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Petrochemicals

ExxonMobil, SABIC award contracts for elastomers project at Saudi petchem JV

Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) and affiliates of ExxonMobil Chemical said that front-end engineering design (FEED) contracts were awarded and that all components are in FEED phase for the proposed new elastomers project at their Al-Jubail Petrochemical Co. (KEMYA) joint venture petrochemical plant.

Orascom JV acquires idled ammonia-methanol plant in Texas, production to restart

Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) announced Monday that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Netherlands-based OCI Nitrogen, acquired an integrated ammonia-methanol plant located in Beaumont, Texas. OCI acquired the plant through a joint venture with Janus Methanol, named Pandora Methanol, in which OCI holds 50% plus 1 share, it said.

Sasol selects S&B as EPC contractor for US ethylene tetramerization plant

Sasol has selected Houston-based S&B Engineers and Constructors (Houston, Texas) as its engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) contractor to build its recently-announced ethylene tetramerization plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Refineries remain operational along Mississippi after opening of Morganza Spillway

Refineries along the Mississippi River remained operational on Monday following the opening of several bays off the Morganza Spillway in Louisiana. It marks the first time the Morganza has been used since 1973, as US officials are seeking to take pressure off the swollen Mississippi with flood waters rushing downstream.

Malaysia’s Petronas to build $20 billion integrated refinery, petrochemical complex

Malaysia’s state-owned energy major Petronas will build a $20 billion integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex in Southern Johor, the company said on Friday.

M&G to build new PET, PTA plants on US Gulf coast

Mossi & Ghisolfi (M&G) will build a 1mn tonne/year polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plant along the US Gulf coast with an adjoining 1.2mn tonne/year terephthalic acid (PTA) plant to supply feedstock, company officials said.

Honeywell triples capacity of blowing agent for polystyrene board, notes growing demand

Honeywell has tripled production capacity for its low-global-warming-potential product HFO-1234ze to meet what it says is growing need for the material, used in multiple foam and aerosol applications.

Barge firm Kirby warns of increasing flooding along Mississippi as industry worries continue

US chemical shipper and barge firm Kirby said on Thursday that high water and flooding issues on the Mississippi River may have a greater-than-anticipated earnings impact, adding to logistics concerns for petrochemical and refining companies as rising waters move downstream.

Albemarle acquires biodiesel catalyst firm Catilin

US specialty chemicals firm Albemarle has expanded its presence in the biofuels market by acquiring Catilin, a technology leader in the development and application of heterogeneous biodiesel catalysis.

DuPont to expand titanium dioxide capacity by 2014, cites rising demand

US-based chemicals major DuPont plans to expand its titanium dioxide (TiO2) capacity by about 350,000 metric tonnes/year by the end of 2014, allowing it to meet increasing demand from its customers, it said on Wednesday.