Middle East
Fewer tankers transit the Red Sea in 2024
The amount of crude oil and oil products flowing through the Bab el-Mandeb, the southern chokepoint at the mouth of the Red Sea, decreased by more than 50% in the first eight months of 2024.
TotalEnergies expands global LNG bunkering footprint
TotalEnergies has signed a charter contract with Spanish shipowner Ibaizabal for a new LNG bunker vessel of 18,600 m3 capacity. This new vessel will expand the Company’s global presence in bunkering hubs.
QatarEnergy signs 20-yr naphtha supply deal with Shell
QatarEnergy has entered into a long-term naphtha supply agreement with Shell, supplying up to 18 MMt of naphtha over 20 years from April 2025.
Iraq's Kerbala refinery non-operational due to maintenance
Iraq's Kerbala refinery is under extensive maintenance and has been non-operational since Sept. 25, knocking out 150,000 bpd of processing capacity.
Borouge partners with Inion Pipes Industry to support circular economy with recycled polyolefins
Borouge Plc., a leading petrochemical company known for its innovative and differentiated polyolefin solutions, today announced the signing of an AED20-MM ($5.45-MM) agreement with Union Pipes Industry (UPI), a leading UAE-based manufacturer, to supply UPI with 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) polypropylene that will be used to produce customized pallets for Borouge’s logistics operations.
Abu Dhabi's ADNOC to buy German chemicals firm Covestro for $16 B
Abu Dhabi's ADNOC has struck a deal to buy German chemicals maker Covestro for €14.7 B ($16.3 B), including debt, in the energy giant's biggest ever acquisition.
Deliver sustainable benefits through site-wide process digital twins
Refiners have used offline process models for decades. The next generation of solutions is anticipated to operate automatically, integrate with legacy systems and provide transparency site-wide.
ABP awards CONSER tech licensing contract for 50,000-tpy maleic anhydride plant in Oman
MAIRE announced that NEXTCHEM (Sustainable Technology Solutions), through its subsidiary CONSER, has been awarded by Al Baleed Petrochemical Company the technology licensing, the process design package and catalyst supply for a 50,000-tpy maleic anhydride plant in the Salalah Free Zone, Oman.
Global refiners face profit slump as new plants come online
Oil refiners in Asia, Europe and the U.S. are facing a drop in profitability to multi-year lows, marking a downturn for an industry that had enjoyed surging returns post-pandemic and underlining the extent of the current slowdown in global demand.
Stamicarbon awarded technology and PDP contracts for urea plant in Egypt
MAIRE announced that NEXTCHEM (Sustainable Technology Solutions), through its subsidiary Stamicarbon, has been awarded the licensing and the process design package for the upgrade and expansion of El Delta Company for Fertilizer and Chemical Industries’ urea plant in Talkha, Egypt.
- Ineos to shut polystyrene facility in Illinois (U.S.) by the end of the year 6/19
- How ASTM approval of methanol-to-jet accelerates SAF at scale 6/19
- EU crafts plan to give industries extra free CO2 permits this year 6/19
- PetroChina forecasts Chinese oil consumption will drop 4.9% this year 6/19
- Digital Exclusive: Water injection pump mechanical seals failure after pump shutdown 6/19
- Russian gasoline output down 25% so far in June after drone attacks on refineries 6/19

