Europe
Russia's idle oil refining capacity estimated up 33% in April from previous plan
Russia's offline primary oil refining capacity in April was revised up by a third from the previous plan for this month to 2.84 MM tonnes (t).
bp halts plans to make clean jet fuel at Spain plant
bp has decided to halt plans to produce clean jet fuel at its Castellon oil refinery in Spain. The decision to pause the biofuel investment was driven by weaker-than-anticipated growth in the market.
Partners Group to invest in Gestcompost, the largest organic waste manager in Spain
Partners Group, one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, acting on behalf of its clients, has agreed to acquire a significant minority stake in Gestcompost, the largest organic waste treatment manager in Spain.
BDI signs contract with Ghent Renewables for the construction of a new biofuel feedstock pre-treatment plant
In Austria, BDI-BioEnergy International has signed a contract with Ghent Renewables BV to begin the construction of a pioneering biofuel feedstock refinery plant. This facility will be unique in its approach, integrating advanced technologies for the refining of feedstock for sustainable fuels.
Improved recycling of plastic from packaging waste
Every year, some 5.6 MM tonnes (t) of plastic packaging winds up in house-hold waste in Germany after being used just once. So far, less than a third of it can be recycled. Working in partnership with Hochschule Bremen — City University of Applied Sciences, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM aims to transform this waste into high-quality 3D-printed products.
Mabanaft, HIF Global sign agreement to accelerate e-methanol adoption in the shipping industry
Energy company Mabanaft and HIF Global have signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) for the planned offtake of e-methanol, reinforcing their commitment to advancing carbon-reducing fuels for the shipping industry. The initial offtake would be of up to 100,000 tpy of e-methanol produced from renewable electricity and captured CO₂.
Clariant’s MegaMax 900 catalyst: Powerful start at European Energy’s e-methanol plant
Clariant announced the successful startup of its MegaMax 900 methanol synthesis catalyst at European Energy’s e-methanol plant in Kasso, Denmark. The facility uses biogenic CO2 and green hydrogen to produce up to 42,000 tpy of green methanol
Quaker Houghton completes its acquisition of Dipsol Chemicals and announces its acquisition of Natech
Quaker Houghton, a global industrial process fluids company, has completed its previously announced acquisition of Dipsol Chemicals, a supplier of surface treatment and plating solutions and services primarily for the automotive and other industrial applications, for ~$153 MM.
KazMunayGas starts building polyethylene plant with Sinopec, SIBUR
The plant will have a pyrolysis unit which will use the technology of the U.S.-based Lummus, an ethylene polymerization unit using the technology of Chevron Phillips Chemical and Univation Technologies, as well as a butene unit using Axens technology
Varo buys Swedish refiner Preem in bet on biofuels
Varo Energy, backed by private equity giant Carlyle Group and the world's biggest trading house Vitol, said it had agreed to buy Swedish refiner Preem, betting on growing demand for biofuels.
- hte and Heraeus Precious Metals collaborate on catalytic ammonia cracking 5/20
- HPCL aims to start crude unit at 9-MMtpy Rajasthan refinery (India) in October 5/20
- Russia in favor of extending partial gasoline export ban 5/20
- Nigeria's fuel traders struggling to secure gasoline from refurbished state refineries 5/20
- Germany's VCI says chemical sector sales grew 1.8% in Q1 of this year 5/20
- Indonesia's Pertamina refinery unit plans 30-day shutdown of Dumai plant in October 5/20
