analysts' expectations as the chemicals maker navigates a prolonged downturn in the industry, sending its shares down nearly 10% in premarket trading.
Indian caustic soda major TGV SRAAC selects thyssenkrupp nucera for new expansion contract
Indian caustic soda major TGV SRAAC Ltd. (formerly Sree Rayalaseema Alkalies and Allied Chemicals Ltd.), has commissioned thyssenkrupp nucera to expand its chlor-alkali plants in Kurnool in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
- Phillips 66 greenlights new gas plant and fractionator projects, advancing integrated wellhead-to-market strategy 5/18
- OXEA and Air Liquide renew syngas and hydrogen supply agreement for Oberhausen site 5/18
- BASF boosts refinery catalyst innovation with new R&D center in Attapulgus, Georgia (U.S.) 5/18
- Aster and Puraglobe sign MoU to bring world-leading re-refining technology to Asia 5/18
- U.S. oil refiners finally profit from biofuels due to mandates, high fuel prices 5/18
- China's April oil throughput hits lowest since August 2022, inventories rise 5/18

