Petrochemicals
Saudi Polymers starts up commercial operations at Al-Jubail complex
The new integrated facility includes 1.22 million tpy of ethylene capacity, about 1.1 million tpy of polyethylene, 440,000 tpy of propylene and 400,000 tpy of polypropylene.
BP to sell Malaysia PTA plant to India's Reliance
Reliance has agreed to purchase BP’s interest in the plant for $230 million in cash. Both parties anticipate completing the transaction in 2012. “This is an efficient plant with a good market position in the region,” said James Yim, head of BP's aromatics business in Asia.
Sinopec halts China refineries, petrochemical plant amid pollution questions
China Petrochemical Corp., known as Sinopec Group., ordered the units - two refineries and a petrochemical plant in southern Guangdong province - to halt production while they rectified any problems.
INEOS to source US shale ethane for European cracker feedstock
The company has agreed to a 15-year deal with Range Resources to take Marcellus Shale ethane from the Marcus Hook facility in Pennsylvania, beginning in 2015.
KBR wins design work for Indiana ammonia project
The ammonia design will feature KBR’s proprietary Purifier ammonia process technology, which has demonstrated higher reliability than conventional designs and offers low proven energy consumption. The proposed ammonia plant is based upon an existing reference design operating in Burrup, Australia.
ExxonMobil to expand Louisiana lubricants plants, close New Jersey facility
ExxonMobil says the expansion, coupled with a new metallocene polyalpholefins plant under construction at its complex in Baytown, Texas, positions it to meet long-term demand growth for lubricants with greater energy efficiency, improved durability and extended drain intervals.
Petronas to license Jacobs technology for Malaysia sulfur recovery project
For the project, Jacobs is licensing its SUPERCLAUS technology. Jacobs introduced the technology in 1985, and now has over 200 licensed units in operation. The technology offers performance features in areas such as reliability, sulfur recovery levels, sulfur emissions reduction and continuous operation.
Westlake delays US ethylene expansion to 2013
The expansion in Lake Charles, Louisiana, will increase ethane-based ethylene capacity by 230 - 240 million lb/year (104,000 – 109,000 tpy), targeting an ethylene integration strategy, company officials said. The unit is expected to be down approximately 50 days for the work to be completed.
Jiutai licenses UOP methanol-to-olefins technology for China coal project
Jiutai will produce 600,000 tpy of ethylene and propylene at its facility in Ordos City, China. In addition to technology licensing, UOP is to provide basic engineering, catalysts, adsorbents, specialty equipment, technical services and training for the project, which is expected to start up in 2014.
Global chemical executives to target acquisitions, new products - survey
According to a new KPMG survey, many chemical companies are poised to use improved cash positions to pursue strategic acquisitions and the development of new products.
- Azerbaijan's State Oil Company redirects supplies of jet fuel from STAR refinery to Turkish domestic market 5/8
- Hungry to sell, UAE slips hidden oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz 5/8
- Seven markets to track if peace breaks out in the Middle East 5/8
- Asia exports of refined fuels plunge amid Hormuz closure 5/8
- Libya's Zawiya oil refinery shut due to nearby clashes 5/8
- Meghna PVC partners with Jotun to manage corrosion maintenance 5/7
