Environment
Mabanaft to convert tanks at the Port of Hamburg to methanol storage
Mabanaft plans to convert four of its tanks at the Blumensand tank terminal in the Port of Hamburg over the next two years to methanol and facilitate the import of low-carbon methanol to northern Germany.
Nizhnekamskneftekhim receives first ton of ethylene at new EP-600 plant in Russia
PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim, part of SIBUR petrochemical holding, has received the first ton of the monomer as part of commissioning work at the new EP-600 ethylene plant, and plans to bring it to design capacity by the end of 2025.
CVR Energy says fire extinguished at Coffeyville, Kansas (U.S.) refinery
CVR Energy said a fire that broke out in the naphtha hydrotreater unit at a Coffeyville, Kansas refinery operated by a subsidiary has been extinguished.
Italy, Saudi Arabia sign energy cooperation agreement, including low-carbon hydrogen, ammonia and CCS
The cooperation focuses on renewable energy, reducing methane emissions, power interconnections, renewable and low-emissions hydrogen and ammonia, and carbon capture and storage systems
Online Exclusive: Trump Administration must state its position on climate and energy
In a speech to announce the U.S.’s Fifth Climate Assessment on Nov. 14, 2023—a report that was compiled by more than 700 climate scientists and thousands of contributors— President Joe Biden stated that the greatest existential threat to the U.S. and humanity is the “climate crisis.”
Lummus partners with Versalis (Eni) on licensing phenolics technologies
Lummus Technology and Versalis, Eni's chemical company, announced a strategic partnership to license all of Versalis' technologies in the phenolics value chain.
Thai cabinet approves collection of carbon tax
Thailand's cabinet agreed to levy a carbon tax of 200 baht/ton ($5.88/ton) of carbon emissions as part of the country's efforts to reduce GHG emissions. Products to be subject to the carbon price mechanism include gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel biodiesel, LPG and others.
Removing microplastics with engineered bacteria
Microplastics can go right through wastewater treatment plants, and researchers have engineered bacteria commonly found in there to break down this pollution before it can persist in the environment. Researchers from the University of Waterloo added DNA to several species of bacteria found in wastewater, allowing them to biodegrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Envana secures $5.2-MM U.S. DOE grant for methane mitigation technology project
Envana Software Solutions (Envana) has been awarded a $4.2-MM grant by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to advance oil and gas methane monitoring and mitigation technologies.
Reolum selects Johnson Matthey technology for one of the largest planned e-methanol plants in Europe
Johnson Matthey’s (JM) e-methanol technology has been selected by Reolum for the next phase of its La Robla Nueva Energia (NE) project. Located in the Spanish region of Castilla y León, it will be one of the largest e-methanol production plants in Europe, planned to be online by the end of 2027.

- Asia's sour crude demand to rebound on completed regional refinery maintenance and upgrades 3/20
- ExxonMobil challenges Colonial Pipeline on proposed changes to fuel shipping terms 3/20
- LyondellBasell, Covestro announce permanent closure of PO11 unit at Maasvlakte 3/20
- U.S. ethane production, consumption and exports set new records in 2024 3/20
- Nippon Steel obtains new certifications for pipes/tubes used in the chemical industry 3/20
- Fire extinguished at Phillips 66's Los Angeles refinery (U.S.) 3/20