Shaheen Chem Joins TA’ZIZ, Reliance For JV EDC & PVC Project at Ruwais
Ruwais—
Shaheen Chem Holdings Investment will join TA’ZIZ and
Reliance Industries in the proposed TA’ZIZ EDC & PVC
joint venture to build and operate a world-scale chloralkali,
ethylene dichloride (EDC) and polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) facility at the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone in
Ruwais, United Arab Emirates (PCN, 2 May 2022, p 1).
The project, estimated to cost over $2-billion, will have
the capacity to produce 940,000 t/y of chlor-alkali, 1.1-
million t/y of EDC and 360,000 t/y of PVC. A final investment
decision is expected this year.
“Shaheen brings extensive knowledge of the local market
and joins the project with a focus on utilizing production
for use in local supply chains,” TA’ZIZ noted.
“The agreement marks the first direct investment by a
privately-owned United Arab Emirates (UAE) company in
the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone.”
It follows investment agreements between TA’ZIZ and
eight UAE-based investors in December 2021, which
marked the “first” domestic public private partnership in
Abu Dhabi’s downstream and petrochemicals sector.
The TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone, a joint venture
of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. and ADQ, will supply local
manufacturers, replacing chemicals currently imported,
while also exporting to meet growing demand for these
chemicals globally.
Braskem and Terra Create JV to Convert Plastic Waste into Consumer Products
Amsterdam—
Braskem, through its wholly-owned Braskem Netherlands
subsidiary, has signed an agreement with Terra Circular to
form a joint venture, based in the Netherlands, that will
use Terra Circular’s innovative technology to turn low
quality plastic into consumer products.
Under the agreement, Braskem will be majority stakeholder
of the joint venture, with the possibility to expand
the technology’s use to other regions.
Terra Circular will transfer the shares in its ER Plastics
subsidiary to the new joint venture. ER Plastics has a
nominal capacity to mechanically recycle 23,000 t/y of
mixed plastic waste into compression molded products,
Braskem noted.
“The transaction is aligned with one of Braskem’s sustainable
development macro objectives focusing on the
proper destination of plastic waste and reaching sales of
300,000 tons of products with recycled content by 2025,
while supporting projects to drive to a circular economy
through mechanical and advanced recycling,” said
Braskem.
Formosa Plastics to Invest in Project For the Production of AO in Texas
Houston—Formosa
Plastics Corp. announced plans to invest $207-million in
the construction of a new alpha olefins (AO) manufacturing
facility at an unidentified site in Texas, reported Taipei
Times citing CNA.
The AO plant, expected to be completed in October
2025, would have a production capacity of 100,000 t/y to be
used in the production of high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) and other products.
Approximately 63,000 t/y of AO would be used by the
company, with the remaining 37,000 t/y to be sold on the
global market.
Formosa has a site in Point Comfort, Texas, which consists
of 16 production units, including plants for the production
of vinyl chloride monomer/polyvinyl chloride, olefins,
linear low-density PE, HDPE, polypropylene, chloralkali
and ethylene dichloride, among others.
Toray Films & Axens Partner to Study PET Chem Recycling Plant in France
Paris—Toray
Films Europe and Axens announced a collaboration to
study a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) chemical recycling
facility at Toray’s production site in Ain, France.
The project, to be built in two phases, would include two
trains based on Axen’s Rewind PET technology. The units
would be coupled with Toray’s existing polymerization
plant in order to recycle 80,000 t/y of difficult-to-recycle
PET plastic waste.
Currently in its engineering phase, the project targets
start-up of the first Rewind PET train by the end of 2025
leading to the production of 30,000 t/y of recycled PET.
With completion of the second train, expected by the end of
the decade, the polymerization plant will be used at full
capacity to produce 100% recycled PET.
The Rewind PET process was developed by Axens, IFP
Energies nouvelles and JEPLAN.
Celanese Declares Force Majeure on Certain Acetyl Chain and Acetate Tow Products
Dallas—
Celanese confirmed a declaration of force majeure for specific
acetyl chain and acetate tow products to its customers
in the Western Hemisphere.
The products include acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer,
ethyl acetate, acetic anhydride, vinyl and acrylic
emulsions, redispersible powders and acetate tow.
“The force majeure declaration comes as a result of unanticipated
interruptions in raw material supply in the
Texas Gulf Coast and the company is continuing to assess
the regional and global impact of these interruptions,” the
company stated.
“Celanese cannot provide any specific details or timing
of the full impact to customers. Celanese regrets the impact
this will have on customers and will stay in close
communication to minimize the impact of this event.”
Balmoral Funds’ Affiliate in Agreement To Buy Trecora Resources for $247-Mn
Sugar Land—
Trecora Resources and an affiliate of Balmoral Funds announced
that they have entered into a definitive merger
agreement, in which Balmoral will purchase Trecora for
$9.81/share in cash, with a total transaction value of $247-
million.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has
been approved by the Trecora Board of Directors, Balmoral
will commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding
shares of Trecora’s common stock.
“Under the oversight of our board of directors and with
the support of our talented team, we have worked diligently
to enhance our execution, maximize operating efficiencies
and reposition the company for growth,” said Trecora
President and Chief Executive Pat Quarles.
“We are excited to enter this new chapter with Balmoral,
which shares our enthusiasm for the future of our
business and our opportunities for growth.”
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter
of this year, subject to customary closing conditions, including
the expiration or termination of certain regulatory
periods and the tender of shares representing at least a
majority of the company’s outstanding common stock to
Balmoral.
Following the successful completion of the tender offer,
Balmoral will purchase all remaining shares not tendered
in the tender offer through a second-step merger at the
same price.
Upon completion of the transaction, Trecora will become
a privately held company and shares will no longer
be listed on any market.
OMV Bids in the Second Phase of Process To Acquire DSM Engineering Materials
Geleen—OMV
announced its participation in the second phase of the competitive
bidder process, currently conducted by Koninklijke
DSM NV, for the acquisition of 100% of the shares in DSM
Engineering Materials BV.
“The Supervisory Board of OMV has not yet deliberated
on the potential transaction and a potential decision by it
thereon is currently not foreseeable,” said OMV. “A respective
decision is expected to be taken as soon as possible.”
The potential transaction is subject, among other
things, to OMV’s success in the bidder process.
Petronas Agrees to Purchase LNG From New Venture Global Plant
Arlington—Venture
Global LNG and Petronas have executed a new 20-year
agreement for the purchase of 1-million t/y of liquefied
natural gas (LNG) from Venture Global’s Plaquemines
LNG facility being built in Louisiana (see related story,
page 3).
“Petronas looks forward to the long-term LNG partnership
with Venture Global, which will support the growth
and accessibility of natural gas,” said Shamsairi Ibrahim,
vice president of LNG Marketing & Trading at Petronas.
“With the growing demand for energy security, the addition
of the new volume certainly enhances Petronas’
global supply portfolio and demonstrates our support of the
energy transition towards a lower carbon future.”
JGC Holdings Awards Contract to KBR For Green Ammonia Project in Japan
Tokyo—KBR
has received a contract from JGC Holdings to supply its KGreeN
green ammonia technology for a project sponsored
by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development
Organization (NEDO).
Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide technology
licensing and basic engineering for a pilot project in
Fukushima, Japan, under NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund.
No other details were given.
“Japan is playing a leading role in the adoption of green
ammonia to decarbonize our planet,” said Doug Kelly,
president of technology at KBR. “KBR is proud to partner
with JGC to offer our green ammonia technology for
NEDO’s project, and we are confident this will pave the
way for further collaboration.”
NEDO is a Japan-based national research and development
agency.
Technip Energies, Saulsbury to Expand ExxonMobil’s CCS at LaBarge Facility
Paris—Exxon-
Mobil has awarded an engineering, procurement and construction
contract to a consortium of Technip Energies and
Saulsbury Industries to expand the carbon capture and
storage (CCS) at ExxonMobil’s plant in LaBarge, Wyoming.
The project will consist of modifying the existing gas
treatment facility to increase the carbon capture capacity
and installing a pipeline to transport the carbon dioxide
(CO2) to the reservoir to be stored.
Technip Energies will be responsible for the engineering
and procurement services, while Saulsbury will handle
construction and pipeline installation.
The LaBarge facility already has the capacity to capture
more than 6-million t/y of CO2. The expansion project
will enable the capture of over 1-million additional t/y of
CO2.
People on the Move
Johnson Matthey—Anne Chassagnette, previously
chief sustainability officer at Engie, has been appointed
chief sustainability officer of Johnson Matthey, effective 16
May 2022.
Lummus Technology—Rutger Theunissen has been
named chief business officer for the services and supply
operating segment. He will also continue to lead the company’s
global heat transfer business.
Ronald Venner, vice president of petrochemicals, has
been appointed chief business officer of the company’s
clean fuels and crude-to-chemicals operating segment.
Nexus Circular—Jodie Morgan has been named chief
executive. She was most recently chief executive for an
early-stage advanced recycling company.
Clint Thompson, having over 30 years of experience in
the environmental and energy sectors, has been appointed
chief commercial officer.
AFPM—Geoff Moody has been promoted to senior vice
president of Government Relations and Policy of American
Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). He had
been vice president of Government Relations.
Fernando “Nando” Gomez, most recently director of
Government Relations, has been named senior director of
Government Relations.
BASF Signs Renewable Energy Deal To Support Zhanjiang Verbund Site
Beijing—BASF
and Brookfield have finalized a term sheet for a 25-year
renewable electricity supply agreement to purchase solar
and wind power for the BASF Zhanjiang Verbund site in
China (PCN, 15 Mar 2021, p 4).
Under the fixed-price agreement, Brookfield will develop
and build dedicated solar and wind farms, as well as
possible storage solutions to support the renewable energy
demands of BASF’s site.
“This agreement with Brookfield is another important
step in securing renewable energy for BASF’s new Verbund
site in Zhanjiang,” said Haryono Lim, senior vice president,
new Verbund site China and BASF, and general
manager of BASF Integrated Site (Guangdong) Co. Ltd.
“BASF is dedicated to building its Zhanjiang Verbund
site into a new role model of sustainable production, and
aims to already achieve 100% renewable electricity supply
for its Zhanjiang Verbund site by 2025. This is part of
BASF’s climate neutrality target, and will also contribute
to China’s carbon reduction goal.”
The site in Zhanjiang will produce thermoplastic polyurethanes
and 60,000 t/y of engineering plastics to serve
various growth industries in the South China market, and
throughout Asia. The first plant from the initial phase will
be operational by 2022. The whole site is planned to be
completed by 2030.
Saudi Aramco, PTT to Expand Cooperation In PCs, LNG and Crude Oil in Thailand
Bangkok—
Saudi Aramco and Thailand’s PTT have signed a memorandum
of understanding to deepen cooperation in petrochemicals,
liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil in
Thailand.
The parties aim to deepen collaboration across crude oil
sourcing and the marketing of refining and petrochemical
products and LNG. Other potential areas of activity include
blue and green hydrogen and various clean energy
initiatives. No other details were given.
Venture Global Inks SPA with ExxonMobil For LNG Supply from Plaquemines, CP2
Houston—
Venture Global LNG has signed two new long-term sales
and purchase agreements (SPAs) with ExxonMobil LNG
Asia Pacific (EMLAP) for the supply of 2-million t/y of liquefied
natural gas (LNG).
Under the SPAs, EMLAP would purchase 1-million t/y
of LNG from the Plaquemines LNG facility, as well as 1-
million t/y from the CP2 LNG facility (see related story,
page 2).
“We look forward to working with Venture Global as we
continue to grow ExxonMobil’s LNG portfolio and progress
our plans to reliably deliver natural gas from the U.S. Gulf
Coast to global markets,” said Peter Clarke, senior vice
president of LNG for the ExxonMobil Upstream Co.
The Plaquemines plant, on which construction began
last August, will have a nameplate capacity of 10-million
t/y of LNG.
The CP2 facility, expected to begin construction next
year, will have a nameplate liquefaction capacity of 20-
million t/y of LNG. Start-up dates for the facilities were
not given.
Borealis and Reclay Form Recelerate To Improve LWP Sorting, Recycling
Vienna—Borealis
and the Reclay Group have jointly founded Recelerate
GmbH, which will be powered by a smart systems-thinking
approach to ensure more post-consumer lightweight packaging
(LWP) is sorted and recycled into high-quality materials
(PCN, 17 Jan 2022, p 4).
The mission of the new entity is to redesign the critical
steps of the plastics sorting and recycling system for LWP
to speed up circularity, born from a need to meet the rising
market demand for high-quality recyclates for use in highend
plastic applications, the companies explained.
Reclay will provide its strength in the area of extended
producer responsibility schemes (EPR), and Borealis’ will
bring its focus on growth of a more circular plastic model,
powered in part by its proprietary Borcycle recycling technology.
“For Reclay, Recelerate will help grow the reach, scale
and impact of EPR; for Borealis, it will open up supply of
post-consumer plastic waste to be recycled with its Borcycle
recycling technology; for customers and consumers, it
means greater access to high-quality recycled materials,”
the partners noted.
This past January, Borealis and Reclay announced they
had established a partnership to optimize the recycling
value chain starting with Germany, “one of the largest”
European recycling markets.
ACC’s CPI Opens Registration for 64th Polyurethanes Technical Conference
Washington—
The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Center for the
Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) has opened registration for
the 64th Polyurethanes Technical Conference, being held
3-5 Oct. 2022 at the Gaylord National Harbor in National
Harbor, Md.
The lineup of technical sessions is designed to showcase
the most relevant regulatory topics and trends facing the
industry, including latest innovations, advancements and
polyurethanes applications, and end-use markets ranging
from automotive and construction to coatings, adhesives,
sealants and elastomers.
This year’s conference will also feature the release of
the 2021 End-Use Market Survey on the Polyurethanes Industry
in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The survey, which normal includes two years of data,
will provide results from 2019, 2020 and 2021, and an
analysis on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
marketplace.
For further information, or to register, visit
https://web.cvent.com/event/36d39af0-f305-4e63-a204-
f0dd2d290726/summary.
Lukoil Agrees to Purchase 100% Interest In Shell’s Downstream Russian Assets
Moscow—
Lukoil has entered into an agreement with subsidiaries of
Shell plc to acquire a 100% stake in Shell Neft, Shell’s
Russian downstream assets.
The sale, which is subject to approval by Federal Antimonopoly
Service, includes a lubricants blending plant in
Tver region and 411 retail stations, as well as over 350
employees who will transfer to the new owner.
“Our priority is the well-being of our employees,” noted
Huibert Vigeveno, downstream director at Shell.
Engie, OCI and EEW Partner to Develop E-Methanol Project in the Netherlands
Amsterdam—
Engie, methanol producer OCI and EEW, producer of electricity
and heat from waste-to-energy, announced their
collaboration on the HyNetherlands (HyNL) e-methanol
project in Groningen, the Netherlands.
HyNL aims to develop, build and operate “one of the
first” large-scale industrial value chains in Europe for the
production of e-methanol, combining renewable hydrogen
and biogenic carbon dioxide, Engie noted.
The first phase will involve construction of a new 100-
megawatt electrolysis facility at the site of the Eems power
plant in Eemshaven, “five times larger” than existing
plants on the market. Fueled by renewable electricity production
form offshore wind fields in the North Sea, it will
produce the renewable hydrogen needed to produce emethanol.
The HyNL project also links two other industrial sites:
the Delfzijl chemical park in Farmsum (OCI’s BioMCN
methanol plant) and the waste-to-energy plant in Farmsum,
where EEWs biogenic carbon capture plant from the
flue gases of the production lines will be integrated.
The partners aim to increase electrolyzer production
capacity from 100 megawatts in 2025 to 1.85 gigawatts in
the early 2030s.
BP Agrees to Offtake Circular Naphtha From CPE’s New Teesside EcoPlant
London—BP has
entered into an agreement with Clean Planet Energy
(CPE), a UK-based company developing “ecoPlants” to convert
hard-to-recycle waste plastics into circular petrochemical
feedstocks and ultra-low sulfur diesel, to offtake
circular naphtha from CPE’s first ecoPlant being built in
Teesside, UK.
Under the 10-year agreement, BP will initially receive
output from the 20,000-t/y Teesside facility. The naphtha
can be utilized as feedstock into circular plastics value
chains, which is aligned with BP’s aim of unlocking new
sources of value through circularity, keeping products and
materials in use for longer, BP explained.
CPE will provide BP with the option to expand the relationship
and offtake products from CPE’s future plants.
CPE is currently in the process of developing 12 of its
ecoPlants globally, and aims to divert 250,000 t/y of hardto-
recycle waste plastic. It plans to announce further
ecoPlants in the UK, European Union, Southeast Asia and
the Americas later this year.
CF Planning Project at Donaldsonville To Enable Blue Ammonia Production
Deerfield—CF
Industries, in its first quarter 2022 earnings report, announced
it is investing $200-million to build a carbon dioxide
(CO2) dehydration and compression facility to enable
the production of blue ammonia at its Donaldsonville, La.,
facility.
The plant will have the capacity dehydrate and compress
up to 2-million t/y of CO2, enabling the transport and
sequestration of the ammonia process byproduct. Completion
is expected in 2024.
Once the unit is in service and sequestration is initiated,
the complex will be able to produce up to 1.7-million
t/y of blue ammonia, which is equivalent to 1-million tons
of net-zero carbon ammonia.
Separately, the company said detailed engineering was
well underway for the company’s green ammonia project at
the complex (PCN, 26 Apr 2021, p 1). Once complete in
2023, CF will have the capacity to produce around 20,000
t/y of green ammonia.
Tecnimont & NextChem Win EPC Contract For Gail’s Green Hydrogen Plant in India
Vijaipur—
Gas Authority of India Ltd. (Gail) has awarded an engineering,
procurement and construction (EPC) contract to
Tecnimont Private Ltd., a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont,
in collaboration with NextChem, for a new green hydrogen
production plant in India.
Tecnimont and NextChem will implement the 4.3-t/d
green hydrogen facility via a 10-megawatt PEM (polymer
electrolyte membrane) electrolysis unit in Vijaipur.
The scope of work entails full engineering, procurement
and construction up to commissioning, start-up of the plant
and performance guarantee test run. Completion is expected
within 18 months from the letter of acceptance.
Value of the contract was not disclosed.
“Blending green hydrogen into the gas network or using
it as green feedstock to decarbonizes the fertilizer and
other hard-to-abate industrial processes are essential uses,
which are enabling the green hydrogen economy to accelerate
and scale-up,” noted Maire Tecnimont Chief Executive
Alessandro Bernini.