Asia/Pacific
Vopak to build ethane tanks to support Thailand's petrochemical production
Vopak has reached a positive final investment decision it build 160,000-m3 tank infrastructure in Map Ta Phut, Rayong, to support the import of U.S. ethane into Thailand for petrochemical crackers
Indonesia to plant 1.2 MM hectares of sugar palm to make ethanol
Indonesia plans to plant sugar palm trees on an area of 1.2 MM hectares (2,965,264 MM acres) to produce ethanol to cut gasoline imports, in a project estimated to cost $6 B.
Indonesia plans to use sovereign wealth fund to boost coal gasification projects
Indonesia seeks to boost coal gasification projects using funding from its newly launched sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia, as well as plans to increase its fuel storage capacity and build a refinery with capacity of 500,000 barrels per day to ensure energy security
Chinese CNOOC to launch $2.7-B upgraded refinery complex
State-controlled China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) is set to launch a refinery and petrochemicals complex later this year, following a $2.74-B upgrade.
MAIRE awarded various EPC contracts, totaling $3.5 B
MAIRE announced that its subsidiaries TECNIMONT, KT-Kinetics Technology and NEXTCHEM and have been granted new awards for a total amount of approximately $3.5 billion for engineering and procurement and construction activities related to petrochemical and hydrotreating projects, as well as high value engineering services for a waste to chemical project.
Huntsman Polyurethanes secures ISCC+ Certification for TPU production sites
Huntsman announced that its Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) manufacturing sites in Jinshan, China, and Osnabrück, Germany, have successfully secured ISCC+ Certification – the globally recognized standard for sustainability and traceability in supply chains.
Forecast: Asia to dominate global CDU capacity additions through 2030
The global conventional refining industry is anticipated to expand considerably from 2025 to 2030, fueled by increasing energy demands from emerging markets and strategic investments in refining infrastructure. Consequently, the capacity additions of crude distillation units (CDUs) are accelerating globally, with Asia projected to lead these expansions across all regions through 2030.
Taiyo Oil selects Honeywell UOP's ethanol-to-jet technology for 200-MMlpy SAF plant in Japan
Taiyo Oil Co., Ltd. has chosen Honeywell UOP's Ethanol-to-Jet technology to produce sustainable aviation fuel at its Okinawa Operations in Japan. This facility will have a production target of 200 MMlpy.
ExxonMobil buys naphtha as China petchem complex enters test runs
ExxonMobil has purchased several shipments of naphtha for its newly launched petrochemical complex in southern China as the U.S. energy major prepares for the formal start-up of the $10-B plant.
Russia naphtha exports to Asia fall to 1-yr low, support margins
Russian naphtha flows to Asia plummeted to a 1-yr low in February following fresh drone attacks on Russian refining infrastructure, boosting prices for the plastic raw material in the east.

- KazMunayGas starts building polyethylene plant with Sinopec, SIBUR 4/1
- Blue Tide, Shell Lubricants complete re-refining facility to develop high-performance lubricants 4/1
- Lummus successfully starts up PFAS demo unit to destroy "forever chemicals" 4/1
- Solvay partners with Cavalinho to reduce emissions at Brazilian chemical plant 4/1
- Dow Chemical, X-energy to advance nuclear project at Dow's Seadrift chemicals facility (U.S.) 3/31
- Varo buys Swedish refiner Preem in bet on biofuels 3/31