Tammi Weir

Reliance Inks Deal to Partner with ADNOC On World-Scale Chem Project in Ruwais

Ruwais—
Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) and Abu Dhabi National Oil
Co. (ADNOC) have signed an agreement in which RIL will
join ADNOC in a new world-scale chlor-alkali, ethylene
dichloride and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production facility
at TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone in Ruwais, Abu
Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (PCN, 28 June 2021, p 3).
Under the terms of the agreement, RIL and TA’ZIZ, a
joint venture of ADNOC and ADQ, will build an integrated
plant with the capacity to produce 940,000 t/y of chloralkali,
1.1-million t/y of ethylene dichloride and 360,000 t/y
of PVC. A final investment decision and awards for engineering,
procurement and construction contracts are
planned for 2022.
“We are delighted to attract an investor of Reliance’s
caliber to partner with ADNOC and ADQ in accelerating
growth at TA’ZIZ,” said UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced
Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and
Group Chief Executive Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.
“This agreement is a significant milestone, as we continue
to grow a globally competitive industrial ecosystem
and highly attractive investor value proposition.
“In line with our 2030 strategy, we look forward to creating
further opportunities across the entire TA’ZIZ ecosystem
for the next generation of local industry. The domestic
production of critical industrial raw materials
strengthens our supply chains, drives In-Country Value
and accelerates the UAE’s economic diversification.”

 

IndianOil Gets Initial Approval to Build India’s ‘First’ SM Facility at Panipat

Panipat—Indian
Oil Corp. (IndianOil) has received stage-1 approval from its
board of directors to set up India’s “first” styrene monomer
(SM) plant at the company’s Panipat refinery and petrochemical
complex in Haryana, India.
The proposed project, estimated to cost Rs 4,495 crore,
would include the production of 387,000 t/y of SM by 2026-
2027, reducing India’s dependence on imports of the product.
Earlier this year, IndianOil received approval for its
planned Panipat refinery expansion project, which will increase
refining capacity to 25-million t/y from 15-million t/y
currently.
As part of the Rs 32,946 crore expansion project, a new
2.5-million-t/y high severity fluidized catalytic cracking
unit, based on the company’s Indmax technology, would be
set up to allow the company to manufacture basic petrochemical
blocks – propylene and ethylene.

 

Shell Starts Up Europe’s ‘Largest’ Green Hydrogen Production Unit

Cologne—Shell announced
the successful start-up of Europe’s “largest” green
hydrogen production facility at its Energy and Chemicals
Park Rheinland, near Cologne, Germany.
The new 10-megawatt PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane)
hydrogen electrolyzer uses renewable electricity to
produce up to 1,300 t/y of green hydrogen.
Plans are under way to expand capacity of the electrolyzer
to 100 megawatts at the site, where it also intends to
produce sustainable aviation fuel using renewable power
and biomass in the future. A plant for liquefied renewable
natural gas is also in development.
“Shell wants to become a leading supplier of green hydrogen
for industrial and transport customers in Germany,”
said Shell Downstream Director Huibert Vigeveno.
“We will be involved in the whole process—from power
generation, using offshore wind, to hydrogen production
and distribution across sectors. We want to be the partner
of choice for our customers as we help them decarbonize.”

 

Maersk, King Abdullah Port to Establish New Petrochemical Hub in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh—
Maersk Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah Port have entered
into a strategic partnership to set up Maersk’s first
petrochemical hub in Saudi Arabia to provide logistics services
to local petrochemical exporters.
Maersk Integrated Logistics Hub, to be located at the
King Abdullah Port in King Abdullah Economic City, will
enhance the Kingdom’s logistics capabilities by adding
state-of-the-art services and technologies to the port’s offering.
The hub will serve as the focal supply chain solution,
mainly for Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical exporters, through
the large space allocated for handling and storing cargo. It
will also enable pallet handling, stuffing and shuttling.
Cost of the project and a completion date were not
available.

 

Clariant and India Glycols Establish JV For Renewable EO Derivatives in India

Kashipur—
Clariant and India Glycols Ltd. (IGL) have completed the
formation of a new joint venture, Clariant IGL Specialty
Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., for renewable ethylene oxide (EO)
derivatives in India (PCN, 15 Mar 2021, p 2).
The joint venture, owned 51% by Clariant and 49% by
IGL, combines IGL’s renewable bio-EO derivatives business,
which includes a multipurpose production plant and
an alkoxylation unit in Kashipur, Uttarakhand, India, with
Clariant’s local Industrial and Consumer Specialties business
in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Clariant IGL Specialty Chemicals will be led by Nitin
Sharma, currently head of Clariant’s Industrial and Consumer
Specialties business in South Asia. U.S. Bhartia,
chairman of IGL, will serve as chairman of the joint venture.

 

Rohm Begins Construction on MMA Plant At OQ Chemicals Site on U.S. Gulf Coast

Houston—
Rohm announced the start of detail engineering and construction
of a new methyl methacrylate (MMA) production
facility at OQ Chemicals’ site in Bay City, Texas, on the
U.S. Gulf Coast (PCN, 8 Mat 2021, p 1).
The 250,000-t/y MMA plant will be the “first of its kind”
to utilize Rohm’s LiMA technology on a large industrial
scale, Rohm noted. Mechanical completion is expected in
2023. Value of the project was not disclosed.
The newly developed LiMA technology enables a high
yield with low energy consumption and reduced wastewater
volumes.
Wood is responsible for the engineering, procurement
and construction services for the project.
“The LiMA project significantly strengthens Rohm’s position
in the MMA market,” said Ron Ayles, managing
partner at Advent International, financial sponsor of the
project.
“At the same time, this groundbreaking technology sets
new standards for using resources efficiently and for making
notable reductions in its environmental impact.”

 

ExxonMobil Enters Definitive Agreement To Sell Santoprene Business to Celanese

Irving—
ExxonMobil Chemical has signed a definitive agreement to
divest its global Santoprene thermoplastic vulcanizates
(TPV) elastomers business to Celanese for $1.15-billion.
The sale includes two facilities in Pensacola, Fla., and
Newport, Wales, UK, with over 190,000 t/y of production
capacity; Santoprene, Dytron and Geolast trademarks and
product portfolios; all customer and supplier contracts and
agreements; comprehensive TPV intellectual property portfolio
with associated technical and research and development
assets; and about 350 employees.
Subject to regulatory, information and consultation
processes, and third-party approvals, the transaction is
scheduled to close in the fourth quarter of this year.
“Reaching this agreement with Celanese is consistent
with our strategy and allows us to focus on serving the
growing market for primary olefin derivatives, where we
can leverage our competitive advantages of industry leading
scale, integration and proprietary technology,” said
Jack Williams, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp.
“This transaction represents a high-return opportunity
to drive future shareholder value by deploying our excess
cash from the monetization of our passive ownership in
Polyplastics and continued strong cash generation in our
businesses,” noted Celanese Chairman and Chief Executive
Lori Ryerkerk.
“We are eager to welcome the Santoprene team to
Celanese and look forward to their contributions to our
continued growth in Engineered Materials.”

 

Lotte Chem Boosting ABS Production; EPS Production to be Discontinued

Seoul—Lotte
Chemical plans to discontinue expanded polystyrene (EPS)
production and convert the EPS facilities in South Korea to
produce acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) instead, according
to a report from BusinessKorea.
The company currently produces 670,000 t/y of ABS.
By 2023, Lotte will have a total ABS production capacity of
760,000 t/y. Cost of the project was not disclosed.

 

Enterprise Products Subsidiary Acquires Nova Chem’s Ethylene Storage Business

Houston—A
subsidiary of Enterprise Products Partners has purchased
an ethylene storage business and trading hub in Mont Belvieu,
Texas, from a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nova
Chemicals.
“The acquisition, which gives Enterprise ownership of
the largest ethylene market hub in Texas since it was established
in 2001, will complement Enterprise’s own growing
ethylene network in the region,” said Chris D’Anna,
senior vice president of petrochemicals of Enterprise’s general
partner.
“The combined system offers multiple benefits for producers,
consumers and traders, such as increased physical
connectivity, greater market liquidity and pricing transparency,
as well as improved access to Enterprise’s ethylene
midstream services, including our export terminal and
growing Gulf Coast pipeline system.”
Selling the Mont Belvieu ethylene storage business allows
Nova to focus on its core business of ethylene and
polyethylene production, noted John Thayer, senior vice
president of sales and marketing for Nova Chemicals.Value of the transaction was not given.

 

Yisheng Shutters Aging PTA Plant

Ningbo—Zhejiang
Yisheng Petrochemical Co. has permanently shut down its
oldest purified terephthalic acid (PTA) unit at its site in
Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, Argus Media reported.
The 650,000-t/y PTA line was closed because of “weak
production margins,” due to a considerable expansion of
PTA capacity in China over the past two years, said the
report citing Yisheng.
The company expects to start up a new 3-million-t/y
PTA production line at the site early this month.

 

Nouryon Concludes Nobian Spin-Out

Amsterdam—
Nouryon announced the completion of the spin-out of its
base chemicals business, Nobian, into a separate company
remaining under the ownership of The Carlyle Group and
GIC, Nouryon’s equity owners (PCN, 10 May 2021, p 4).
“This is an important milestone, positioning Nouryon as
a global specialty chemicals leader,” said Charlie Shaver,
chairman and chief executive of Nouryon and chairman of
Nobian. “Our focused strategy will allow Nouryon to grow
and exceed our customers’ expectations by delivering innovative
and sustainable solutions that answer society’s
needs.”
Nouryon will continue to provide transitional support
services to Nobian across multiple functional areas.

 

People on the Move

Encina Development Group—Aaron Domingo has
joined the company as managing director of Asia. He was
most recently senior adviser and chief representative at
Rothschild Global Financial Advisory.
Elkem ASA—Helge Aasen has been appointed interim
chief executive, while the company finds a successor for
Michael Koenig, who has left the company. The company
has initiated a succession process. Aasen is also a board
member of the company.

 

Dow Touts Series of Expansion Projects Aligned to Fast-Growing End-Markets

Midland—Dow
announced a series of incremental, high-return capacity
expansions to support rising demand across key endmarkets.
In the Consumer Solutions business, Dow will boost capacity
of silicone elastomers and thermally conductive materials;
silicone polymers and sealants; silicone engineered
materials and pressure sensitive adhesives, and cationic
hydroxyethylcellulose polymers and polyethylene glycols.
The projects are planned to start up, globally, throughout
this year.
Also, in the Polyurethanes & Construction Chemicals
business, Dow plans to increase propylene glycol capacity
at its existing facility in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, by 80,000
t/y to a total capacity of 250,000 t/y. Once complete, the
plant will be the “largest of its kind” in Asia Pacific, Dow
noted. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2024.

 

Frost & Sullivan Selects SABIC for ‘21 ‘Global Company of the Year’ Award

San Antonio—
SABIC has been named “Global Company of the Year” by
consulting and research firm Frost & Sullivan, as part of
its 2021 Best Practices Recognition Program.
SABIC was awarded the title based on Frost & Sullivan’s
recent analysis of the global market for sustainability
and the circular economy of used plastics recycling and
resource recovery.
The award recognizes SABIC’s efforts in driving forward
the development of a circular economy for used plastics
and its commitment to innovation and technology.
“SABIC’s Trucircle portfolio and services have found
significant adoption among businesses looking for commercially
and environmentally viable solutions,” noted Riana
Barnard, best practices research analyst.
“With its deep commitment to innovation and technology,
bolstered by pioneering partnerships and leadership
excellence, SABIC is all set to continue leading the global
market for more sustainable material solutions.”

 

Repsol, Tecnicas Reunidas Reach Agreement To Develop Decarbonization Technologies

Madrid—
Repsol and Tecnicas Reunidas have signed a strategic
agreement to co-develop technologies to produce bio-based
polymers and biofuels from agricultural and agri-food
waste.
The partners will also develop a new process for the
production of circular materials from used plastics, which
will be tested in one of Repsol’s industrial complexes.
Another project to be carried out by the two companies
involves optimizing the energy efficiency of industrial complexes
through the recovery of residual heat. The technology
will be implemented at the A Coruna Industrial Complex
in Spain.
Finally, the partners will share their knowledge, experience
and research and development resources with
other companies in the industrial sector. Small- and medium-
sized enterprises will be the main target.
This agreement is another step in Repsol’s industrial
transformation process to achieve net zero emissions by
2050.

 

Iran’s PGPIC Begins Construction On ‘Mega’ Petrochemical Complex

Tehran—Persian
Gulf Petrochemical Industries Co. (PGPIC) of Iran has
started construction on the first phase of a “mega” petrochemical
complex in the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special
Economic Zone in Iran, Shana reported.
The first phase will involve construction of a facility for
the production of “1.26 tons” of ethylene and “420,000 tons”
of propylene, as well as relevant storage tanks and cooling
towers.
In the second phase, the company will build two highdensity
polyethylene (PE) plants, and units for the production
of linear low-density PE, polypropylene, monoethylene
glycol and butadiene. An expected completion date was not
available.
“Persian Gulf Holding, while making serious efforts to
complete previous projects, feels a responsibility to begin
new large-scale projects for developing the petrochemical
industry,” said the report citing PGPIC Managing Director
Jafar Rabiei.

 

LyondellBasell Buys PolyPacific Polymers; Exiting 50-50 Australian JV with Mirlex

Houston—
LyondellBasell announced it has acquired 100% of Poly-
Pacific Polymers Sdn. Bhd. (PPM) for an undisclosed
amount.
Located in Port Klang, Malaysia, PPM has a 25,000-t/y
manufacturing facility for reinforced and modified polyolefin
compounds.
Upon completion of the transaction, the plant will undergo
a rebranding and name change, and its employees
will become LyondellBasell employees. PPM will continue
to produce and supply the ongoing business products to its
customers.
In conjunction with the acquisition, LyondellBasell has
decided to exit PolyPlastic Pty. Ltd., a 50-50 Australian
compounding joint venture with Mirlex Pty. Ltd., making
Mirlex sole owner. No other details were available.

 

Maire Tecnimont, FerSam to Implement Green NH3 and Bio-Ethanol Projects

Milan—Next-
Chem and MET Development, subsidiaries of Maire Tecnimont
Group, have reached an agreement with FerSam
Uruguay, part of FerSam Group, to develop projects in
Latin America for the production of green ammonia (NH3)
and bio-ethanol.
Under the agreement, the partners will undertake feasibility
studies for two projects. The first project is to
evaluate and assess the possibility of jointly producing
green NH3.
The companies have also decided to develop a secondgeneration
bio-ethanol project, based on GranBio’s new 2G
ethanol technology in NextChem’s portfolio. The technology
produces the ethanol from non-food biomass, such as
agricultural residues.
Maire Tecnimont Group will supply technological solutions
and know-how in terms of project development, design
and engineering, and execution to the partnership,
combined with its portfolio of technologies.
FerSam will secure the biomass feedstock and energy
sources for the projects, as well as provide regulatory expertise.
Cost of the projects and schedules were not given.

 

Samsung and Baker Hughes to Partner On New CCUS & Hydrogen Projects

Houston—
Samsung Engineering and Baker Hughes announced they
will collaborate on low- to zero-carbon projects utilizing
carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen
technologies.
As part of the partnership, the parties will identify joint
business development opportunities for energy and industrial
customers to help reduce their emissions.
Baker Hughes will contribute compression and NovaLT
gas turbine technology for hydrogen, and for CCUS it will
supply flexible pipes for transportation; reservoir studies,
well construction services, flexible pipes, condition monitoring
solutions, and certain auxiliary solutions, such as
carbon dioxide compressions and liquefaction for key industrial
assets.
Samsung plans to provide engineering, procurement
and construction expertise for offering and deploying solutions
for projects across petrochemical plants, refineries,
and “cutting-edge” industrial and environmental facilities,
including water treatment and air pollution prevention
applications, the companies noted.
The companies will initially focus on projects with key
Korean customers, and will also consider expansion to
other customers or regions where there are opportunities.

IGP Converting Methanol Facilities For Production of ‘Blue Methanol’

Plaquemine—IGP
Methanol said it is upgrading its world-scale methanol
plants in Myrtle Grove, La., to produce “blue methanol” to
meet “rapidly growing and unmet global demand” for ultra
low-carbon methanol.
The new design will utilize Haldor Topsoe’s Blue
Methanol technology, which uses hydrogen for heat, so
mostly water vapor, not carbon dioxide (CO2), escapes in
its exhaust, leaving no need for carbon capture.
“Our Gulf Coast Methanol Park design was already the
global leader in ultra low emissions,” noted James
Lamoureaux, chairman and co-founder of IGP. “Adopting
our partner, Haldor Topsoe’s, Blue Methanol technology
allows us to build a near-zero emission, hydrogen-fueled
methanol plant.
“This changes the game for world-scale methanol from
this point forward. Combining these two approaches
represents one of the most promising solutions for decarbonizing
our industrial segment and is a powerful tool to
minimize or eliminate CO2.”

 

Borealis Acquires 10% Interest in Renasci; Will Jointly Develop Recycling Solutions

Brussels—
Borealis announced it has purchased a 10% interest in Renasci,
creator of the circular Smart Chain Processing (SCP)
concept, and will partner with Renasci to evolve and scale
up the SCP technology.
The SCP concept is a proprietary method of maximizing
material recovery in order to achieve zero waste. It enables
the processing of multiple waste streams using different
technologies – all under one roof.
Renasci has a new facility in Oostende, Belgium, where
mixed plastic is automatically selected and sorted multiple
times. It is then mechanically recycled, and in a second
step any remaining material is chemically recycled into
circular pyrolysis oil and lighter product fractions, which
are used to fuel the process.
Other types of sorted waste, such as metals and organic
refuse, are further processed using other technologies.
Only 5% of the original waste remains, Borealis explained,
noting that it intends to purchase the mechanically recycled
material from the Oostende facility.
The partners plan to develop future facilities, which
would source feedstock entirely from household waste.
Borealis recently agreed to source about 20,000 t/y of
circular pyrolysis oil from Renasci’s Oostende plant (PCN,
21 June 2021, p 4).

 

PetroChemical News Briefs

Nizhnekamskneftekhim intends to construct a new
400,000-t/y polypropylene production plant in Tatarstan,
Russia, in the “near future,” according to local media reports.
The tender has already been issued and bids have
been received from companies in Europe, Korea, Japan and
China to implement the project.
Mitsubishi Chemical has signed an agreement to license
a patent for biomass-based polyester to Kuraray.
The products covered under the license include polyethylene
terephthalate. Compared to conventional, petroleumderived
products, biomass-based polyester can be expected
to facilitate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Sibur launched Vivilen brand of products containing
recycled waste. The brand manufactures polyethylene and
polypropylene utilizing partners’ capacities. At this stage,
the average share of recycled polymers in the Vivilen solutions
will account for about 25% of the end product depending
on its type.
Toray has opened its new Resins Technical Center
near Munich, Germany. The facility will support Toray
Resins Europe GmbH, which markets and sells high performance
resin compounds, and will support customer application
development.

Air Liquide Completes Buy of ‘Biggest’ Oxygen Production Site in the World

Secunda—Air
Liquide said it has finalized the acquisition of the “biggest”
oxygen production site in the world from Sasol in Secunda,
South Africa, for an undisclosed amount (PCN, 21 June
2021, p 1).
Air Liquide Large Industries South Africa will operate
the site, which includes 16 air separation units (ASUs)
with a total installed capacity of 42,000 t/d.
Since 2018, Air Liquide has been operating a 17th ASU
for Sasol at the site, with a total production capacity of
5,000 t/d. The 16 ASUs acquired from Sasol have been
integrated into Air Liquide’s accounts.
Air Liquide recently announced plans to launch a multiyear
project to modernize the facilities at the site at an
initial investment of around €480-million. It expects to
reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30% to 40% within the
next 10 years.
The companies have launched a Request for Proposal to
pursue the supply of 60 megawatts of renewable energy to
the Secunda operations by 2025.

 

Kumho Petrochem to Acquire 50% Interest Held by JSR in Its Kumho Polychem JV

Seoul—
Kumho Petrochemical recently agreed to purchase the 50%
stake of Kumho Polychem held by its joint venture partner,
JSR, making Kumho Petrochemical the sole owner from
July 2021 onward.
Kumho Polychem, established in 1985, has a production
capacity of 220,000 t/y of ethylene propylene diene monomer
(EPDM). It also produces thermoplastic vulcanizate,
and other materials used in automotive and other industries.
Value of the transaction was not disclosed.
“This decision was made to enhance the group’s competitiveness
as a whole, based on the competence that
Kumho Petrochemical has built in the synthetic rubber
industry over the years,” Kumho Petrochemical noted.
“Kumho Petrochemical will strive to elevate Kumho
Polychem’s corporate value through a more rapid and more
organic decision making.”

 

Repsol, Axens and IFPEN Develop Process To Increase Circular Materials Production

Madrid—
Repsol, Axens and IFPEN have partnered to develop Rewind
Mix, a patented process to enhance the chemical recycling
of plastic waste and boost circular materials production.
The process, developed at the Repsol Technology lab
and IFPEN facilities, purifies plastics pyrolysis oils, allowing
the direct and undiluted processing in existing petrochemical
plants for the production of circular plastics.
Following extensive pilot testing, the partners will now
study the first industrial application in a Repsol facility,
while Axens will commercialize the technology through
licensing.

 

CPChem Awards E&C Contract to S&B To Build 1-Hexene Unit in Old Ocean

Houston—S&B
Engineers and Constructors (S&B) has won an engineering
and construction (E&C) contract from ChevronPhillips
Chemical Co. (CPChem) to build a new world-scale 1-
hexene unit in Old Ocean, Texas (PCN, 31 May 2021, p 1).
The plant, to be located near CPChem’s Sweeny facility,
will utilize the company’s latest on-purpose technology to
produce up to 266,000 t/y of 1-hexene. It will increase
CPChem’s total 1-hexene capacity in the U.S. to about
650,000 t/y.
Construction will start during the third quarter of this
year, with start-up scheduled for 2023. Value of the contract
was not disclosed.
S&B completed CPChem’s first 1-hexene in the U.S. in
2014 at the Cedar Bayou plant in Baytown, Texas.

 

Vopak Gets Contract for Terminal to Serve ExxonMobil’s Huizhou Chemical Complex

Beijing—
Huizhou QuanMei Petrochemical Terminal Co. has
awarded a contract to Vopak for storage and services of a
liquid products terminal that would be constructed and
operated as part of ExxonMobil’s proposed Huizhou chemical
complex project in China (PCN, 19 Apr 2021, p 1).
The complex, to be located in Daya Bay Petrochemical
Park, will include a 1.6-million-t/y flexible feed ethylene
steam cracker, two performance polyethylene lines and two
differentiated performance polypropylene lines. The project
was earlier scheduled to start up in 2023.
The new 560,000 cu m terminal would serve the steam
cracker, and would include pipelines to connect a jetty to
the chemical complex, which is still subject to a final investment
decision.
Under Vopak’s contract, it would obtain a 30% ownership
interest in the terminal and pipelines. The contract is
subject to customary conditions, including closing of the
transaction and obtaining regulatory approvals.

 

PolyStyreneLoop Recycling Plant Opens To Prove Process to Recycle PS Foam

Terneuzen—
PolyStyreneLoop, a cooperative that includes Synthos and
other industry leaders, has started up a new recycling facility
in Terneuzen, the Netherlands, that was built to
prove the technical and economic feasibility of a largescale,
closed-loop solution for the recycling of EPS (expandable
polystyrene) waste.
The 3,000-t/y plant will utilize an innovative dissolution
technology, CreaSolv, which will turn EPS foam demolition
waste from building and construction insulation into new
high-quality raw material.
“This plant showcases how the EPS industry is always
looking for ways to boost its recycling capabilities,” said
Lein Tange, co-director of PolyStyreneLoop. “The purpose
of this plant is to pave the way for the construction of similar
EPS recycling plants in the rest of Europe.”

 

SKGC to Obtain Equity Interest in Loop; Plan to Partner on Infinite Loop Plants

Montreal—
SK Global Chemical (SKGC) has concluded a strategic
agreement to purchase a 10% equity stake in Loop Industries
for a total consideration of $56.5-million.
As part of the agreement, SKGC is being granted a seat
on Loop’s board of directors. Closing of the transaction is
planned “as soon as practical and no later than 90 days
from announcement,” said Loop. The announcement was
made on 23 June 2021.
The parties also signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) to form a joint venture with exclusivity to build
sustainable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and
polyester fiber manufacturing facilities throughout Asia.
The plants would utilize Loop’s patented technology
that allows for waste PET plastic and polyester fiber to be
upcycled into virgin-quality PET using low heat and no
added pressure.
Under the MoU, SKGC will own 51% of the joint venture
and Loop will own 49%. Loop will also receive a recurring
annual royalty fee as a percentage of revenue from
each facility for the use of its technology.
“We are delighted to form a strategic partnership with
SK Global Chemical,” said Loop Founder and Chief Executive
Daniel Solomita. “SK Global Chemical is an ideal
strategic partner to accelerate the growth of our company
and the global commercialization of our technology.
“Its scale and sophistication, its global chemicals manufacturing
footprint and a shared vision to create value
through sustainability and innovation make them a valued
partner in our journey to bring our technology to market.”

 

BASF Buying Stake in New Wind Farm To Supply Chem Sites Across Europe

Antwerp—BASF
has signed a contract to purchase a 49.5% interest in Vattenfall’s
planned offshore wind farm, Hollandse Kust Zuid
(HKZ), for the supply of renewable electricity to BASF’s
Antwerp Verbund site and other European chemical sites.
The wind farm, on which construction will start next
month, be the “largest” offshore wind farm in the world
when fully operational, BASF noted. It will have 140 wind
turbines and a total installed capacity of 1.5 gigawatt. The
project is scheduled to become fully operational in 2023.
BASF’s purchase price amounts to €300-million and
takes into account the achieved status of the project. Including
BASF’s contribution to the wind farm construction,
its total commitment amounts to about €1.6-billion. The
transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of
2021, subject to approval by relevant authorities.

 

Novatek Reconfigures Obsky LNG Project To Include NH3, Hydrogen and Methanol

Moscow—
Novatek has decided to revise its proposed Obsky liquefied
natural gas (LNG) project in Russia to produce ammonia,
hydrogen and methanol, reported Reuters citing Obsky
Chief Financial Officer Mark Gyetvay.
The company was expected to make a final investment
decision last year for the LNG project, which was planned
to include the production of nearly 5-million t/y of LNG;
however, the decision was delayed. No other details were
available.

 

Celanese Agrees to Acquire Grupa Azoty’s POM Technology & Sales Agreements

Dallas—
Celanese announced it is purchasing certain technology
and sales agreements relating to the production of polyacetal
(POM) products from Grupa Azoty (PCN, 21 June
2021, p 3).
Earlier this month, Azoty said that its management
board has decided to discontinue its POM business no later
than 31 Aug. 2021. The company stated that the decision
was based on the conclusion that the business would not be
economically viable in the foreseeable future.
Celanese will take over existing Tarnoform contracts in
order to serve Azoty’s customers; as well as certain equipment
in connection with the intellectual property transfer.
The transaction, expected to close in early July 2021, does
not include manufacturing facilities, employees, tangible
assets or sales offices.
“Our engineered materials business is a critical growth
engine for Celanese, and we continue to take the strategic
steps needed, such as this customer and product acquisition,
to fuel the ongoing success of the business,” noted
Tom Kelly, senior vice president, engineered materials at
Celanese.

 

People on the Move

Synthomer—Michael Willome has been appointed
group chief executive, effective 1 Nov. 2021, to succeed Calum
MacLean, who has decided to step down. Willome was
most recently chief executive of Conzzeta (now Bystronic).
Borealis—Wolfram Krenn, currently senior vice president
of Refining & Petrochemical Assets, Europe, at OMV,
has been named executive vice president of Base Chemicals
& Operations, and member of the executive board of
Borealis, effective 1 July 2021. He will replace Martijn van
Koten, who was appointed OMV executive board member
responsible for the Refining Division.
Materia—Cliff Post has been named president and
chief executive, effective 1 July 2021, to succeed Chris
Murphy. Post joined the company in 2015 as vice president
of business development.
Yara—Lars Rosaeg has been appointed executive vice
president of corporate development and deputy chief executive,
effective 1 July 2021. He had been executive vice
president and chief financial officer.
Gevo—Tony Wells, most recently senior vice president
of operations at Benefuel, has become general manager
and site leader of Gevo’s future Net-Zero 1 facility.
NextDecade—Ivan Van der Walt has been appointed
chief operating officer, effective 1 July 2021. He joined the
company in July 2018 as senior vice president, engineering
and construction. Van der Walt will continue to be responsible
for all project management, engineering, construction,
commissioning and operations of the company’s liquefied
natural gas and carbon capture projects.

 

Polystyvert Receives Financial Backing To Support New PS Recycling Facility

Montreal—
Polystyvert announced the closing of a funding round to
facilitate the development of a full-scale polystyrene (PS)
recycling plant (PCN, 8 Feb 2021, p 2).
The new recycling facility will demonstrate the high
level of purity reached with the company’s innovative proprietary
process, which turns post-consumer PS plastic
into new virgin-like PS. No other details of the planned
project were given.
“Thanks to the financial backing from BEWI, as well as
existing investors, we will be able to demonstrate the technological
maturity of the Polystyvert process and to prove
it has the best LCA [life cycle assessment] on the market,”
said Solenne Brouard Gaillot, chief executive of Polystyvert.
“This funding, coupled with BEWI’s expertise, will enable
us to expand our presence and commercialize our
technology in Europe, where the demand for recycled plastic
is increasing the fastest.”
Existing investors include Anges Quebec, Anges Quebec
Capital, Cycle Capital and Quadriam.

 

IFC, Uzbekistan Ink Cooperation Agreement To Modernize Chem, Fertilizer Industries

Tashkent—
International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World
Bank Group, and the Government of Uzbekistan have
signed a new cooperation agreement that aims to generate
investments in Uzbekistan’s chemicals and fertilizers sector
and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices.
“Recently the government of Uzbekistan has initiated
reforms aimed at transforming its chemical and fertilizers
sector,” said Minister of Finance of Uzbekistan Timur Ishmetov.
“The goal is to replace the old chemical and fertilizer
production and distribution systems, promote investments
and create a competitive industry that will provide new
high-skilled jobs and reduce Uzbekistan’s carbon foot
print.”
The country, which has been mainly state-controlled,
has seen underinvestment, industrial inefficiency, and over
consumption of resources, IFC noted. The project aims to
address the inefficiencies by facilitating needed market
transformations, reducing the government’s footprint and
creating a level playing field for international private investors,
it explained.

 

Versalis, Saipem Collaborate to Promote Sustainable Bioethanol Technology

Milan—Eni’s Versalis
and Saipem have signed an agreement to promote,
globally, Versalis’ proprietary Proesa technology for the
production of sustainable bioethanol and chemicals from
lignocellulosic biomass.
Under the agreement, Versalis will manage the commercial
aspects relating to the granting of license rights of
the technology and will provide engineering, assistance
and training services. Saipem will be responsible for all
stages of production plant development, from design to
construction.
In addition, the companies will collaborate with a dedicated
joint team to further developments in the industrial
process.

 

Fertiglobe Agrees to Partner with TA’ZIZ For ADNOC’s Ruwais ‘Blue’ NH3 Project

Abu Dhabi—
TA’ZIZ and Fertiglobe have signed an agreement for Fertiglobe
to join TA’ZIZ as partner in Abu Dhabi National Oil
Co.’s (ADNOC) world-scale “blue” ammonia production project
at the TA’ZIZ industrial ecosystem and chemicals hub
in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (PCN, 31
May 2021, p 4).
The planned facility, which will be the “first” worldscale
blue ammonia plant in the MENA (Middle East and
North Africa) region, will have a capacity of up to 1-million
t/y, ADNOC noted. It will leverage Fertiglobe’s “worldleading”
ammonia capabilities.
The companies will jointly conduct pre-FEED (front-end
engineering design) and FEED activities. A final investment
decision is expected in 2022, with start-up targeted
for 2025.
Fertiglobe is a joint venture of OCI and ADNOC, holding
a 52% stake and 48% stake, respectively. It produces
and exports ammonia and urea.

 

Invista Plans New Asia Innovation Center For Nylon 6,6 Application Development

Shanghai—
Invista Nylon Chemicals (China) Co. plans to establish a
new Asia Innovation Center for nylon 6,6 application development
near Invista’s integrated nylon 6,6 facility at
the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) in China.
The center, requiring an investment of over $15-million,
will be Invista’s “first” research and development center for
nylon 6,6 application development in Asia, the company
noted.
Invista’s new lab will be equipped with state-of-the-art
polymer research and development equipment necessary
for polymer application development and customer support
for product trials.
It will also include polymer compounding extrusion and
injection molding capability, and analytical and mechanical
test equipment to characterize polymer resin properties.
The lab is expected to be fully operational by the end of
this year.

 

Ineos Styrolution Offers PS ECO 44, Mechanically Recycled PS in EMEA

Frankfurt—Ineos
Styrolution announced it has begun offering mechanically
recycled polystyrene (PS), Styrolution PS ECO 440, in
EMEA (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) from postconsumer
material.
Styrolution PS ECO 440, based on Tomra’s high-quality
NIR (near infrared) sorting process, delivers a PS purity of
more than 99.9%, Ineos noted.
The new PS is suitable across a wide range of applications,
including food contact. It will enable customers to
address their sustainability goals and contribute to the
development of a circular economy. Not only is PS ECO
made from recycled material, it is also fully recyclable.
“We will start production in EMEA with up to 1,000
tons in 2021, working very hard to grow volumes in line
with our pledge to use on average 30% recycled content in
products destined for polystyrene packaging in Europe by
2025,” said Dr. Frank Eisentrager, product director for PS
in EMEA.

 

U.S. Chem Industry Recovery Underway, According to ACC’s Mid-Year Outlook

Washington—
Key U.S. chemical industry metrics will increase this year
as important end-use markets and export customers recover
from the pandemic-related recession, reported the
American Chemistry Council (ACC) in its Mid-Year 2021
Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook.
Although growth is uneven across economies and sectors,
data suggests that global recover is well underway.
Global gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by
6.1% in 2021 and 4.4% next year.
The ACC projects that global industrial production will
expand by 7.2% in 2021 and 4.6% in 2022, despite multiple
supply chain disruptions, as demand for goods is fueling
production.
GDP in the U.S. is forecasted to expand by 6.4% in 2021
and 4.3% in 2022, following a 3.5% drop last year. Business
investment will expand by 8.2% in 2021 and 6.2% in
2022 after a 5.2% decline last year, and the job market is
improving, but some slack remains, ACC noted. The unemployment
rate is expected to average 5.4% this year and
4.2% in 2022.
U.S. chemical volumes are forecasted to increase by
1.4% in 2021 and 3.2% in 2022, while shipments will increase
8.1% in 2021 and 8.2% in 2022 after falling 13.5% in
2020.
Capital spending in the chemical industry will be up
11.9% to $30.6-billion in 2021 and increase 3.1% in 2022
after dropping 17.6% in 2020.
U.S. chemical exports are on the rise as major economies
reopen, but recovery will be mixed and is still vulnerable
to risks, the report warns.
After falling 7.6% in 2020, U.S. chemical exports will be
up 5.8% this year and 13.8% next year, when recovery to
pre-COVID levels is anticipated, while U.S. chemical imports
will rise 1.6% in 2021 and 13.7% in 2022, after falling
5.1% in 2020.
The U.S. chemical industry is expected to maintain its
net exporter position, supporting total U.S. goods exports.
By 2025, net exports of chemicals will reach $40.5-billion.
“Following the worst downturn since the 1930s, the
world economy is on the rebound,” said ACC Chief Economist
Kevin Swift.
“We expect recovery to proceed apace despite multiple
risks and uncertainties. These include supply chain constraints
and increased demand as economies reopen; trade
tensions; weather events, cybersecurity and similar shocks;
inflation; financial volatility, and public and private sector
debt.”

 

Danimer Optimizes Processes, Equipment To Upscale Its Production of Nodax PHA

Frankfort—
Danimer Scientific said it has successfully completed debottlenecking
initiatives at its Winchester, Ky., manufacturing
facility that included optimizing processes and
equipment to accelerate the production of its Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate
(PHA).
Nodax PHA is a 100% biodegradable, renewable and
sustainable plastic produced through natural fermentation
processes using plant oil, such as canola, from crops.
The company plans to reach 100% of the plant’s current
annual run rate capacity of 20-million lbs of Nodax-based
resins by the end of the year.
Earlier this year, Danimer and Live Oak Acquisition
combined their businesses (PCN, 4 Jan 2021, p 3).
In connection with the closing of the transaction, Live
Oak changed its name to Danimer Scientific. The combined
company said it will use its increased capital base to
“significantly” boost production of Nodax PHA.
“As previously noted, the second phase of our construction
process is ongoing, and we continue to expect the expansion
to come online in the second quarter of 2022,” said
Danimer Chief Operating Officer Michael Smith.
“We look forward to continuing our work to deliver sustainable
solutions for the world’s plastic waste crisis.”

 

GSI Gets Order from Hengyi Petrochemical For 8 New Chemical/Oil Product Tankers

Beijing—
Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) said it recently
received an order from Hengyi Petrochemical for the construction
of eight new chemical/oil product tankers.
The carriers, each with a capacity of 49,600 tons, will
combine energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies.
A delivery schedule was not available.

 

Clariant’s MegaMax Catalyst Qualified For Use in CO2-Based Methanol Units

Munich—
Clariant announced its innovative MegaMax catalyst for
carbon dioxide (CO2)-based methanol production has officially
been qualified for future use in commercial CO2-
based methanol plants.
The catalyst, which enables CO2-based methanol synthesis
with high selectivity, activity and longevity, has successfully
passed a qualification test in the methanol demonstration
unit of Air Liquide’s Innovation Campus Frankfurt
in Germany.
The tests demonstrated a high conversion ratio, with a
per-pass CO2 conversion rate of up to 30% to 40% using
H2/CO2 feed. By-product formation was also low and the
process achieved high selectivity. In addition, the catalysts
have shown improved stability and low deactivation.

NWIWK Decides to Shelve Development Of Port of Kalama Methanol Facility

Kalama—
Northwest Innovation Works-Kalama (NWIWK) said it is
temporizing the development of its planned methanol project
at the Port of Kalama, Cowlitz County, Washington
(PCN, 25 Jan 2021, p 1).
The facility, which was expected to cost over $2-billion,
was planned to convert regionally-sourced natural gas into
about 3.6-million t/y of methanol for export to Asia as feedstock
for olefins. The project was originally scheduled to be
completed in 2019.
“In light of recent Washington Department of Ecology’s
decision to deny the Shoreline Conditional Use Permit, the
regulatory environment has become unclear and unpredictable,”
the company noted. “NWIWK is temporizing its
development activities to assess the new regulatory and
political landscape and determine an appropriate path forward.
“Together with our partners, we remain committed to
addressing the global climate challenge, creating jobs and
economic growth, and are moving forward in developing
other innovative net zero projects to produce zero carbon
hydrogen and related products.”

 

Bridgestone Decides to Divest All Shares Of BSRC Subsidiary to LCY Chemical

Tokyo—
Bridgestone Corp. has decided to sell all shares of stock of
its Bridgestone (Huizhou) Synthetic Rubber Co. (BSRC)
subsidiary in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China, to
LCY Chemical for an undisclosed amount.
The decision was made as part of a restructuring of
Bridgestone’s synthetic rubber business in China. Teammates
at BSRC will begin working under LCY. An expected
completion date for the transaction was not given.

 

Sasol Gets Competition Tribunal OK to Divest 16 ASUs to Air Liquide

Johannesburg—
Sasol announced that the Competition Tribunal has approved
the sale of 16 air separation units (ASUs) to Air
Liquide Large Industries South Africa Proprietary Ltd.
(PCN, 3 Aug 2020, p 1).
Last year, the two companies entered into an exclusive
negotiation agreement for Air Liquide to acquire and operate
the “biggest” oxygen production site in the world in
Secunda, South Africa.
In addition to the ASU Air Liquide already operates at
the site, it will operate the 16 ASUs with an installed capacity
of 42,000 t/d. Air Liquide originally bought and sold
the 16 ASUs to Sasol.
Air Liquide plans to launch a multi-year project to
modernize the facilities at an initial investment of €440-
million.
The transaction is expected to close on or before 10
business days from the Competition Tribunal’s approval,
which was received on 8 June 2021.

 

Baystar JV in Process of Starting Up New Ethane Cracker in Port Arthur

Houston—
Bayport Polymers (Baystar), a joint venture of Total Petrochemicals
& Refining USA and Borealis, told PCN that its
new ethane cracker in Port Artur, Texas, is going through
the commissioning and start-up process and will be online
“shortly” (PCN, 20 Apr 2020, p 1).
The 1-million-t/y ethane steam cracker will supply feedstock
for Baystar’s existing 400,000-t/y polyethylene (PE)
unit, as well as it new 625,000-t/y Borstar PE plant (Bay 3)
being built in Pasadena, Texas. Bay 3 is still in the construction
phase with an online date in 2022, said a Bayport
spokesperson.

 

LyondellBasell Signs Long-Term Deal To Use Neste’s Renewable Feedstock

Wesseling—
LyondellBasell and Neste have entered into a long-term
commercial agreement under which LyondellBasell will
source renewable Neste RE feedstock for use in the production
of polymers at LyondellBasell’s site in Wesseling, Germany
(PCN, 14 Oct 2019, p 3).
Neste RE is produced from 100% renewable feedstock
from bio-based sources, such as waste and residue oils and
fats. Polymers produced by LyondellBasell will be sold
under the CirculenRenew name.
This past April, LyondellBasell launched the Circulen
family of products. The CirculenRenew product line consists
of polymers linked to renewable-based feedstocks,
while polymers made from mechanically recycled materials
are marketed under the CirculenRecover brand name and
those linked to advanced molecular recycling are called
CirculenRevive.
In June 2019, the parties announced the “first” simultaneous
production of bio-based polypropylene and biobased
low-density polyethylene at commercial scale at
LyondellBasell’s Wesseling site. The project used Neste’s
renewable hydrocarbons.

 

IVL in ‘Exclusive’ Talks With Ultrapar For Possible Acquisition of Oxiteno

São Paulo—
Indorama Ventures (IVL) and Ultrapar said they are in an
“exclusive” negotiation for the possible purchase of Ultrapar’s
Oxiteno subsidiary by IVL.
No sale and purchase contract or commitment has been
signed by the parties, and other terms and conditions of
the transaction, including value, are still under discussion.
“Consistent with the information it has been providing
to its shareholders and to the capital markets, Ultrapar is
in the process of reviewing its portfolio, pursuing greater
complementary and synergies among its businesses, with
investments focused on existing opportunities in the downstream
oil and gas chain in Brazil, in which the company
has strong operational scale and structural competitive
advantages,” Ultrapar said.

 

Dow and Shell Awarded $4.2-Mn Grant For ‘e-Cracker’ Technology Program

Amsterdam—
Dow and Shell announced that their program to develop
technology to electrify ethylene stream crackers (e-cracker)
has been awarded a $4.2-million grant from the Dutch government
(PCN, 22 June 2020, p 2).
The companies have joint teams in the Netherlands and
the U.S., which have deployed their expertise in electrical
design, metallurgy, hydrocarbon technology and computational
fluid dynamics to narrow down concepts, validate
emissions benefits, advance patents, demonstrate the durability
of electric heating elements, and partner with
equipment suppliers.
Dow and Shell are now evaluating construction of a
multi-megawatt pilot facility, subject to investment support,
that could start up in 2025.
The partners also announced they are joining forces
with The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific
Research (TNO) and the Institute for Sustainable Process
Technology (ISPT) to accelerate key milestones for the
near-term progress and longer-term breakthroughs
needed, Dow said.
TNO has “deep” knowledge in high temperature heat
transfer applications and plays a leading role in identifying
electrical technologies that could be deployed in industry,
while ISPT is focused on the system integration of preferred
concepts, connecting the dynamics of breakthrough
technologies with those of utilities and infrastructure in
the chemicals industry through the energy transition.
“Our multidisciplined team has forged a strong working
foundation and made significant progress in the first year
of our multi-generational plan,” noted Keith Cleason, vice
president of Dow’s Olefins, Aromatics and Alternatives
business.
“We are pleased to add ISPT and TNO to the joint program
as they bring complementary expertise and share the
same drive to bring viable, low-carbon technologies online
as soon as they are feasible.”

 

Mitsubishi Becomes ‘First’ to License Mura’s HydroPRS Recycling Process from KBR

Houston—
Mura Technology and KBR announced an agreement for
Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. (MCC) to be the “first” to license
the HydroPRS (Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Solution)
process in Japan (PCN, 18 Jan 2021, p 1).
Mura’s HydroPRS process utilizes its Cat-HTR technology,
which employs supercritical water, heat and pressure
to convert waste plastics into valuable chemicals and oils
by breaking down the long-chain hydrocarbons and donating
hydrogen to produce shorter-chain, stable hydrocarbon
products for use in the production of new plastic and other
materials, according to Mura’s website.
Earlier this year, KBR and Mura entered into an alliance
agreement in which KBR agreed to be the exclusive
licensing partner for Mura and provide studies, basic engineering,
technical services, proprietary equipment and
modules for the technology to customers around the world.
“KBR is proud to be Mura’s exclusive licensing partner
for this breakthrough technology,” said Doug Kelly, president
of technology at KBR. “Over the past few months, we
have seen tremendous interest in HydroPRS from many
leading companies worldwide and we are excited by MCC’s
decision to be an early adopter to achieve their sustainability
objectives.”

 

Indaver, Ineos Styrolution Produce ‘First’ ABS with Recycled Styrene

Frankfurt—
Sustainable waste management company Indaver and
Ineos Styrolution announced the “first” production of
“ABrS,” acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) with a styrene
component based on recycled feedstock at Ineos’ laboratory
in Cologne, Germany (PCN, 25 Jan 2021, p 2).
The material was subsequently processed at Neue Materialien
Bayreuth GmbH, Ineos’ research and development
partner.
Earlier this year, Ineos announced plans to build a new
demonstration polymerization facility to test the production
of ABS plastics from recycled feedstock at its site in
Antwerp, Belgium. A project schedule was not given.
“The first production of ABrS at lab scale is a successful
proof of concept,” said Petra Inghelbrecht, project leader
for the ABSolutely Circular research project.
“With the upcoming construction of a polystyrene recycling
plant and an ABrS mini-plant in Antwerp becoming
operational, we will be able to make another significant
step forward towards production of ABS from recycled
feedstock at commercial scale.”
Production of ABrS offers up to a 30% lower greenhouse
gas footprint compared to traditional ABS, the companies
noted. Initial testing did not show any measurable differences
between ABS and ABrS.

 

BASF Gets UL Validation in Freeport; Advances Chem Recycling Program

Freeport—BASF
advances its chemical recycling program with validation by
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for its Ultramid Ccycled
polymers manufactured in Freeport, Texas.
Under UL 2809, Environmental Claim Validation Procedure,
Ultramid Ccycled grades, using multiple pre- and
post-consumer waste streams, are available using a mass
balance system to meet the recycled content criteria.
These grades have the same properties as their conventional
equivalents, do not require adjustments to traditional
processing methods and are sustainable raw material
alternatives for applications such as packaging film,
carpeting and furniture.
“Our new Ultramid Ccycled grades have the same high
mechanical strength, stiffness and thermal stability as our
traditional grades,” noted Randall Hulvey, business director,
BASF Monomers, North America.
“In addition, they will help our customers advance in
their sustainability goals.”

 

People on the Move

Encina Development Group—Florian Jardin has
been appointed European director of business development
and product manager. He was previously with DSM as
global category manager, responsible for supply chain
management of polyesters, monomers, polymers, tolling
and other materials.
Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Assn. (GPCA)—
Dr. Mohamed Al-Mulla has been elected vice chairman of
the association, replacing Gulf Petrochemical Industries
Co. President Dr. Abdulrahman Jawahery.
Yousef Al-Benyan, vice chairman and chief executive of
SABIC, was re-elected for a new three-year term as chairman
of the board of directors of GPCA.

 

IVL Finalizes Acquisition of CarbonLite’s PET Recycling Assets for About $68-Mn

Dallas—
Indorama Ventures (IVL) has completed the purchase of
the recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) assets of
CarbonLite Holdings and its subsidiaries in Dallas, Texas,
for around $68.2-million (PCN, 31 May 2021, p 3).
The assets have a combined capacity of around 92,000
t/y, consisting of 48,000 t/y of rPET pellets and 44,000 t/y
of flakes. The transaction brings IVL closer to its rPET
commitment of 750,000 t/y by 2025.
CarbonLite is currently under Chapter 11 of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code.

 

Clariant Completing Its Transformation Into a High-Value Specialty Chem Firm

Muttenz—
Clariant has reached an agreement to sell its pigments
business to a consortium of Heubach Group and SK Capital
Partners, allowing Clariant to complete its transformation
into a high-value specialty chemical company (PCN, 7
Dec 2020, p 3).
Late last year, Clariant announced it was transforming
itself towards a higher-value specialty portfolio and would
focus on its core business areas: care chemicals, catalysis,
and natural resources.
The plan involved a divestment program, as well as cutting
around 1,000 positions in service and regional structures.
About one-third of the cuts were to be included in
the divestment transfers.
Clariant sold its healthcare packaging business in October
2019 and its masterbatches business in July 2020.
Divestment of its pigments business will allow it to complete
the divestment program.
The transaction, with an enterprise value of between
CHF 805-million to CHF 855-million, is expected to close
in the first half of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions
and regulatory approvals.

 

Avient & Oceanworks Agree to Collaborate To Expand Recycled Ocean Plastics Use

Cleveland—
Avient Corp., a provider of specialized and sustainable material
solutions and services, announced it is collaborating
with Oceanworks to help customers incorporate recycled
ocean plastics into their products.
Building on last year’s launch of reSound R recycled
content thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) created with
Oceanworks recycled plastics, the companies are now
working together on an expanded recycled ocean plastics
portfolio. The resulting custom-formulated materials, both
TPEs and thermoplastics, will be based on Oceanworks
Guaranteed base resins.
“As a leading global polymer material formulation expert,
Avient will help us to further extend the usage of recycled
ocean plastics to specialty formulations and applications,”
said Rob Ianelli, founder and president of Oceanworks.
“Their global customers represent a wide range of end
markets that value the addition of recycled ocean plastics.
Every ton of at-risk plastic waste successfully averted on
its path to the ocean is part of the solution. We are thrilled
to have the opportunity to drive further customization and
scale in collaboration with Avient.”

 

Axens and Sulzer Combine Technologies For FCC Naphtha Processing Solution

Paris—Axens
and Sulzer Chemtech (GTC Technology) said they have
formed an alliance to license an advanced process for fluid
catalytic cracking (FCC) naphtha processing to bring “outstanding”
advantages for the gasoline and petrochemical
segments.
The partners will combine Axens’ Prime-G+ hydrodesulfurization
technology and Sulzer’s GT-BTX PluS extraction
process, which will give refiners the option to convert FCC
gasoline into petrochemical products – BTX (benzene, toluene,
xylene) and additional propylene – and get additional
margin in regions where gasoline demand is not sufficient.
The technology can be applied in new, or retrofits of existing
units in operation to maximize profit, the companies
noted.
“We are excited about the partnership with Axens,” said
Sander van Donk, head of global technology business at
Sulzer Chemtech.
“We are committed to delivering state-of-the-art technologies
and are confident that this combined solution will
bring many benefits to our customers. It will allow them to
prepare for the changing gasoline and petrochemicals demand
in both the near and longer term.”

 

Saipem and Technip to Perform Studies For Horisont’s Blue Ammonia Project

Oslo—Horisont
Energi has selected Saipem SpA and Technip Energies for
two independent concept studies for the full conceptual
design of its proposed Barents Blue carbon-neutral ammonia
plant in Hammerfest, Norway.
The studies, which have already begun, will display the
design of the blue ammonia facility, based on Haldor Topsoe’s
SynCOR Ammonia technology with over 99% overall
carbon capture. Expected to be completed in November
2021, the studies will be key for future decisions to realize
the project.
Both independent concept studies will be performed in
close collaboration with Multiconsult ASA, which is responsible
for the site preparation, construction and infrastructure
work.
“Barents Blue will be Europe’s first large-scale factory
for the production of so-called ‘blue’ ammonia from natural
gas, which means CO2 [carbon dioxide] is captured during
the production process and stored,” said Horisont.
“The storage will be done by transporting all CO2 offshore,
where it is injected into a large geological reservoir
under the seabed.”
If the project proceeds, construction is planned to take
place from 2023 to 2025, with operations scheduled to begin
in 2025.

 

Grupa Azoty Exiting POM Business

Warsaw—Grupa
Azoty announced that its management board has decided it
will be discontinuing its polyoxymethylene (POM) business
no later than 31 Aug. 2021.
“The decision was prompted by the conclusion that the
POM business would not be economically viable in the
foreseeable future,” the company noted. “The planned discontinuation
of POM production will reduce the company’s
total CO2 [carbon dioxide] emissions.”

 

Borealis Gets Renasci’s Entire Output Of Chemically-Recycled Feedstock

Porvoo—Borealis
has reached an exclusive agreement with Renasci Oostende
Recycling NV to acquire the entire chemicallyrecycled
output material from Renasci’s high-tech recycling
center in Oostende, Belgium.
Under the deal, Renasci will supply Borealis with about
20,000 t/y of the recycled feedstock, enabling Borealis to
offer commercial volumes of Borcycle C circular polyolefins
and circular base chemicals at several Borealis sites.
The waste feedstock processed at Renasci’s ISCC Pluscertified
recycling center is mainly derived from dried
household waste and some industrial waste.
In the first step of the recycling process, the waste is
sorted multiple times to extract the best value plastic material
for mechanical recycling. The waste feedstock that
cannot be mechanically recycled is then chemically recycled;
this chemically-recycled feedstock will be subsequently
processed in the Borealis steam crackers, initially
at its Porvoo, Finland, site.
“This cooperation with Renasci allows us to offer our
customers and partners virgin-like polyolefins from chemically-
recycled post-consumer waste in material quantities,
effective this quarter,” noted Lucrece Foufopoulos, executive
vice president of Polyolefins, Innovation & Technology
and Circular Economy Solutions at Borealis. “This is how
we re-invent for more sustainable living, and expand our
portfolio with a Borcycle C offering.”

 

Kemira Starts Up New Production Units For Emulsion Polymers at Mobile Site

Mobile—
Kemira has completed and started up new state-of-the-art
production units for emulsion polymers and bio-based
acrylamide monomer at its manufacturing site in Mobile,
Ala. (PCN, 11 Feb 2019, p 2).
The facility, expected be fully operational during this
summer, required an investment of approximately €70-
million. Capacities were not given.
“The capacity expansion in Mobile will strengthen Kemira’s
position in the energy market in the Americas and
supports our growth in the region going forward,” said
Pedro Materan, senior vice president of Global Oil & Gas
at Kemira.
“The market demand is recovering after the 2020 slowdown
and we’re in a good position and excited to meet the
growing demand of our customers for high-quality emulsion
polymers.”

 

Orion Launches Renewable Carbon Black; Will Cut CO2 Emissions in Tire Industry

Houston—
Orion Engineered Carbons announced the commercial
launch of ECORAX Nature, a new family of products developed
using carbon black made from renewable feedstocks.
ECORAX products were developed for rubber applications
utilizing industrial-grade, plant-based oils; a renewable,
non-fossil derived feedstock. ECORAX Nature 100 is
the “first highly reinforcing” carbon black made from renewable
feedstock, which can be used in critical tire tread
construction, the company explained.
The product is currently being tested and will go into
high volume manufacturing in the second half of next year,
Orion noted.

 

Gidara Energy Building Amsterdam Plant To Convert Waste into Green Methanol

Amsterdam—
Gidara Energy is setting up its first advanced biofuels facility,
Advanced Methanol Amsterdam (AMA), in the Port
of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to convert non-recyclable
waste into advanced methanol.
The AMA plant will produce around 260 t/d of renewable
methanol using Gidara’s HTW biomass gasification
technology, originally developed by RWE and Thyssenkrupp.
The methanol will replace fossil-based fuels, creating
“significant” carbon savings, Gidara noted. A schedule
for the project was not disclosed.
Separately, Casale said that Gidara has selected its
methanol synthesis technology for the project. Casale is
providing the license, basic design, and proprietary items,
including the proprietary plate-cooled IMC converter.

 

Distrupol Gets Polymer Distributor Lautrup

Surrey–
GPD Companies affiliate Distrupol, a European distributor
of thermoplastics and elastomers, has acquired Lautrup
Chemicals for an undisclosed amount.
Lautrup, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a “leading”
distributor of polymers in Scandinavia, Distrupol noted. It
provides a broad portfolio of “high-quality” polymer products
from “premier” suppliers to a diverse client base
across the Nordic region, as well as Eastern and Southern
Europe.
“We look forward to expanding the range and reach of
our product and service offerings to customers across
Europe,” noted Richard Orme, managing director of Distrupol.

 

 

Tatneft Wins Bid for Purchase of Ekopet; Will Further Develop Its PC Business

Moscow—
Russia’s Tatneft said it has won the auction for the sale of
the Ekopet Group of Companies, a polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) producer in Russia, which will enable Tatneft to
further grow its petrochemical business.
Ekopet has a 220,000-t/y PET plant based on Uhde Inventa-
Fischer’s latest Melt-to-Resin technologies. It produces
and sells the PET in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Legally binding contracts are expected to be signed in the
“coming weeks,” Tatneft noted.
“The acquisition of Ekopet will allow the most efficient
implementation of the company’s plan for the development
of the petrochemical business and will contribute to the
accomplishment of the Tatneft Group’s goals to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions along the entire value chain,”
added Tatneft.
According the Ekopet’s website, PAO National Bank
Trust has been the sole shareholder of Ekopet since 8 Sept.
2018.

 

Linde & Renaissance Awarded EPC Contract For Gazprom, RusGazDobycha’s New GPC

Moscow—
A consortium of Linde and Renaissance Heavy Industries
has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction
(EPC) contract for a gas processing complex
(GPC) being built by Gazprom and RusGazDobycha near
Ust-Luga, Russia (PCN, 22 Mar 2021, p 1).
Once complete, the GPC will process 45-billion cu m/yr
of gas and produce 13-million t/y of liquefied natural gas,
as well as ethane fraction, liquefied petroleum gas and
pentane-hexane fraction.
The contract, awarded by RusKhimAlyans, a specialpurpose
company formed by Gazprom and RusGazDobycha
to operate the project, involves design works, equipment
supplies, construction and commissioning of gas processing
and off-site facilities at the GPC. The consortium plans to
begin work at the site as early as this month.
Earlier this year, Gazprom and RusGazDobycha terminated
an EPC contract with Nipigaz for the GPC, in an
effort to improve project costs.
Baltic Chemical, a subsidiary of RusGazDobycha, is
building a gas chemical facility that will be technologically
interconnected with the GPC.
The new chemical facility will have two ethane cracking
plants with a capacity of 1.4-million t/y each of ethylene, as
well as six polyethylene reactor lines, each designed to
have a capacity of 500,000 t/y. Completion is expected in
2024.

 

Cargill and Helm Establish JV to Build Renewable BDO Facility in the U.S.

Des Moines—
Cargill and Helm have formed Qore, a new joint venture to
build the “first” commercial-scale, renewable 1,4-
butanediol (BDO) plant at Cargill’s existing site in the U.S.
in Eddyville, Iowa.
The companies are investing a combined $300-million
in the facility, which will be based on Genomatica’s BDO
process technology to initially produce and distribute a
minimum of around 65,000 t/y of the first bio-intermediate,
Qira. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2024.
Made through the fermentation of plant-based sugars,
Qira can save up to 94% of greenhouse gas emissions when
replacing chemical intermediates made from traditional
fossil sources. Qira can be used the same as its chemical
counterpart, but with “significantly better” environmental
performance, the partners noted.

 

Dow Planning Freeport MDI Investment; Will Shut Down PU Assets at La Porte

Midland—Dow
announced plans to build an integrated methylene diphenyl
diisocyanate (MDI) distillation and prepolymers
facility at its world-scale manufacturing site in Freeport,
Texas.
The new MDI plant will replace the company’s current
North American capacity in La Porte, Texas, and will also
be capable of supplying an additional 30% of product to
Dow’s customers. Start-up is expected in 2023.
In coordination with the opening of the Freeport plant,
Dow will shut down its polyurethane (PU) assets at the La
Porte site.
“This MDI investment optimizes our existing asset infrastructure
and enhances our global polyurethanes leadership
position, further enabling us to support downstream
systems customers’ growth,” said Jane Palmieri, president
of Dow’s Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure operating
segment.
“The back integration at the Freeport site creates a cost
competitive supply of key upstream polyurethane raw materials,
ensures a reliable supply position to support our
growth in downstream high-value polyurethane markets
and delivers a more sustainable production process.”

 

LyondeBasell Confirms Successful Start-Up Of Ulsan PP’s New Production Facility

Ulsan—
LyondellBasell announced the successful start-up of Ulsan
PP Co.’s new polypropylene (PP) production plant in Ulsan,
South Korea (PCN, 24 May 2021, p 1).
The 400,000-t/y PP unit, “one of the largest of its kind
in Asia,” utilizes LyondellBasell’s fifth generation Spheripol
process technology, LyondellBasell noted.
Ulsan PP is a joint venture of PolyMirae and SK Advanced.
PolyMirae is a 50-50 joint venture of Lyondell-
Basell and DL Chemical.

 

Air Liquide, Samsung Continue Partnership To Build New Methanol Unit for Sarawak

Sarawak—
Air Liquide Engineering & Construction (E&C) has agreed
to continue its partnership with Samsung Engineering to
build a methanol production facility for Sarawak Petchem
in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia (PCN, 7 Dec 2020, p 1).
The new 5,000-t/d methanol facility, planned to begin
operations in 2023, will be based on Air Liquide E&C’s proprietary
Lurgi MegaMethanol process technology, which
converts natural gas to methanol.
In addition to technology licensor, Air Liquide E&C will
provide engineering, related equipment, as well as an air
separation unit with a production capacity of 2,200 t/d of
oxygen.
“Samsung Engineering and Air Liquide co-developed
this project from the pre-feasibility study stage together by
implementing exceptional engineering capabilities and
showing superb commitment to this project,” noted Samsung
Engineering Vice President Cheonhong Park.
“Through this collaboration, we will successfully deliver
the world-scale methanol plant in Sarawak and hope to
collaborate with Air Liquide for future joint projects.”

 

ACC Welcomes Five New Members To Serve on Its Board of Directors

Washington—The
American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) board of directors has
appointed five new members to serve on the board, effective
immediately.
The new members include: Bruce Chin, chief executive
of Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.; Mike Heinz, designee
chairman and chief executive of BASF Corp.; Solvay Chief
North American Officer Mike Finelli; Phil Brown, managing
director of ICL Americas region at ICL Group, and
George Koutsaftes, president of Honeywell Advanced Materials.
“Our board’s expertise and strong leadership will continue
to guide us as we navigate a challenging legislative
and regulatory landscape at the local, state, federal and
international levels,” said ACC President and Chief Executive
Chris Jahn.
“It’s vital that we continue to advance sound, risk-based
public policy that supports the safe, innovative, and effective
chemical products and technologies that are key to
helping solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.”

 

Iberdrola & Foresa Planning Investment In New Green Methanol Plant in Spain

Madrid—
Utility firm Iberdrola and chemical producer Foresa, both
based in Spain, are exploring a potential initial investment
of over €82-million in renewable hydrogen for the industrial
production of green methanol at Galicia, Spain.
The proposed project would involve construction of a 20-
MW green hydrogen production plant, expandable to 200
MW, and the installation of a carbon capture system to
obtain carbon dioxide from biomass consumption plants.
In the first phase, the plant is expected to produce
10,000 t/y of green methanol, which could be increased to
100,000 t/y.
The project would be co-located with Foresa’s facilities,
where it produces resins, formaldehydes and additives.
Foresa would use the green methanol in its chemical processes
and export the surplus.

 

Biorizon’s Relement Spin-Off Gets Funds To Use for Bio-Aromatics Production

Rotterdam—
Relement, a new spin-off company of Biorizon that was
established for the development, production and marketing
of bio-aromatics developed by TNO, has secured its first
capital investment (PCN, 23-30 Nov 2020, p 2).
Currently, about 40% of all chemical building blocks
consist of aromatics, which can only be produced from fossil
raw materials, the company earlier said.
Relement wants to replace the current fossil aromatics
with special bio-aromatics, which are “more sustainable”
and “higher quality.”
The investment will enable Relement to contract partners
for scaling up sample production for customers and
strengthen technological development, Relement noted.
Relement plans to design a commercial plant, once it
brings these bio-aromatics to market.

 

Tufton Chem Tankers Join Stolt Pool

Oslo—Stolt
Tankers and Tufton Investment have entered into a pooling
agreement, effective immediately, for seven of Tufton’s
chemical tankers to join the Stolt Tankers Joint Service
(STJS) deep-sea fleet.
Tufton will contribute the 19,000-dwt to 21,999-dwt
tankers to the Stolt fleet during the second and third quarters
of this year.
In addition, the parties have agreed to enter into a carbon
reduction and sustainability information sharing
agreement, in which they will jointly explore and pursue
vessel efficiency and propulsion research, environmental
projects, and a biofuel testing program with the goal of
driving “significant” carbon emission reductions across
their combined fleets, Stolt noted.

 

People on the Move

Eastman Chemical—Stephen G. Crawford, currently
a senior vice president, has been named an executive vice
president to succeed Mark K. Cox, who is retiring. In addition
to his responsibilities for technology and sustainability,
Crawford will assume executive leadership of manufacturing
and worldwide engineering and construction upon
Cox’s retirement in 2022.
Julie A. McAlindon has become senior vice president,
Supply Chain, Regions and Transformation. She was most
recently chief procurement officer and vice president,
Transformation.
Dr. Christopher M. Killian, previously vice president,
Additives & Functional Products, Chemical Intermediates
and Corporate Technology, has become senior vice president
and chief technology officer.
Nova Chemicals—Victor Alvarado will join the company
on 1 July 2021 as senior vice president of operations
and engineering. He has been serving as operations director
at Ineos Aromatics since January.
McDermott International—Samik Mukherjee has
been appointed executive vice president and chief operating
officer. He was previously group senior vice president
of projects.
Chemetry—Robert Snyder, most recently chief strategy
officer, has been named chief executive to replace Ryan
Gilliam, who will become chairman of the board.

 

IndianOil, Gujarat Govt. Sign MoUs For a Number of Projects in India

Gujarat—IndianOil
and the Government of Gujarat have signed memorandum
of understandings (MoUs) for setting up a Petrochemical
and Lube Integration (LuPech) project and acrylics/oxo
alcohol project, as well as other infrastructure projects at
its Gujarat refinery in India.
The LuPech project will produce polypropylene and lube
oil base stock, while the acrylics/oxo alcohol project at IndianOil’s
Dumad and Gujarat refinery will manufacture
value-added butyl acrylate.
An MoU was also signed for infrastructure facilities at
Dumad for the Koyali-Ahmednagar-Solapur pipeline and a
tank truck loading facility for linear alkyl benzene.
The other planned infrastructure projects involve a new
flare system at the Gujarat refinery and a hydrogen dispensing
facility for fuel cell electric vehicles. Schedules for
the planned projects were not given.
“These projects will strengthen the corporation’s readiness
for venturing into petrochemical products like PVC
[polyvinyl chloride], styrene, acrylonitrile, polymethyl
methacrylate and ethylene oxide in [the] future,” IndianOil
noted.

 

Air Products Touts Plan for New Net-Zero Hydrogen Energy Complex in Edmonton

Alberta—Air
Products announced plans to build a new multimilliondollar
net-zero hydrogen energy complex in Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada, in collaboration with its Air Products Canada
subsidiary, the Government of Canada and the Province
of Alberta.
Work began in 2018 on the core of this world-scale complex,
which will begin with a C$1.3-billion hydrogen production
and liquefaction facility expected on stream in
2024.
Specifically, Air Products will build, own and operate
the complex consisting of:
Auto-Thermal Reformer (ATR) hydrogen production
plant, based on Haldor Topsoe technology, to be
built on a large project site in Edmonton with room
for expansion;
Carbon capture operations capable of achieving
95% removal of carbon dioxide from the complex.
Power generation unit fueled 100% by hydrogen to
produce clean electricity for the entire facility and
export to the grid;
A 30-t/d hydrogen liquefaction plant designed by
Air Products;
World-scale air separation facility, also designed by
Air Products, to support the ATR operation and to
produce clean liquid oxygen and nitrogen for the
merchant industrial gas market; and
Connection to Air Products’ existing Alberta Heartland
Hydrogen Pipeline network for enhanced reliability
and phased decarbonization of the entire
network.
The project has received board of directors’ approval,
subject to final completion of the agreements contemplated
in signed memorandum of understanding between Air
Products and the Canadian authorities, and with appropriate
permit approvals.
Air Products is also considering further investments in
both existing and new hydrogen facilities in Alberta and
across Canada.

 

Brightmark Building ’World’s Largest’ Advanced Plastics Recycling Facility

Macon—
Brightmark announced its decision to build the “world’s
largest” advanced plastics recycling and renewal facility in
Macon, Georgia (PCN, 3 Aug 2020, p 3).
The plant, estimated to cost over $680-million, will utilize
a state-of-the-art and proprietary plastics renewal
process that recycles all plastic waste (Types 1-7) that has
reached the end of its useful life.
Once complete, the facility will divert 400,000 t/y of the
plastic waste from landfills and incinerators and convert it
into 64-million gallons of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and
naphtha bland stocks, and 20-million gallons of wax.
Brightmark’s first plastics renewal facility, being built
in Ashley, Ind., will divert 100,000 t/y of plastic waste from
landfills, waterways and incinerators, and convert it into
18-million gallons of the diesel and naphtha blend stocks
and 6-million gallons of wax. Operations are expected to
begin this year.
Last year, the company said it was in the final phases
of determining the locations of its next recycling facilities
in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
Louisiana, or Texas, and planned to have at least two sites
shovel-ready by 2021.

 

Borouge Expanding Recyclate Portfolio Through New Plaspulp Union Deal

Singapore—
Borouge said it has signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with Plaspulp Union in Singapore to advance its
ambitions to become an end-to-end solutions provider of
both virgin and recycled polyolefins.
Under the MoU, Borouge will have access to Plaspulp
Union’s mechanical recycling capabilities and products,
enabling Borouge to further develop and commercialize
new packaging application that incorporates recyclates.
“This marks Borouge’s first foray into the recycling
marketplace in Southeast Asia, and Borouge is expected to
establish more partnerships with other recycling companies
in the coming months,” noted Borouge.
Borouge has already invested in a Packaging Centre of
Excellence focused on developing circular packaging solutions,
and has dedicated circular economy solutions teams
to drive partnerships, commercialize new applications and
develop educational programs to advocate the importance
of a circular economy.
The MoU with Plaspulp Union adds to the existing
partnerships Borouge has established with two recycling
companies in China.

 

Ascend Boosts HiDura LCPA Capacity

Greenwood—
Ascend Performance Materials has expanded production
capacity for its HiDura long-chain polyamides (LCPA) at
its plant in Greenwood, S.C.
The multimillion-dollar expansion will help the company
meet the growing demand for its new HiDura product
line, which was launched in November 2020.
“Exceptional ductility, UV weatherability and hydrolysis
resistance give HiDura resins and engineered plastics
reliable, long-term performance in some of the harshest
conditions,” said Kaan Gunes, business manager for
HiDura.

 

Alpek Finalizes Purchase of CarbonLite’s U.S. PET Recycling, Pelletization Plant

Reading—
Alpek has acquired CarbonLite Recycling LLC’s state-ofthe-
art polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling and
pelletization facility in Reading, Penn., for $96-million on a
debt-free basis.
The site has a bottle-to-flake and flake-to-pellet input
capacity of 115,000 tons and 49,000 tons, respectively,
making it the “largest” integrated recycled PET (rPET)
facility in the Americas, Alpek noted. The site is expected
to complete commissioning and start production ramp-up
in the third quarter of 2021.
The Reading plant has been equipped with brand-new
equipment, including state-of-the-art curbside bottle handling,
wash lines, and a solid state polymerizer that enables
the production of food-grade pellet, which is needed
for bottle-to-bottle recycling.
“This acquisition is fully aligned with the Fostering a
Circular Economy pillar of the company’s long-term strategic
growth plan,” said Alpek.
“It increases Alpek’s installed rPET capacity to 394,000
tons, reaffirms its position as the largest PET recycler in
the Americas, and achieves the company’s target of supplying
selected customers with 25% rPET content before
2025.”

 

Indorama Setting Up Technology Center For IOD Business in The Woodlands

The Woodlands—
Indorama Ventures (IVL) has begun developing a new
technology center under its Integrated Oxides & Derivatives
(IOD) business in The Woodlands, Texas.
The new center will be a hub for IOD research in the
Americas, with links to sister facilities in Australia, China
and India. It will also support IVL’s Fibers and PET (polyethylene
terephthalate) segments on various sustainability
projects.
Extensive design and engineering will begin on the center
in the “coming months,” with full occupation expected
early next year, the company noted.
“IOD is committed to strengthening our innovation
platforms and meeting our customers’ market needs,” said
IOC President and Chief Executive Alastair Port.
“Our new facility will be a significant milestone on our
‘future ready’ roadmap and serve as a center of excellence
for the development of new niche and sustainability product
lines. The Woodlands landscape creates a perfect setting
for this investment.”

 

Egypt’s Madbouly Lays Foundation Stone For Petrochem Complex in Ain Sokhna

Cairo—
Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly recently laid
the foundation stone for the “first” petrochemical complex
to be built in the Suez Canal Economic Zone in Ain Sokhna,
Egypt, according to several local media reports.
The estimated $7.5-billion complex will have a production
capacity of 1-million t/y of polyethylene, polypropylene,
polyester and other chemical and petroleum products
(PCN, 3 May 2021, p 2). Operations are expected to begin
in the first half of 2024.

 

Incipio in Partnership with Eastman To Utilize Tritan Renew Copolyester

Irvine—Incipio
Group and Eastman announced a strategic partnership
that will enable Incipio to begin incorporating Eastman
Tritan Renew copolyester into select lines across its brand
portfolio, beginning later this year.
Eastman’s Tritan Renew copolyester is durable, BPA
(bisphenol A)-free and consists of 50% ISCC-certified recycled
content, Eastman noted. It is made through Eastman’s
advanced circular recycling technologies (molecular
recycling), which break down plastic waste into basic building
blocks to be used to create new material.
“Incipio Group has made a commitment to find a onefor-
one sustainable substitute where possible for every material
used in our products across all of our brands,” said
Incipio Chief Executive Brian Stech.
“Eastman’s Tritan Renew will help drive this goal forward,
enabling us to bring products with certified recycled
content into our core protective case lines without sacrificing
durability, clarity or performance.”

 

Eastman to Sell Tire Additives Assets To an Affiliate of One Rock Capital

Kingsport—Eastman
Chemical has entered into a definitive agreement
with an affiliate of One Rock Capital Partners to sell the
rubber additives, and other product lines and related assets
and technology of its global tire additives business.
The $800-million transaction includes Crystex insoluble
sulfur and Santoflex antigradants rubber additives. Eastman
Impera and other performance resins product lines of
the tires additives business are not included in the sale.
Subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing
conditions, the deal is expected to be finalized in the second
half of 2021.

Sibur, Samruk-Kazyna & KazMunayGas Consider Cooperation in PC Projects

Moscow—Sibur,
Kazakhstan’s national welfare fund Samruk-Kazyna, and
KazMunayGas have signed a framework agreement for
possible joint participation in petrochemical projects in
National Industrial Petrochemical Technopark, a special
economic zone in Atyrau, Kazakhstan.
As part of the agreement, the parties will consider
Sibur’s engagement in an ongoing project for construction
of an integrated gas chemical complex to produce 500,000
t/y of polypropylene (PCN, 31 Aug 2020, p 2).
Sibur may also take part in another pending project to
build a 1.25-million-t/y polyethylene (PE) facility (PCN, 25
May 2020, p 1).
In 2018, Borealis and United Chemical Co., a subsidiary
of Samruk-Kazyna, signed a joint development agreement
to build the PE project. Last year, Borealis dropped
out of the project.
The PE project was to involve construction of an integrated
ethane cracker and two Borstar PE units. Start-up
was planned in 2025.
Sibur, Samruk-Kazyna and KayMunayGas are expected
to make a decision on joint participation in the projects by
the end of the year, following Sibur’s assessment of their
economic feasibility.

 

RKH Lets Air Liquide E&C Contract For New Russian Methanol Plant

Moscow—Air Liquide
Engineering & Construction (Air Liquide E&C) has
been selected as technology licensor for a new methanol
plant being built by RusKimKom (RKH), part of the
Ruschem Group, in the Nenets region of Russia.
Air Liquide will be responsible for the licensing and engineering
of the 1.8-million-t/y methanol plant, which will
be part of a new gas-to-chemical complex to be built by
RKH. Value of the contract and a schedule for the project
were not given.

 

Worley Awarded Contract from Shell For New Green Hydrogen Facility

Rotterdam—Shell
has awarded an early engineering services contract to
Worley to support the development of a new 200-megawatt
electrolysis-based hydrogen plant in the Netherlands.
The Holland Hydrogen I project, to be located on the
Tweede Maasvlakte in the Port of Rotterdam, will be a
“first-of-its-kind” project on this scale, Worley noted.
The plant is expected to produce 50,000 kg/d to 60,000
kg/d of hydrogen, which will initially be used at Shell’s
Pernis refinery. Operations are scheduled to start by 2023,
subject to a final investment decision later this year.
Worley is providing early engineering and asset integration
related services, including the selection of technology.

 

Mitsui Chem’s Prime Polymer Subsidiary Plans to Build New PP Plant at Ichihara

Tokyo—
Prime Polymer, a subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals, said it is
planning to build a new polypropylene (PP) facility at its
Ichihara site in Chiba, Japan, as part of a “scrap-andbuild”
style restructuring of its production system.
The 200,000-t/y PP plant, based on Mitsui Chemicals’
Hypol process, will enable the production of highperformance
PP. Construction is scheduled to start this
August, with operations scheduled to begin in November
2024.
“Moving forward, Prime Polymer plans to suspend its
existing manufacturing facility with a view to production
capacity that is in line with supply–demand balance,” said
Mitsui.
“In restructuring its production system here, Prime Polymer
anticipates the effect of approximately 70,000 tons in
reduced greenhouse gas emissions, annually, against 2013
figures.
“Further, Prime Polymer will be ramping up its circular
economy-related efforts through the likes of providing biomass
raw material-based materials.”

 

Circtec & Birla Carbon Sign Supply Deal For Sustainable Carbonaceous Materials

Marietta—
Circtec, a technology developer and producer of renewable
fuels from end-of-life tires, and carbon black producer Birla
Carbon, have signed a long-term supply agreement for sustainable
carbonaceous materials.
To support this partnership, Circtec is building a flagship
production plant in the Netherlands, which will utilize
its pyrolysis technology to turn millions of tires into 73,000
t/y of sustainable carbonaceous materials in the next five
years. Production is scheduled to begin by the end of 2022.
Birla Carbon will supply the materials to its customers
in the tire, mechanical rubber goods, and plastic industries,
globally.
“Through our collaboration with Circtec, we will become
the largest suppliers of sustainable carbonaceous materials
in the world, weaving together technology expertise and
customized solutions.”

 

One Rock Affiliate Completes Acquisition Of BASF’s Specialty Chems Businesses

Chicago—An
affiliate of One Rock Capital Partners has finalized the
purchase of BASF’s manufacturing site in Kankakee, Ill.,
and the associated specialty chemicals businesses there
(PCN, 21-28 December 2020, p 4).
The acquired businesses include esters, anionic surfactants,
vegetable oil-based raw material sterols and natural
vitamin E. Value of the transaction was not disclosed.
The newly independent company will operate under the
name Kensing and will be lead by Serge Rogasik, who has
been appointed chief executive.

 

Pembina, Inter Pipeline Agree to Combine; Brookfield Raises Hostile Takeover Bid

Calgary—
Pembina and Inter Pipeline have entered into an arrangement
agreement for Pembina to acquire all issued and outstanding
common shares of Inter Pipeline in an all-share
transaction valued at C$8.3-billion.
The board of directors of both companies have unanimously
approved the arrangement agreement and support
the transaction, which is subject to shareholder and regulatory
approvals, as well as approval of the Court of
Queen’s Bench of Alberta. Completion is expected in the
fourth quarter of 2021.
“The transaction will create one of the largest energy
infrastructure companies in Canada, with a pro forma enterprise
value of C$53-billion and a diversified and integrated
asset base that can support and grow an extensive
value chain for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude
oil, from wellhead to end user,” the companies noted.
This past March, Inter Pipeline received a hostile takeover
bid from an affiliate of Brookfield Infrastructure
Partners to acquire all outstanding common shares of Inter
Pipeline for C$13.5-billion (PCN, 15 Mar 2021, p 2). On 2
June 2021, the affiliate of Brookfield raised its hostile
takeover bid to C$16.50 per share.
The board of directors of Inter Pipeline continues to
unanimously recommend the Pembina transaction to Inter
Pipeline shareholders.

 

Petrobras Initiates Process to Sell Stake In Deten Quimica PC JV in Bahia State

São Paulo—
Petrobras has begun the sale process for its 27.88% interest
in the Deten Quimica SA petrochemical complex in Bahia,
Brazil, reported Reuters citing a securities filing.
Deten Quimica, a joint venture with Cepsa, owner of
the remaining approximately 77% stake, produces linear
alkyl benzene, as well as linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid,
at its site in Camacari, according to Deten’s website. No
other details were available.

 

Lummus’ Green Circle Business & Synthos Partnering for Biobutadiene Technology

Houston—
Lummus Technology announced that its Green Circle
business is collaborating with Synthos to commercialize
Synthos’ biobutadiene technology.
The first step of the commercialization program includes
the development of a feasibility study for a 20,000-
t/y biobutadiene production plant, which will form the basis
for an investment decision. No other details were
available.
“Sustainability is a key for Synthos’ products portfolio
development,” said Matteo Marchisio, director of the synthetic
rubbers and tire materials business unit. “We are
keen to support our customers’ needs with advanced synthetic
rubber based on bio-derived butadiene.
“We believe that cooperation with Lummus Technology
will effectively support our goals referring to renewable
and bio-based butadiene. We want it to become the monomer
for production of bio-rubber.
“This important development for Synthos will
strengthen our sustainability offering and will provide our
customers with a product that has a significantly reduced
environmental footprint.”

 

Technip Energies & Agilyx Collaborate For Agilyx’s PS Recycling Technology

Paris—Technip
Energies and Agilyx Corp. have agreed to collaborate to
accelerate and scale up the implementation of Agilyx’s
technology for the advanced recycling of post-use polystyrene
(PS).
Agilyx’s proprietary technology converts post-use plastics
back into their original chemical components, so that
they can be used to produce high-quality products that can
be recycled indefinitely, without degradation.
Under the agreement, Technip Energies will market
and license the integrated purification and depolymerization
technologies of Technip Energies and Agilyx, respectively.
The technology is ready and available for licensing,
Technip Energies noted.
“We are delighted to scale up this sustainable process to
market with Agilyx, providing a reliable circular economy
technology for a major plastic used widely throughout the
world,” noted Stan Knez, chief technology officer of Technip
Energies.

 

OQ Withdraws Notice of Force Majeure For Oxo Alcohols, Others at Bay City

Houston—OQ
Chemicals has lifted force majeure for oxo alcohols, aldehydes,
acids and esters at its Bay City, Texas, plant site
(PCN, 22 Feb 2021, p 4).
The company declared force majeure on 15 Feb. 2021
after severe winter weather in the area forced it to shut
down the plant.
“Due to the force majeure event and strong demand,
products remain tight and may therefore be placed under
sales control,” OQ noted.

 

People on the Move

OMV—Alfred Stern has been named chairman of the
executive board and chief executive of the company, effective
1 Sept. 2021. Currently OMV executive board member
for Chemicals & Materials, Stern will succeed Rainer Seele,
who has decided to resign from his position on 31 Aug.
2021.
BASF Corp.—Michael Heinz, member of BASF SE’s
board of executive directors, has taken on the additional
responsibility of chairman and chief executive of BASF
Corp. Heinz, who has been with BASF for almost 40 years,
replaces Wayne T. Smith.
Chemours—Mark Newman has been named president
and chief executive, effective 1 July 2021, to succeed Mark
Vergnano, who will be retiring from the company. Newman
is currently chief operating officer.
Evonik—Christian Kullmann, chairman of the executive
board, will continue in that position for another five
years. The supervisory board has decided to extend his
contract until May 2027.
Solvay—Michael Finelli has been appointed president,
group growth initiatives, effective immediately, and chief
North American officer, effective from September 2021. In
his new role for North America, he will replace Michael
Lacey, currently president of Solvay North America, who is
retiring in September. Finelli was most recently president
of Solvay’s specialty polymers global business unit.

 

MCC and MCM to Construct Facilities To Test Recycling of Acrylic Resin

Tokyo—Mitsubishi
Chemical Corp. (MCC) and its consolidated subsidiary
Mitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates Japan Co. (MCM) are
building facilities in Japan to implement verification testing
with the goal of commercializing molecular recycling
operations for polymethyl methacrylate.
In Europe, the companies are considering building
acrylic resins recycling plants, which introduce current
recycling technologies. A decision is expected in the “near
term,” MCC said.
They are also partnering with Microwave Chemical Co.
to construct new verification facilities on its site in Osaka,
Japan. Construction is scheduled for completion next
month.
“In Europe and Japan, using respective approaches that
take into account the traits of each region, full-fledged construction
of an acrylic resin recycling plant is expected to
be undertaken, with an eye on operations starting from
2024,” MCC noted.
According to MCC, global demand for acrylic resin exceeds
3-million t/y.

 

Perstorp Boosting 2-EHA Production To Meet Increasing Market Demand

Malmö—Perstorp
announced it will “substantially” increase 2-ethylhexanoic
acid (2-EHA) production capacity from 2022 to meet increasing
market needs.
“As industries are recovering and adjusting to the ongoing
pandemic, demand for 2-EHA has increased significantly
in the past two quarters, indicating an increased
demand for high-quality raw materials,” said Perstorp Vice
President Business Management Oxo Betty Lu.
“We have continued to successfully serve our customers
with 2-EHA and are now investing in this expansion to
meet future needs.”
The company is already in the implementation stage.
No specific details of the project were available.

 

Poet Completes Acquisition of FHR’s Bioethanol Facilities & Terminals

Sioux Falls—Poet,
the “world’s largest” producer of biofuels, said it has concluded
the purchase of the bioethanol assets of Flint Hills
Resources (FHR), including bioprocessing plants and terminals,
for an undisclosed amount.
The transaction includes six bioprocessing facilities located
in Iowa and Nebraska, and two terminals in Texas
and Georgia.
With the assets from FHR, Poet will now operate 33
bioprocessing plants across eight states with a combined
capacity of 3-billion gals/yr.
“This acquisition will increase Poet’s ability to bring
even more high-quality, plant-based biofuels and bioproducts
to the world—allowing us to have an even bigger impact
on fighting climate change and cleaning our air,”
noted Poet Founder and Chief Executive Jeff Broin.
“We are on the cusp of a new sustainable economy that
will be powered by renewable energy,” said Bob Casper,
chief commercial officer at Poet. “Bioethanol is critical to
this new economy and will continue to be so for years to
come.”

 

TotalEnergies, Novatek Agree to Partner On Solutions to Reduce CO2 Emissions

Moscow—
TotalEnergies and Novatek have signed a memorandum of
understanding to jointly work on reducing the carbon footprint
in Russia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) chain.
The partners will each bring their best-in-class technologies
and combine their know-how to explore and develop
projects using carbon, capture and storage (CCS),
energy efficiency, renewable sources of power, marketing of
carbon-neutral LNG, and clean hydrogen and ammonia.
The companies will leverage the “significant, low-cost”
resources of the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas and their
large potential for geological storage, they noted.
“We are very pleased to begin a new chapter in our cooperation
with our long-standing strategic partner
Novatek,” said Patrick Pouyanne, chairman and chief executive
of TotalEnergies.
“Our two companies are joining forces to deliver sustainable
solutions to reduce emissions from our LNG projects
and to provide low carbon LNG to our customers.”

 

Sibur-Neftekhim & Linde Ink Agreement For Project to Reduce Carbon Footprint

Moscow—
Sibur-Neftekhim and Linde Gas Rus, both based in Dzerzhinsk,
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia, have signed an
agreement to launch a recycling project to reduce the carbon
footprint of Sibur’s facility there.
Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) generated as a byproduct
at the Sibur facility is an integral part of Sibur’s
sustainable development strategy aiming to reduce green
house gas emissions by 15% by 2025.
As part of the project, Sibur-Neftekhim will erect the
necessary infrastructure to transport crude CO2, a byproduct
resulting from ethylene oxide synthesis, to Linde
Gas Rus’ treatment plant. Linde will build a gas treatment
unit to process the CO2 into a commercial-grade
product usable in the food industry, and sell it to end
consumers.
Linde will perform all the work under an engineering,
procurement and construction contract. The project,
scheduled for 2021-2022, will help recycle around 25,000
t/y of CO2.

 

Sumitomo Plans Research Facility at Chiba For Sustainable Technologies, Materials

Tokyo—
Sumitomo Chemical said it will build a new research facility
at its Chiba site in Japan, which will serve as its center
for the development of innovative materials and new technologies
that reduce environmental impact and contribute
to resolving societal issues.
In addition to the new facility, scheduled to begin operation
in March 2024, the company will also consolidate
its existing facilities and shift some of its related resources
from other sites to the new research facility.
The move is expected to strengthen Sumitomo’s research
and development capabilities at the site and accelerate
the development of the technologies and materials.
The Chiba complex “boasts” advanced technologies related
to polymer design, catalysts, processes, compounds
and material and product processing, as well as scale-up
plants for validation trials, Sumitomo noted.

 

NatureWorks Completes ‘Key’ Milestones For Planned Thai PLA Production Plant

Bangkok—
NatureWorks announced it has completed “key” milestones
in its global manufacturing expansion plan for a new fully
integrated Ingeo polylactic acid (PLA) production facility in
Rayong Province, Thailand (PCN, 1 Sept 2014, p 3).
The project, expected to open by 2024, would have
75,000 t/y of Ingeo biopolymer capacity when fully operational
and would produce the complete portfolio of Ingeo
grades.
NatureWorks recently completed the front-end engineering
design work with Jacobs Engineering. Final detailed
engineering is currently underway, and Nature-
Works expected to announce further details on the facility
later this year.
The company also recently received approval from the
Thailand Board of Investment for the project, which is the
“first” biocomplex project in Thailand established in accordance
with the government’s bioeconomy policy.
“We are pleased to share these significant accomplishments,
as part of our next phase for global manufacturing
expansion,” said Rich Altice, president and chief executive
of NatureWorks. “The approvals and support from the
Thailand Board of Investment was a critical milestone on
our path toward opening our new facility in Thailand.”

 

Venture Global Launches CCS Project At Two LNG Facilities in Louisiana

Arlington—
Venture Global LNG said it has begun a carbon, capture
and sequestration (CCS) project at its Calcasieu Pass and
Plaquemines liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Louisiana.
The company has already completed a comprehensive
engineering and geotechnical analysis and is launching,
subject to regulatory approvals, a shovel-ready CCS project,
compressing carbon dioxide (CO2) at its sites and then
transporting the CO2 and injecting it deep into subsurface
saline aquifers, where it will be permanently stored.
Venture Global will capture and sequester about
500,000 t/y of carbon from the liquefaction sites. In addition,
it plans to use similar infrastructure to capture and
sequester 500,000 t/y of carbon from the CP2 LNG facility,
once permitted.
“The successful deployment of carbon capture and sequestration
technology at Calcasieu Pass would be the first
of its kind for an existing LNG facility in the United
States,” the company noted.

 

Braskem Investing in ‘Recycling Island’ At Its Triunfo Petrochemical Complex

Triunfo—
Braskem is investing R$150,000 to set up a new structure,
known as “Recycling Island,” at the Technology and Innovation
Center in the Triunfo petrochemical complex in Rio
Grande do Sul, Brazil.
As of July 2021, the facility will be responsible for testing
the performance of recycled resins and developing sustainable
and innovative products that meet market needs
and do its part in reducing the environmental impact, the
company noted.
Experiments in the new facility will be in addition to
the studies carried out by Braskem to understand the applications
and type of product design that makes the recycling
process easier.
“This type of information is key to guide the choices related
to these two points, bearing in mind the potential
incentive to the circular economy,” said Fabio Fell, coordinator
of the Technology and Innovation Center Application
Laboratory and head of the Recycling Island.
“This initiative will also reinforce Braskem as a benchmark
in supporting clients and in research and development
of thermoplastic resins. Combining state-of-the-art
technology, and our professionals specialized in circular
economy, will be one of our differentials to offer products
with even greater quality to the market.”
The project, part of Braskem’s commitment to include
300,000 tons of recycled thermoplastic resins and chemicals
in its portfolio by 2025, will supply all of the regions
were the company operates.

 

BASF, Mitsui Chemicals Initiate Study To Support Chem Recycling in Japan

Tokyo—BASF
Japan and Mitsui Chemicals have launched a study to
evaluate collaborative business models and various options
to commercialize chemical recycling in Japan to address
the local challenge of plastic waste recycling.
Mitsui, which intends to become carbon-neutral by
2050, aims to develop recycling technologies and expand its
biomass product lineup.
BASF will support the collaboration with its extensive
experience from its ChemCycling project (PCN, 26 Apr
2021, p 3).
In its ChemCycling project, BASF works with technology
partners that use innovative processes to convert postconsumer
plastic waste into pyrolysis oil, which can be
used to produce new materials, such as plastics, without
compromising on quality.
“Combining BASF’s expertise in chemical recycling
with our assets in Japan, such as our technologies and ethylene
crackers, will be a major step to contribute towards
building a circular economy in Japan,” said Hiroki Ishida,
representative director and president of BASF Japan.
“Plastic is a major social issue in the country, and there is
a need for social reform throughout the entire value chain.”
BASF and Mitsui plan to accelerate discussions with related
ministries, agencies and industry groups to implement
chemical recycling in Japan, and promote the effective
and efficient use of recycled materials there.

 

 

Orlen Expanding Plock Olefins Complex, Europe’s ‘Largest’ PC Project in 20 Yrs

Plock—PKN
Orlen announced it is investing PLN 13.5-billion in the
expansion of its olefins complex in Plock, Poland, which
will be the “largest” petrochemical investment in Europe in
the last 20 years.
The Olefins III Complex will include a new 740,000-t/y
steam cracker and five additional production units, including
a large ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol plant. It will be
built using state-of-the-art technologies.
As part of the project, the company will consider shutting
down part of the olefin plant that was built over 40
years ago, with about 340,000 t/y of production capacity,
and upgrade the more modern part, which has a capacity of
around 300,000 t/y.
In addition, Orlen has established a special purpose vehicle,
Orlen Olefiny, to implement the project. Completion
is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, with production
expected to begin in early 2025.
The supervisory board’s decision to approve the project
opens the way for Orlen to award an engineering, procurement,
construction and commissioning contract with
preferred bidders, namely Hyundai Engineering and Tecnicas
Reunidas.
“With this project on stream, PKN Orlen will join the
top petrochemical producers in the European market,” said
Daniel Obajtek, chief executive and president of the PKN
Orlen management board. “It will also secure its competitiveness
in the long run and increase its resistance to unfavorable
mega-trends in the fuel market.
“Importantly, the project fits with the merger of Orlen
and Lotos, which will supply significant volumes of kerosene
to the olefins.”

 

Baofeng Selects LyondellBasell Process For New Polypropylene Plant in China

Beijing—
LyondellBasell said it will supply its Spheripol technology
to Inner Mongolia Baofeng New Material Co., a whollyowned
subsidiary of Ningxia Baofeng, for a new polypropylene
(PP) facility to be built in Erdos, Inner Mongolia,
China.
The technology will be utilized for four PP lines, each
with a production capacity of 500,000 t/y. The plant will
begin operations using Avant ZN catalyst. A schedule for
the project was not given.
“The Spheripol process is renowned for its leading operating
cost, excellent product properties and outstanding
plant operability and is therefore the technology of choice
for operators around the world,” said Neil Nadalin, director
of licensing at LyondellBasell.
Late last year, Johnson Matthey announced it had won
a multiple license award from Ningxia Baofeng for five of
the “largest” single-train methanol units in the world to be
built in Inner Mongolia, China (PCN, 7 Dec 2020, p 1).
The project, for which a completion date was not disclosed,
includes the production of 7,200 t/d of methanol in
each line for use in the production of olefins.

 

Trinseo Inks Definitive Agreement to Sell Synthetic Rubber Business to Synthos

Berwyn—
Trinseo said it has entered into a definitive agreement to
divest its synthetic rubber business, based in Schkopau,
Germany, to Synthos S.A. and its affiliates for an enterprise
value of around $491-million.
The transaction includes the transfer of the associated
Schkopau-based manufacturing and research and development
facilities, as well as related intellectual property,
and approximately 440 employees who are expected to join
Synthos. Subject to customary closing conditions and
regulatory approvals, the sale is expected to close in 2022.
“In pursuing our transformation strategy toward becoming
a higher margin and less cyclical specialty materials
and sustainable solutions provider, we believe our best
path is to focus on growth in engineered materials and
CASE applications,” noted Trinseo President and Chief
Executive Frank Bozich.
“Following the acquisition of Arkema’s PMMA business,
the divestiture of synthetic rubber provides Trinseo with a
stronger balance sheet and greater flexibility to pursue
organic and acquisition growth opportunities.”
Trinseo acquired Arkema’s PMMA business earlier this
month at an enterprise value of about €1.14-billion (PCN,
10 May 2021, p 1). The PMMA business operates four production
sites in Europe and three in North America.

 

Axens Providing Hengyi Technology For Crude-to-Aromatics Expansion

Muara—Axens
has signed an agreement to supply Flexicoking technology
to Hengyi Industries to upgrade the heavy feeds of Hengyi’s
16-million t/y capacity for a new crude-to-aromatics
Phase 2 expansion project at Hengyi’s integrated complex
in Pulau Muara Besar, Brunei.
The Flexicoking unit will upgrade the 2.1-million-t/y
blend of vacuum residue, FCC slurry oil and steam cracker
pyrolysis oil into valuable distillates and Flexigas, Axens
noted. Start-up is expected in June 2024.
Axens successfully started up a 1.1-million-t/y Flexicoking
unit for Hengyi at the end of 2019.

 

Chevron Phillips Chem Breaks Ground For New 1-Hexene Unit in Old Ocean

Houston—
Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) has broken ground
for a new world-scale 1-hexene plant near its Sweeny facility
in Old Ocean, Texas (PCN, 10 May 2021, p 1).
The 266,000-t/y unit, which will utilize the company’s
latest on-purpose technology, will increase CPChem’s total
1-hexene capacity in the U.S. to 650,000 t/y. Construction
is expected to begin during the third quarter of 2021, with
project start-up in 2023.
“The new 1-hexene unit . . . will enjoy significant advantages
in infrastructure, feedstock availability and operational
expertise,” CPChem noted. “It will also benefit
from the latest technology advances to achieve energy and
emissions efficiency improvements.”

 

KPIC Lets Technology Award to Lummus For Butadiene Extraction Unit in Ulsan

Ulsan—
Korea Petrochemical Industry Co. (KPIC) has selected
Lummus Technology to provide its butadiene extraction
(BDE) technology for a new BDE unit to be built as part of
KPIC’s Onsan chemical plant in Ulsan, South Korea.
Once complete, the BDE unit will produce 146,000 t/y of
butadiene, which will also lead to the production of more
valuable products from C4 streams and generate feed for
an existing olefins conversion unit, Lummus noted.
Lummus’ scope includes the technology license, basic
engineering and training services. No other details were
available.
KPIC will benefit from the technology’s low operating,
maintenance and investment costs, Lummus added.

 

Stamicarbon, Shchekinoazot to Implement Green Technologies at Shchekinoazot Site

Moscow—
Stamicarbon, the innovation and license company of Maire
Tecnimont, and Russian chemical producer Shchekinoazot,
are teaming up to jointly explore, develop and implement
green technologies for sustainable fertilizer production at
Shchekinoazot’s new and existing projects in Russia.
Stamicarbon will continue to develop green technologies
and will notify Shchekinoazot of their potential application,
while Shchekinoazot will explore the introduction of
green technologies at its plants.
“The implementation of this project will ensure continuous
improvement in raw materials processing and enable
a shift from the consumption and export of raw materials
to the high-tech production and processing of products
with increased added value,” said Shchekinoazot President
Boris Sokol.
“This project is characterized by high economic efficiency,
social and budgetary relevance. Along with that,
we attach greater importance to environmental issues, by
minimizing our environmental impact, reducing the carbon
footprint of our activities and taking care of the local environment.
“The signed memorandum will allow us to take another
step towards state-of-the-art technologies and approaches
aimed at the preservation of natural diversity and a
healthy planet for future generations.”

 

Arkema Announces Plans to Buy Agiplast, Partner in Virtucycle Recycling Program

Paris—
Arkema said it plans to acquire Agiplast, a “leader” in the
regeneration of high performance polymers, and its partner
in Virtucycle, a regeneration program launched in 2019 to
recycle high-performance polyamides and polyvinylidene
fluoride fluoropolymers (PCN, 21 Oct 2019, p 4).
With this acquisition, for which a value was not given,
Arkema will be the “first” fully integrated high performance
polymer manufacturer offering both bio-based and
recycled materials, Arkema noted. The transaction is expected
to close next month.
Arkema’s Virtucycle recycling program represents a virtuous
cycle that enables customers to partner with Arkema
in open-loop and closed-loop initiatives for post-industrial
and post-consumer recycling projects for its specialty
polymers.

 

Shell Selling Stake in Deer Park Refinery Following Unsolicited Offer from Pemex

Houston—
Shell Oil Co. has agreed to divest its interest in Deer Park
Refining Ltd. Partnership, a 50-50 joint venture between
Shell and P.M.I. Norteamerica, a subsidiary of Pemex, after
receiving an unsolicited offer from Pemex.
The transaction, valued at $596-million, will give Pemex
full ownership of the 340,000-b/d Deer Park Refinery.
The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this
year, subject to regulatory approvals.
Shell will continue to operate its Deer Park Chemicals
facility, located adjacent to the refinery site. Shell’s employees
of the refinery will either stay at the refinery or be
transferred to the chemical plant.
“Pemex has been our strong and active partner at the
Deer Park Refinery for nearly 30 years, and we will continue
to work with them in an integrated way, including
through our on-site chemicals facility, which Shell will retain,”
said Huibert Vigeveno, downstream director at Shell.
Last September, Shell announced a major restructuring
that would affect its refineries, chemical sites, onshore and
offshore production plants (PCN, 5 Oct 2020, p 1).
Shell said that as a result of the restructuring it would
end up with less than 10 refineries, compared to 55 about
15 years ago, but that they would be set up to address the
changing needs of society. It had no plans to sell its interest
in the Deer Park refinery.

 

Balaji Amines Commences Operation Of Ethylamines Facility in Solapur

New Delhi—Balaji
Amines has begun producing ethylamines, as part of the
first phase of its greenfield project in Solapur, Maharashtra,
India (PCN, 2 Nov 2020, p 1).
The plant, based on the latest technology, has a production
capacity of 50 t/d of ethylamines. With the successful
commissioning of the plant, Balaji Amines has become a
“largest” manufacturer in all of its range of products,
ethylamines and methylamines, the company noted.
Late last year, Balaji said it had received board of directors’
approval to build a new methylamines plant at
Solapur with between 40,000 t/y and 50,000 t/y of capacity.
A schedule was not given.

 

Ashland Launching Strategic Review Of Performance Adhesives Business

Wilmington—
Ashland Global Holdings announced a strategic review of
its performance adhesives business unit to evaluate all
options with respect to the unit, including a possible sale.
The decision to initiate a strategic review is consistent
with the company’s strategy to grow its integrated additive
ingredients portfolio, Ashland noted. The review is expected
to be completed by the end of this year.
“The company plans to increase capital deployment toward
its core additives portfolio consisting of life sciences,
personal care and household and specialty additives,” the
company noted.
“Priority will be given to expand its high-value pharmaceuticals
and personal care businesses, to enhance shareholder
value through improved margins and focused
growth capital deployment, including potential bolt-on acquisitions.”

 

IVL Selected as Winning Bidder to Buy CarbonLite’s PET Recycling Assets

Dallas—Indorama
Ventures (IVL), in a notice to the Stock Exchange of Thailand,
said it has been chosen as the winning bidder to acquire
the recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) assets
of CarbonLite Holdings and its subsidiaries in Texas
(collectively referred to as CarbonLite).
CarbonLite, currently under Chapter 11 of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code, is a “significant” rPET producer in the
U.S., IVL noted.
The assets to be purchased are located in Dallas with a
combined capacity of around 92,000 t/y, consisting of
48,000 t/y of rPET pellets and 44,000 t/y of flakes. The
proposed acquisition would bring IVL closer to its rPET
commitment of 750,000 t/y by 2025.
The sale is expected to be completed within the second
quarter of this year, and is subject to conditions precedent,
including approval by the applicable bankruptcy court and
government authorities. Value of the transaction was not
given.

 

Thirumalai Plans Two-Phase Project in Dahej To Produce PA and Fine & Specialty Chems

Dahej—
Thirumalai Chemicals Ltd. India (TCL) is planning a project,
to be implemented in two consecutives phases, for the
production of phthalic anhydride (PA) and fine and specialty
chemicals at its existing site in Dahej, India.
The facility, on which design and engineering have begun,
will include the production of 180,000 t/y of PA and
30,000 t/y of fine and specialty chemicals. The first phase
is expected to come on stream about two years after the
receipt of required approvals.
The project is expected to replace the large imports of
PA and drive downstream growth in the country, TCL
noted.

 

Technip Energies Wins Neste Contracts For Renewables Production Platform

Paris—Neste
has awarded two contracts to Technip Energies for work on
the development of their renewables production platform
in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Under the first contract, Technip will be responsible for
the engineering, procurement services and construction
management for the modification of Neste’s existing renewables
production refinery to enable production of
sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Modifications to the refinery, which will require an investment
of around €190-million, will give Neste the option
to produce up to 500,000 t/y of SAF, as part of the existing
capacity.
The second contract covers the front-end engineering
and design for Neste’s possible next world-scale renewable
products refinery. The contract is part of Neste’s preparations
to enable a final investment decision by its board of
directors targeted for the end of this year or the beginning
of next year.
The production process is based on Neste’s state-of-theart
NEXBTL technology, which converts waste and residue
feedstock into renewable products like renewable diesel,
SAF and renewable solutions for the polymers and chemical
industry.  Technip’s contracts are valued at a total of between
€50-million and €250-million.

 

Cepsa Completes Project to Optimize San Roque LAB Production Facility

Madrid—Cepsa
said it has launched its transformed linear alkyl benzene
(LAB) production plant in San Roque, Spain, which has
been optimized with the “revolutionary” Detal technology
(PCN, 10 Feb 2020, p 3).
The €117-million project involved installing the Detal
system, a technology developed by Cepsa and Honeywell
UOP, to increase LAB production capacity and respond to
the growing demand for biodegradable detergents.
“The transformation process at the San Roque plant
has not only improved the quality and variety of LAB, but
has also increased process safety and energy efficiency in
the industrial asset,” Cepsa noted.
In addition, digital transformation programs designed
by the company have been installed, including the Yield,
Energy and Throughput (YET) system, an artificial intelligence
program; and industry 4.0 technologies that involve
machine learning, big data and advanced analytics, which
optimize processes and improve the plant’s energy efficiency,
it added.
Cepsa earlier said the project would increase LAB capacity
by 50,000 t/y to 250,000 t/y.

 

Commission Approves Acquisition Of Ecoplanta by Suez and Repsol

Brussels—The European
Commission has cleared the acquisition of Ecoplanta
Molecular Recycling Solution by Suez and Repsol.
Ecoplanta, which is currently controlled by Suez, is active
in the development, construction and operation of a
waste-to-biofuels/chemicals facility to transform municipal
solid waste-derived feedstock into methanol in Spain.
Earlier this month, Repsol said it would join Enerkem
and water and waste management expert Agbar in the
Ecoplanta joint venture to build a waste-to-chemicals plant
in Tarragona that would process around 400,000 tons of
municipal solid waste from surrounding regions and produce
220,000 t/y of methanol (PCN, 3 May 2021, p 3).
The plant will utilize Enerkem’s gasification technology
and be co-managed by Repsol and Agbar. Operations are
expected to begin in 2025, following a final investment decision
by the first quarter of 2022.

 

OQ Receives ISCC Plus Certification; Introduces Bio-Based Oxo Chemicals

Manheim—OQ
Chemicals said it has received International Sustainability
and Carbon Certification (ISCC), under the ISCC Plus
scheme, for its production sites and headquarters in Germany.
Customers now have the option to procure ISCC Plus
certified oxo intermediates and oxo derivatives out of Oberhausen
and Marl.
“With the . . . certification, we can now offer our customers
an alternative to our fossil-based portfolio, featuring
the same quality and performance as conventional
products,” noted Dr. Ina Werxhausen, responsible for sustainability
management at OQ. “However, they contain a
certain amount of sustainable feedstocks from sources such
as biomass, biogenic wastes and residues, or renewables.
The certificates apply to all products and processes at
the sites. Based on demand and available feedstocks, the
company has the option to expand its bio-based product
portfolio.

 

Closed Loop Launches Circular Plastics Fund With Dow, LyondellBasell & Nova Chem

New York—
Closed Loop Partners said it has established the Closed
Loop Circular Plastics Fund with Dow, LyondellBasell and
Nova Chemicals, to invest in scalable recycling technologies,
equipment upgrades and infrastructure solutions.
The Fund, managed by Closed Loop Partners, and with
an initial investment of $25-million, invites businesses
across the plastics value chain to join in advancing the recovery
and recycling of plastics in the U.S. and Canada.
The Fund will invest in three strategic areas to boost
the amount of recycled plastic available to meet the growing
demand for high-quality, recycled content in products
and packaging:
Access – Increasing the collection of targeted polyethylene
(PE) and polypropylene (PP) plastics by
advancing current and next-generation material
collection systems.
Optimization – Upgrading recycling systems to
more efficiently aggregate, classify and sort the
targeted plastics.
Manufacturing – Investing in plants and equipment
that manufacture finished products, packaging or
related goods using recycled content, including recycled
PE and PP.
The goal of the catalytic fund is to grow to deploy $100-
million, through a combination of the Fund’s founding investors,
additional corporate investors and financial institutions,
in order to attract additional capital beyond the
Fund’s own commitments, the partners noted. At scale,
the Fund’s investments aim to recycle over 500-million lbs
of plastic over the Fund’s lifespan.
Dow, LyondellBasell and Nova, with their established
facilities, extensive supply chain network and markets, are
well positioned to help advance the transition to a new,
more circular system, said the companies.
“Dow is investing with Closed Loop Partners as another
way to catalyze additional investment in recycling technology
and infrastructure in the U.S. and Canada,” said Dow
Chairman and Chief Executive Jim Fitterling.
“Plastic materials are essential to a sustainable, low
carbon economy and this fund, alongside other investments
and collaborations we are engaged in, will help move society
toward a circular economy, ensuring plastic is not lost
to the environment.
”But our commitment and capital alone are not enough
to end plastic waste. We urge others . . . to join us and
scale the technologies, partnerships and capital needed to
build the circular plastics supply chains of the future.”

 

Toyo-India Receives Contract from PCL To Build New Indian Ammonia Plant

Mumbai—Toyo
Engineering India Pvt. Ltd (Toyo-India), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Toyo Engineering Corp., has been awarded a
contract from Performance Chemiserve Ltd. (PCL) to build
a new ammonia facility at Navi Mumbai, India.
Under the contract, Toyo-India will be responsible for
the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning
of the plant, which will have 1,500 t/d of ammonia
capacity, as well as associated offsite and utility facilities.
Completion is scheduled for the first half of 2023.
PCL is a subsidiary of Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals
Corp. Ltd.

 

ADNOC Advances ‘Blue’ NH3 Project, Awards Pre-FEED Contract to Wood

Abu Dhabi—Abu
Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) said it has moved to the
design phase for a new 1-million-t/y world-scale “blue”
ammonia production facility at the TA’ZIZ industrial
ecosystem and chemicals hub in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates.
Wood has been awarded the initial front-end engineering
and design (pre-FEED) work for the ammonia project
and six other TZ’ZIZ chemicals projects. No other details
were given.
In parallel, ADNOC is planning to undertake a feasibility
study on the supply of blue hydrogen to the ammonia
plant from its operations in Ruwais. A final investment
decision for the project is expected in 2022, with start-up
planned in 2025.

 

KIPIC Awards PEMS Contract to Technip For Various Potential Projects in Kuwait

Al-Zour—
Technip Energies, through its wholly-owned Technip E&C
Ltd. subsidiary, has received a project engineering and
management services (PEMS) contract from Kuwait Integrated
Petroleum Industries Co. (KIPIC) for a variety of
planned projects in southern Kuwait.
The six-year contract, valued at between €50-million
and €250-million, covers PEMS for various potential projects
in the Al-Zour complex, including the Al-Zour refinery,
petrochemical complex, liquefied natural gas import
facilities and other plants belonging to KIPIC.
“We are pleased to have been awarded this contract by
KIPIC, which confirms our long-standing presence as an
established contractor in Kuwait,” said Stephane Mespoulhes,
vice president of project management consultancy at
Technip Energies.
“This award demonstrates our leading position in project
management consultancy activities and confirms the
ramp-up of our Technology, Products and Services business
segment.”

SK Advanced, PolyMirae Begin Operation Of New Polypropylene Facility in Ulsan

Ulsan—SK
Advanced and PolyMirae have begun commercial operation
of a new polypropylene (PP) plant in Ulsan, South Korea
(PCN, 28 Oct 2019, p 1).
The 400,000-t/y facility, based on LyondellBasell’s fifth
generation Spheripol technology, is “one of the largest” PP
plants of its kind in Asia, PCN earlier reported. Propylene
feedstock is being supplied by SK Advanced.
As earlier agreed, PolyMirae will offtake all PP produced
at the plant for sale to customers in South Korea.
The product will be exported throughout Asia through
LyondellBasell and Daelim.
SK Advanced has been operating a propane dehydrogenation
unit in South Korea since 2016 with a capacity to
produce 600,000 t/y of propylene.
PolyMirae currently operates four Spheripol PP production
lines in South Korea with a total capacity of 700,000
t/y.

 

Anchorage Selects Novolen Technology For New PP Unit Being Built in Suez

Suez—Lummus
Technology announced that Anchorage Investments has
selected Lummus’ Novolen technology for a new polypropylene
(PP) plant to be built as part of Anchorage’s Anchor
Benitoite project in Suez, Egypt (PCN, 3 May 2021, p 1).
Lummus’ scope includes the technology license for a
590,000-t/y PP unit, as well as basic design engineering,
training and services, catalyst supply and operator training
simulator services. Value of the contract and an expected
completion date were not disclosed.
The project will include production units for several different
petrochemical products and intermediates. It is
planned to be a gateway to petrochemical activity on regional
and global scales, increasing the country’s competitiveness
and position as a petrochemical hub, Lummus
explained.
Earlier this month, Honeywell UOP said it will supply
its C3 Oleflex technology for the production of 750,000-t/y
of polymer-grade propylene at the Anchor Benitoite petrochemicals
complex.

 

Bluestar Dongda Produces First Batch Of Polyether Polyol from New Facility

Beijing—
ChemChina affiliate Bluestar Dongda has produced and
shipped its first batch of polyether polyol from its plant in
Zibo, Shandong Province, China.
The new 300,000-t/y high-performance polyether polyol
facility was built to replace old growth drivers with new
ones and conduct transformation and upgrading of
Bluestar Dongda, the company noted.
“After the project reaches the production capacity, it
will complement and improve the company’s product chain
and lay a solid foundation for winning the competition of
high-end, differentiated and customized products,” said
Bluestar Dongda.

 

Engro Lets Contracts to Honeywell, Grace For Proposed PDH/PP Plant in Pakistan

Karachi—
Engro Corp. has selected Honeywell UOP and W.R. Grace
& Co. to provide technologies for its planned propane dehydrogenation
(PDH) and polypropylene (PP) project in
Karachi, Pakistan, respectively.
The complex will utilize Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex
technology for the production of 750,000 t/y of on-purpose
propylene. UOP will provide technology licensing and basic
engineering design, in addition to services, equipment,
catalysts and adsorbents for the proposed plant.
Grace has entered into an in-principle agreement to
supply its state-of-the-art Unipol PP process to convert the
propylene into PP. The technology provides a broad range
of PP homopolymers, random copolymers and impact
copolymers.
“Currently, Pakistan spends about $600-million on annual
import of polypropylene,” said Grace. “Engro’s PDHPP
complex is the first polypropylene plant to be built in
Pakistan and aims to address the increasing demand in
the local polypropylene market, and reduce the country’s
reliance on imports.”

 

JSR to Separate Elastomers Business; Will Transfer All New Stock to Eneos

Tokyo—JSR
Corp. said its board of directors has resolved to separate
JSR’s elastomers business into a new standalone company
named Japan Synthetic Rubber Spin-off Preparation Co.
Ltd.
In addition, JSR will transfer all stocks of the new company
to Eneos Corp. and conclude a stock transfer agreement
with Eneos.
Completion of the separation and the stock transfer are
subject to necessary clearances, permits and approvals under
domestic and international competition laws and other
laws and regulations. An expected completion date was
not given.
“Since this absorption-type split is a corporate separation
to a newly established wholly-owned subsidiary of
JSR, some disclosure items and details are omitted from
this disclosure,” JSR noted.

 

Navitas Midstream Selects Honeywell UOP For New Cryogenic Gas Processing Plant

Houston—
Honeywell announced that Navitas Midstream Partners
has purchased a cryogenic gas processing plant from Honeywell
UOP to extract natural gas liquids from natural gas
produced in several counties in the Permian Basin.
Honeywell will provide the design and supply of a 200-
million-cu f/d UOP modular cryogenic plant with refrigeration
and dehydration units. The plant uses Ortloff Recycle
Split Vapor technology to recover high-value ethane and
propane, which can be used as fuels, fuel blending components
and other valuable petrochemicals.

 

Qenos Closing Altona Ethylene, PE Units To Address Reduction in Available Feed

Altona—
Qenos announced it is closing and mothballing one of two
ethylene units, as well as one of two polyethylene (PE)
plants in Altona, Victoria, Australia, due to a lack of available
feedstock for its operations.
The decision to close the facilities was made after the
recently announced Altona refinery closure and reduction
in total available feedstock. The planned changes will
come into effect later this year and will result in a 15%
reduction in total domestic PE production.
“Qenos’ goal is, and always has been, to keep manufacturing
ethylene and polyethylene in Australia,” said Qenos
Chief Executive Stephen Bell. “Our ability to do so is dependent
on the supply of gas and ethane at internationally
competitive prices.”
Qenos Botany facility in New South Wales will not be
affected.
The Altona site currently employs 400 people; however,
the decision to reconfigure and mothball some of its manufacturing
assets means 150 jobs will be lost.

 

Ineos Provides Update on Start-Up Of New ABS Line at Wingles Site

Paris—Ineos Styrolution
has delayed the start-up date of its new acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene (ABS) line at its Wingles site in
France until the second half of this year (PCN, 25 June
2018, p 1).
Ineos has converted one of three existing polystyrene
lines at its site into a production line for ABS with a capacity
of around 50,000 t/y. The line was originally scheduled
to be operational in the first quarter of 2020.
A company spokesman told PCN that it will start production
as soon as it can produce at the appropriate quality
level.
The new ABS line will help Ineos meet the growing customer
demand in Europe for ABS products.

 

NextChem, Mytilineos to Study Feasibility Of New Green Hydrogen Plant in Italy

Milan—Maire
Tecnimont’s NextChem subsidiary and Mytilineos’ Renewable
and Storage Development Business Unit (RSD BU)
have signed an agreement to carry out an engineering
study to evaluate the implementation of a green hydrogen
production facility, based on electrolysis, in Italy.
NextChem will act as engineering partner for the project,
which will involve the conversion of renewable energy
from one of Mytilineos’ solar plants into green hydrogen.
The partners plan to develop future plants as well.
“Italy represents one of our key markets in Europe and
we are excited to start the development of our first green
hydrogen pilot project in partnership with NextChem in
the country,” said Nikos Papapetrou, general manager of
the RSD BU.
“We aim to expand this business model in all countries
where we are currently developing renewable energy systems.
We are privileged to be able to provide our contribution
to the green hydrogen energy strategy that has been
worldwide identified as one of the main pillars of the energy
evolution.
“Promoting the development of green hydrogen is a
tangible demonstration of our commitment to accelerate
the energy transition and decarbonization.”

 

Neste, Mitsui and Toyota Tsusho Collaborate For Renewable Plastic Production in Japan

Osaka—
Neste, Mitsui Chemicals and Toyota Tsusho announced
they are partnering to enable Japan’s “first” industrialscale
production of renewable plastics and chemicals from
100% bio-based hydrocarbons.
As part of the collaboration, Neste will produce its
Neste RE feedstock entirely from renewable raw materials,
such as bio-based waste and residual oils, without any fossil
oil.
Mitsui will use the Neste RE feedstock to replace a part
of the fossil feedstock in the production of a variety of plastics
and chemicals at its Osaka Works crackers during
2021, becoming Japan’s “first” company to use bio-based
feedstock in its crackers, the companies noted.
Specifically, Mitsui will produce renewable ethylene,
propylene, C4 fraction and benzene, among others, and
process them into basic chemicals such as phenol, or plastics
such as polyethylene and polypropylene, without altering
their quality.
“Bringing sustainable plastics and chemicals to the
market can only be successful if all value chain parties
closely collaborate,” said Mercedes Alonso, executive vice
president, renewable polymers and chemicals at Neste.
“We are therefore very excited about our partnership
with Mitsui Chemicals and Toyota Tsusho, two industry
leaders with whom we will start Japan’s first ever production
of high-quality, high-performance plastics, from 100%
bio-based Neste RE.
“Through this collaboration, we can considerably reduce
emissions related to the use of fossil feedstocks and help
Japan to reach its national climate and polymers-related
biocontent targets, fully in line with Neste’s purpose and
drive towards a circular bioeconomy.”
Mitsui and Toyota Tsusho plan to acquire International
Sustainability and Carbon Certification for the bio-based
products.

 

SK Chemicals Acquires 10% Interest In Chinese Plastic Waste Recycler

Beijing—SK
Chemicals has purchased a 10% stake in Shuye, a plastic
waste recycling firm in China, to commercialize ecofriendly
plastic called glycol-modified polyethylene
terephthalate (PETG).
The $20.2-million transaction gives SK the exclusive
rights to Shuye’s recycled PETG raw materials and products
in the South Korean market. Shuye will also be obligated
to supply 20,000 tons of recycled PETG raw materials
to SK Chemicals first.
“In the third quarter, SK Chemicals will roll out recycled
PETG product Ecotria and expand the ratio of recycled
products to 50% by 2025,” said a company official.
SK currently has a PETG production facility in Ulsan,
South Korea.

 

People on the Move

Grupa Azoty—Marek Wadowski has been appointed
vice president of the management board, effective 18 May
2021, succeeding Witold Szczypinksi.
Zbigniew Paprocki has become a member of the management
board, also effective 18 May 2021, to replace
Artur Kopec.

 

Ioniqa Concludes €10-Mn Funding Round For Upcycling Process for PET Plastic

Eindhoven—
Clean-tech spin-off company Ioniqa said it has completed a
funding round of €10-million for its upcycling process that
transforms all types colors of polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) plastic waste into “virgin-quality” materials for foodgrade
PET plastic.
The funding will be used to ramp up its 10,000 ton
plant to full capacity and prepare licensing packs, which
will be brought to the market early next year, said Ioniqa
Chief Executive and Founder Tonnis Hooghoudt.
“We are happy to have the continued support of our
current shareholders, as well as attracting a new shareholder
who has a firm belief in our proposition and the
added value that we bring to the market,” noted Ioniqa
Chief Financial Officer Jeroen Bulk.
The company is researching upcycling processes for
other types of plastics and they are expected to be
launched in the “near future.”

 

Stamicarbon Launches New Technology For the Production of Green Ammonia

Amsterdam—
Stamicarbon announced the launch of Stami Green Ammonia
Technology, a new ammonia production technology
that relies on renewable resources to eliminate carbon
from the process.
“By adding this technology to Stamicarbon’s portfolio,
commercialization of small-scale urea plants and monopressure
nitric acid plants in green fertilizer projects become
feasible,” Stamicarbon noted.
The technology can also be applied in existing plants, as
part of a hybrid technology to make existing fertilizer units
more sustainable. It can be used in combination with urea
production based on carbon recycling, or in combination
with nitrate fertilizers.
In addition to supplying the technology, Stamicarbon
can also assist with feasibility studies, project development
and financing.
The company has signed an exclusive cooperation
agreement with Raybite, based in Argentina, for the commercialization
of their small-scale ammonia technology
package.

 

SI Group Decides to Expand Capacity Of Tackifier Resin at Indian Facility

New Delhi—SI
Group announced a decision to expand tackifier resin capacity
at its manufacturing facility in Lote, India, by an
expected 75%.
The project, which “will propel the site to become a regional
hub for best-in-class tackifier resin production and
technology,” will be completed in two phases, SI noted.
The first phase will be completed by the end of this
year, with the second phase becoming commercial in the
second half of 2022.
“We have decided to grow capacity as another step forward
in demonstrating our commitment to supporting our
customers’ growth and positioning ourselves as a leader in
specialty additives,” said Robert Kaiser, vice president,
Rubber & Adhesives Solutions at SI.
“This expansion will not only benefit the region’s supply,
but it will also provide superior solutions at the highest
reliability to our customers, globally.”

 

Olin Planning Capacity Reduction At Plaquemine Chlor-Alkali Plant

Plaquemine—Olin
Corp. announced plans to permanently shut down about
20% of its diaphragm-grade chlor-alkali capacity at its facility
in Plaquemine, La.
The decision will reduce chlor-alkali capacity by around
225,000 ECU (electrochemical unit) tons. The closure is
scheduled to be completed by 1 June 2021.
This past March, the company shut down around 50%
(200,000 ECU tons) of its diaphragm-grade chlor-alkali
capacity at its plant in McIntosh, Ala. (PCN, 22 Mar 2021,
p 1).
In addition, Olin will shut down 230,000 ECU tons of
the same product at its Freeport, Texas, facility, in the second
quarter of this year.

 

BASF, RWE to Cooperate on Electrifying Chem Processes at Ludwigshafen Site

Berlin—BASF
and RWE plan to work together on a project that envisions
an additional offshore wind farm to provide BASF’s
Ludwigshafen chemical site with green electricity for carbon
dioxide (CO2)-free production processes.
The aim is to electrify the production processes for basic
chemicals from 2030. This will involve utilizing CO2-free
technologies, such as electrically heated steam cracker furnaces.
To advance the project, BASF and RWE have signed a
letter of intent covering a wide-ranging cooperation for the
creation of additional capacities for renewable electricity
and the use of innovative technologies for climate protection.
These plans could result in the avoidance of about
3.8-million t/y of CO2 emissions.
“Without the availability of sufficient volumes of electricity
from renewable sources at competitive prices, our
future transformation will not be possible! This task is
only achievable with innovative and intensive cooperation
between politics and industry,” said Martin Brudermüller,
chairman of the board of executive directors at BASF SE.
“Coupling a new offshore wind farm already in the
planning stage to an industrial customer, such as BASF,
who will convert its production to green electricity and hydrogen
on this basis, would be a first for Germany,” noted
RWE Chief Executive Markus Krebber.
“The realization of our proposal would represent a true
acceleration of the expansion of renewable energies. The
realization of our proposal would represent a true acceleration
of the expansion of renewable energies. Of course,
there are still some open questions, but we want to push
this forward— the faster the better. This is how we will
shape the energy transition.”

 

PPG Completes Purchase of Worwag

Stuttgart—PPG
has finalized the acquisition of Worwag, a global coatings
manufacturer for industrial and automotive applications,
based in Stuttgart, Germany.
Worwag, which has around 1,100 employees, also has
locations in the U.S., China, South Africa, Mexico, Spain,
Switzerland and Poland. Value of the deal was not given.
“The acquisition of Worwag is another step forward in
PPG’s strategic growth plan that will provide further value
to our customers and shareholders,” said PPG Executive
Vice President Rebecca Liebert.

 

Sinopec Begins Construction in Tianjin On 1.2-Million-T/Y Ethylene Facility

Tianjin—Sinopec
has started construction on its new 1.2-million-t/y ethylene
plant in Tianjin, China, part of its Sinopec Tianjin Nangang
high-end new material industrial cluster (PCN, 14
Dec 2020, p 1).
The company is investing $9.36-million in the cluster,
which includes 11 key projects, including new downstream
material industrial clusters, among others. The ethylene
plant is scheduled to be completed in 2023, according to
Reuters.
“The 12 sets of high-end new material units, including
ultra-high molecular weight will have five outstanding features:
high-end product solutions, enormous market potential,
complementarity of resources and strengths, strong
scientific and technological support, and leading green and
low-carbon technologies,” Sinopec explained.

 

ADM Touts Successful Conclusion of IBDP CCS Technology Demo Project in Illinois

Chicago—
ADM and the University of Illinois announced the successful
completion of the Illinois Basin – Decatur Project
(IBDP), a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project designed
to evaluate and test CCS technology at commercial
scale (PCN, 17-24 April 2017, p 4).
The project, one of two CCS projects located adjacent to
ADM’s corn processing plant in Decatur, Ill., utilized
20,000 ft of wells to successfully inject carbon dioxide
(CO2) from ADM’s plant more than 6,500 ft underground.
ADM was host and operator for the project, which was
mainly funded through the Midwest Geological Sequestration
Consortium (MGSC) by the U.S. Dept. of Energy –
National Energy Technology Laboratory. The goal was to
confirm the ability of the Mt. Simon Sandstone to accept
and store 1-million tons of CO2 over three years.
ADM also began injection operations at a second CCS
project in Decatur in 2017, which is currently permitted to
operate through 2022 and has the potential to store up to
5.5-million tons of CO2.
Together, both projects have successfully stored over
3.4-million tons of CO2 to date.
“ADM is committed to leveraging innovation and technology
to advance sustainability across every aspect of our
business,” said ADM Chief Sustainability Officer Alison
Taylor. “Deploying carbon capture and storage technology
in our processing operations is one of many ways we are
reducing our environmental footprint.”

 

MOL Decides to Resume NH3 Transport; Inks Time Charter Deal with Trammo

Tokyo—Mitsui
O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced a decision to re-enter the
ammonia (NH3) transport business.
The company has signed a time charter contract with
Trammo for the Green Pioneer, a 35,000 cu m-type ammonia/
liquefied petroleum gas carrier.
“Ammonia is widely used all over the world as a raw
material for fertilizer and demand is expected to increase
in step with rising food production as the world’s population
grows,” MOL noted.
“In recent years, ammonia has also drawn attention as
a next-generation clean fuel, which generates zero CO2
[carbon dioxide] emissions when it burns, and as a ‘hydrogen
carrier’ that enhances the efficiency of hydrogen transport.”
MOL hasn’t been active in the ammonia transport
business since 2016. This contract marks it re-entry into
the field.

 

Gruppo Maip Named European Distributor For Eastman’s Tritan and Treva Brands

Rotterdam—
Eastman has named Gruppo Maip as its official European
distributor of Eastman Tritan HM glass-filled copolyester
and Treva engineering bioplastic.
The two companies began their relationship last year
when they announced a partnership to formulate new sustainable
polymer solutions for automotive interior applications.
“We’re working together to introduce Treva engineering
bioplastic to the automotive industry,” said Gruppo Maip
President Eligio Martini. “This new material is a cellulosic-
based solution with excellent flow and clarity to compete
with existing material options.”

 

PetroChemical News Briefs

Hexion has committed to reduce absolute carbon
emissions by 20% by 2030 in order to help address climate
change. The reduction target is compared to 2017, the
baseline year of operations.
Trinseo is offering Styron CO2RE 687DI30, a new
material that uses its recently commercialized recycled
polystyrene (PS) from dissolution technology. It is the first
of a series of recycled PS products that Trinseo intends to
launch under the Styron CO2RE brand.

Technip Energies Wins EPCC Contract For IOCL’s New PTA Plant at Paradip

Paradip—
Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. (IOCL) has awarded an engineering,
procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contract
to Technip Energies for a new paraxylene/purified
terephthalic acid (PTA) complex to be integrated with
IOCL’s Paradip refinery in Odisha, India (PCN, 3 May
2021, p 2).
The contract, valued at between €250-million and €500-
million, covers the delivery of a new 1.2-million-t/y PTA
plant and associated facilities. Completion is planned by
early 2024.
A consortium of Maire Tecnimont subsidiaries was recently
awarded a contract to build the new 800,000-t/y
paraxylene unit. The plant will feed the PTA facility.
“Paradip refinery is the most modern refinery in India,”
said Technip Energies. “Its products meet the energy demands
of the domestic market and are partly exported.”
The refinery will also include the production of polypropylene
and a 357,000-t/y ethylene glycol plant.

 

Tecnicas Reunidas Selected to Develop Greenfield PC Project in Indonesia

East Java—An
unnamed Singapore-based petrochemical company has
chosen Tecnicas Reunidas to develop a greenfield petrochemical
project in East Java, Indonesia.
The estimated $2-billion project will include an integrated
propylene dehydrogenation plant with 750,000 t/y of
capacity and a 500,000-t/y polypropylene facility, subject to
financial closure.
Tecnicas Reunidas will be responsible for the basic engineering
design and procurement and construction activities,
which are expected to begin in the “coming months,” it
said. Commercial operation is planned for 2025.
“The project is expected to contribute to easing the regional
supply shortage, as well as reducing Indonesia’s
60% reliance on imports of these products,” Tecnicas Reunidas
noted.

 

EC Approves Cerberus, Koch Acquisition Of Control Over PQ Performance Chems

Brussels—
The European Commission (EC), under the European Union
Merger Regulation, has cleared the acquisition of joint
control over PQ Performance Chemicals by Cerberus Capital
Management and Koch Industries for about $1.1-billion
(PCN, 8 Mar 2021, p 3).
PQ Performance Chemicals, the chemical business of
PQ Group Holdings, will continue to operate under the PQ
brand after closing of the transaction, which is expected
this year.
The commission determined that the proposed acquisition
would raise no competition concerns, given the absence
of horizontal overlaps or vertical links between the
activities of the companies.

 

Bua Group Awards FEED Contract to KBR For New Integrated Refinery in Nigeria

Lagos—KBR
has been awarded a front-end engineering design (FEED)
contract from BUA Group for a new 200,000-b/d integrated
refinery facility in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria (PCN, 3 May 2021,
p 1).
The multibillion-dollar project will produce Euro-V fuels
and will include a 285,000-t/y polypropylene plant,
based on Lummus Technology’s Novolen process. Operations
are expected to begin in 2024.
KBR successfully completed the conceptual feasibility
study for the refinery in 2018.

 

Orlen Unipetrol Commissions Testing Unit For Chemical Recycling of Waste Plastics

Litvinov—
Orlen Unipetrol has started up a pyrolytic testing unit for
processing waste plastics at its chemical plant in Litvinov,
Czech Republic (PCN, 16 Mar 2020, p 4).
The project, estimated to cost nearly CZK 72-million,
will explore the possibilities of chemical recycling and its
potential implementation in standard production in the
next three years.
Last year, PCN reported that VOW ASA, through its
ETIA subsidiary, would supply its Biogreen pyrolysis technology
for the project.
Output from the unit will be used to manufacture basic
chemicals such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene and benzene.
Using subsequent processes, it will then be able to
manufacture polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and
others.
“Almost half the plastic waste produced in the Czech
Republic remains unused now, as plastics recycling is a
demanding process,” said Tomasz Wiatrak, chief executive
and chairman of the board of directors, Orlen Unipetrol
Group. “The chemical recycling technology that we are
testing can change this.”
Orlen Unipetrol is collaborating on the project with the
University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague and the
Orlen Unipetrol Centre for Research and Education.

 

Technip Energies Exercises Its Rights To Acquire Shares from TechnipFMC

Paris—Technip
Energies said it will buy €20-million equivalent of its own
ordinary shares from TechnipFMC, concurrently with
TechnipFMC’s announced sell-down of its stake in Technip
Energies through a private placement (PCN, 22 Feb 2021,
p 1).
Technip Energies is exercising its rights under a separation
and distribution agreement entered into with TechnipFMC
on 7 Jan. 2021. Once the transaction is complete,
TechnipFMC will own an approximately 31% interest in
Technip Energies.
This past February, TechnipFMC completed a spin-off
transaction to create two independent, publicly traded
companies, TechnipFMC and Technip Energies.

 

Perdaman & IPL Sign Offtake Agreement For Urea from Proposed Karratha Plant

Canberra—
Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers has entered into a 20-
year offtake agreement with Incitec Fertilizers, a whollyowned
subsidiary of Incitec Pivot Ltd. (IPL), for up to 2.3-
million t/y of granular urea from Perdaman’s planned Karratha
urea plant in Australia (PCN, 4 Jan 2021, p 4).
The $4.3-billion project will involve the “world’s largest”
single-line ammonia unit, based on Haldor Topsoe’s Syn-
Cor technology, and a 2.14-million-t/y urea facility, utilizing
Saipem’s proprietary Snamprogetti Urea technology,
PCN earlier reported.
The signing of the offtake agreement with Incitec represents
a “major step forward” in the development of the
urea plant, noted Perdaman Chairman Vikas Rambal.
Construction on the urea unit is scheduled to begin in
the first quarter of 2022, with production expected to start
in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The offtake agreement remains conditional upon Perdaman
finalizing project financing. Regulatory and other
approvals are well advanced, Perdaman noted.

 

SAMAPCO Temporarily Shutting Down Due to Curtailment of Ethylene Feed

Jubail—Sahara
International Petrochemical Co. (Sipchem) announced it
will temporarily shutdown its affiliate, Sahara and
Ma’aden Petrochemicals Co. (SAMAPCO), plant because of
a planned curtailment of ethylene feedstock by Saudi Ethylene
and Polyethylene Co.’s SEPC cracker.
Beginning 23 May 2021, SEPC’s cracker will be shut
down for 27 days. SAMAPCO’s plant will shut down for
the same period, as its ethylene feedstock is supplied by
the SEPC cracker.
SAMAPCO will utilize the shutdown period to enhance
its reliability and operations.
Sipchem said it has taken the necessary actions to
eliminate any potential negative impact on its customers.

 

Yara & JERA Sign MoU to Collaborate On Blue and Green Ammonia Projects

Oslo—Yara
International said it signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with JERA, Japan’s “largest” power generation
company, to partner on the production, delivery and supply
chain development for blue and green ammonia.
Under the MoU, the parties are targeting collaboration
in the following areas:
Supply and development of new ammonia demand
in Japan, including power generation purpose.
Sequestration of already captured carbon dioxide at
Yara’s ammonia plant in Pilbara, Australia, enabling
the production and supply of blue ammonia to
JERA.
New clean ammonia project development.
The organization of ammonia logistics in Japan.
“This ground-breaking collaboration aims to decarbonize
JERA’s power production and provide Yara with a footprint
in the strategically important Japanese market,” said
Yara President and Chief Executive Svein Tore Holsether.
“Building blue and green ammonia value chains is critical
to enabling the hydrogen economy, and collaborating
with a key player like JERA marks a milestone in leveraging
Yara’s global capabilities.”

 

IPL Experiences Equipment Failures At Its Waggaman Ammonia Facility

Baton Rouge—
Incitec Pivot Ltd. (IPL) has reported a series of equipment
failures and shutdowns since its recent planned turnaround
at its Waggaman ammonia plant in Louisiana.
On 15 Feb. 2021, IPL said the facility was expected to
restart operations by the middle of March 2021, following
the first planned turnaround since the plant was commissioned
in 2016.
Mechanical completion of the turnaround was concluded
on 6 Mar. 2021, followed by start-up activity
through to 17 Mar. 2021, when the plant was brought
down as a result of a dry gas seal failure and vibrations in
a turbine. At the time, the company said production was
scheduled to recommence by mid-April 2021.
The unit restarted in mid-April as planned and operated
successfully for two weeks, when it unexpectedly
tripped upon the failure of a vibration probe. Following
repairs, the subsequent restart process was stopped on 8
May 2021, due to a coupling failure, and the facility was
safely shut down.
“Bringing the Waggaman plant back to full operation is
IPL’s highest priority, with all appropriate internal and
external resources being deployed to achieve this,” the
company noted.
Repairs and restart are expected to take two to three
weeks. A further update will be provided on 17 May 2021.

 

Fusion Fuel & CCC Partner to Develop Green Hydrogen Demo Plants in ME

Dublin—Fusion
Fuel Green Plc, a green hydrogen technology company in
Ireland, said it has reached a collaboration agreement with
Consolidated Contractors Group (CCC) to develop green
hydrogen demonstrator units in the Middle East (ME).
The parties plan to develop the plants in several countries
in the region, namely Oman, Kuwait and Qatar, to
serve potential clients in the petrochemical and refining
industries.
The plants will utilize Fusion Fuel’s proprietary electrolyzer
solution that allows it to produce hydrogen at “highly
competitive” costs using renewable energy, resulting in
zero-carbon emissions, Fusion Fuel noted. No other details
were available.
“We are delighted to be partnering with the CCC to
open this new market,” said Joao Wahnon, head of business
development at Fusion Fuel.
“The Middle East represents a big opportunity and a
very promising region for us, given the high levels of solar
exposure, strong appetite for green hydrogen projects, and
strategic geographic position between Europe and Asia.
We are excited to bring Fusion Fuel’s revolutionary technology
to the Middle East.”

 

People on the Move

Uralchem—Dmitry Mazepin, previously chairman of
the board of directors, has taken over as chief executive
director, effective 12 May 2021. He is succeeded by Dmitry
Konyaev, who was most recently deputy chairman of the
board of directors.
Wacker Chemie—Christian Hartel has become president
and chief executive, effective 12 May 2021, replacing
Rudolf Staudigl, who has retired (PCN, 14 Dec 2020, p 2).

 

Shell and NUS Partner in Research Project To Convert CO2 to Petrochems & Fuels

Singapore—
Royal Dutch Shell and the National University of Singapore
(NUS) will work together on a three-year research
project to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into petrochemicals
and fuels, said Reuters citing statements from both parties.
The $3.4-million project will involve developing processes
to produce ethanol and n-propanol from CO2. The
products can be used to produce cleaner burning fuels or
can be further dehydrated to produce ethylene and propylene
for plastics.
Shell will contribute is expertise to scale up catalysts
and processes developed by NUS.

 

Borealis Enters Agreement to Supply Berry With First Volumes of Circular Polyolefins

Vienna—
Borealis and Berry Global have signed an agreement, in
which Berry will have access to Borealis’ first volumes of
in-demand circular polyolefins made from chemical recycling.
Berry will use the polypropylene from chemical recycling
to manufacture food packaging for longtime global
brand owners at its existing European manufacturing facilities,
and will launch in the third quarter of this year.
“Investments in chemical recycling with partners like
Borealis are critical to Berry and our customers, as we collaborate
across the value chain to solve the global commitment
achieving net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Jean-
Marc Galvez, president of Berry’s Consumer Packaging
International Division.

 

RTI Awarded $10-Million from ARPA-E For U.S. Green Ammonia Pilot Project

Washington—
RTI International said the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Advanced
Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has awarded
$10-million to RTI and its partners for a green ammonia
pilot project in Morris, Minn.
The project, which will be located at the University of
Minnesota’s (UMN) West Central Research and Outreach
Center, will integrate the most promising technologies developed
in ARPA-E’s Renewable Energy to Fuels Through
Utilization of Energy-Dense Liquids (REFUEL) program
into a modular, 1-t/d demonstration facility capable of producing
low- and zero-carbon ammonia.
The technologies include Casale and RTI’s lowtemperature,
low-pressure synthesis along with flexible
process control strategies that can vary ammonia production
to meet available intermittent electricity, and UMN’s
elevated temperature ammonia separation.
In addition to RTI, Casale, and UMN, other project
partners include GE, Shell, Nel Hydrogen, Xcel Energy,
Great River Energy, Otter Tail Power Co., Runestone Electric
Assn., Chemtronergy, Texas Tech University, Pacifica
and the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute.
“We are excited to integrate advanced ammonia production
and utilization technologies and demonstrate them
under real-world conditions,” noted Sameer Parvathikar,
principal investigator at RTI.
“In addition to our technology partners, we are also
connecting with end-users to accelerate commercialization
of a technology that will play an important role in the decarbonization
of energy and agricultural industries.”

 

Danimer Scientific Gets Research Grant For Pennycress Oil as PHA Feedstock

Bainbridge—
Danimer Scientific said it received a Small Business Innovation
Research grant to research pennycress oil as a potential
feedstock for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate
(PHA), a biodegradable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional
plastic.
Beginning this July, Danimer will partner with the
University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative to research
the possibility of using pennycress oil in producing
Danimer’s Nodax biodegradable solution.
The project will help determine whether the pennycress
oil can be used as a viable alternative to supplement the
company’s use of canola oil as feedstock.
“An important differentiator of PHA is that it can be
produced using renewable and sustainable products such
as different kinds of plant oils and sugars, in place of fossil
fuels used to produce traditional plastic,” noted Danimer
Scientific Chief Science and Technology Officer Phil Van
Trump.
“We are excited about the potential of pennycress oil for
our manufacturing process. Our partners at the Forever
Green Initiative are the leading experts on this crop, and
we are grateful to have their knowledge and expertise on
this project. This ultimately will help us further our mission
of reducing the impacts of plastics waste with renewable
and biodegradable alternatives.”

 

Tringen, NGC Ink Gas Sales Agreement For Tringen’s Point Lisas NH3 Plants

Point Lisas—
Trinidad Nitrogen Co. (Tringen) has signed a gas sales
agreement with the National Gas Co. of Trinidad and Tobago
(NGC) for the supply of gas to Tringen’s two ammonia
facilities on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in Trinidad
and Tobago.
With this agreement, for which details were not disclosed,
the two ammonia plants will continue to keep
Trinidad secured as a key exporter of ammonia, the companies
noted.
Last year, PCN reported that Tringen, owned 51% by
National Enterprises Ltd. and 49% by Yara Caribbean,
signed a memorandum of understanding with NewGen
Energy to conduct a feasibility study for the use of carbonneutral
and green hydrogen at Tringen’s ammonia facilities.
The project would generate hydrogen from a nonhydrocarbon
source—via the process of electrolysis. A detailed
bankable feasibility study was completed last year,
with further studies underway. A financial investment
decision is planned in the first quarter of 2022.

 

Ascend Sets Goal to Cut GHG Emissions

Houston—
Ascend Performance Materials, in its 2020 Sustainability
Report, said it has set an “aggressive” goal of reducing
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2030.
“Our report highlights the work we are doing to fulfill
that commitment,” noted Chris Johnson, director of sustainability.
“Whether it’s the nitrous oxide abatement project in
Pensacola, Florida, the solar power purchasing agreement
for our plant in Chocolate Bayou, Texas, or the cogeneration
units in Decatur, Alabama, we are making considerable
investments to reduce our greenhouse gas footprint.”

 

SCG Chem Inks Share Purchase Agreement To Acquire Majority Interest in Sirplaste

Bangkok—
SCG Chemicals, through its SCG Chemicals Trading (Singapore)
Pte. subsidiary, has signed a share purchase
agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Sirplaste-
Sociedade Industrial de Recuperados de Plastico.
Sirplaste, Portugal’s “largest” plastic recycling company,
has an annual capacity of 36,000 tons, noted PLMJ,
advisor to SCG Chemicals on the transaction.
Under the agreement, SCG Chemicals, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Siam Cement, will acquire a 70% interest in
Sirplaste, subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions
precedent. Completion is expected by the end of 2021.
Existing shareholders of Sirplaste will continue to hold
a 30% stake and co-manage the company with SCG Chemicals.
“The signing of the share purchase agreement to acquire
shares in Sirplaste is another significant step forward
for Chemicals Business, SCG, in advancing circular
economy pursuits,” said SCG Chemicals President Tanawong
Areeratchakul.
“The joint venture between SCG and Sirplaste will
strengthen our HVA portfolios to cater to the growing recycled
resin demand, meeting the needs of brand owners
worldwide and green-minded customers.
“It will also help to improve our technology department
of high-quality PCR [post-consumer recycled resin] and
expand our distribution to other continents.”

 

Hanwha Solutions Selected as Operator In Project to Develop PTC Technology

Seoul—
Hanwha Solutions will lead a national project to develop a
plastics-to-chemicals (PTC) technology in South Korea,
reported Business Korea citing the company.
The KRW 12.3-billion project, Waste Plastic Pyrolysis
Oil-Based Naphtha Production Technology Project, aims to
develop a technology that produces naphtha based on pyrolysis
oil. The naphtha will be used to make basic plastic
materials, such as ethylene and propylene, through a
naphtha cracking center.
By 2024, Hanwha intends to design a commercial process
that can produce 30,000 t/y of naphtha, following a successful
pilot project to produce one ton a day of naphtha.
Other participants in the project include Hanwha Total,
the Korea Institute of Energy Research, the Korea Institute
of Industrial Technology, KAIST and Jeonnam National
University.

 

Liquid Wind Chooses Worley to Design Commercial-Scale eMethanol Facility

Stockholm—
Worley has been selected by Liquid Wind to provide frontend
engineering design services for a commercial-scale
eMethanol plant to be built in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden.
The facility, which will be “one of the world’s first” commercial-
scale eMethanol plants, is expected to begin
production by early 2024, Liquid Wind noted. Construction
is planned for early 2022.
Worley will support the Liquid Wind consortium, which
also includes Alfa Laval, Carbon Clean, Haldor Topsoe and
Siemens Energy, to plan the efficient integration of the
technology components and the union with the host power
station, Ovik Energi.
Together with the consortium partners, Worley will design
a standardized and modular facility concept that can
be efficiently replicated and assembled for subsequent
flagships. During the design phase, a digital twin will be
established using a COMOS engineering database. Liquid
Wind plans to establish 500 facilities by 2050.
“We are committed to delivering a more sustainable
world and we look forward to helping Liquid Wind achieve
its sustainability goals and ambitions to bring renewable
methanol to market at scale,” said Worley President Bradley
Andrews.

 

Technip to Supply Hummingbird Catalyst For LanzaJet’s Biorefinery in Georgia

Atlanta—
Technip Energies and LanzaJet have entered into a supply
agreement for Technip Energies’ proprietary Hummingbird
ethanol-to-ethylene catalyst to be used in LanzaJet’s first
commercial demonstration-scale integrated biorefinery at
its Freedom Pines Fuels site in Soperton, Ga.
“Hummingbird is a second generation, low-cost process
for dehydrating ethanol to produce ethylene,” noted Technip
Energies. “It gives ethylene derivative producers an
option to produce ‘niche’ renewable products from sustainable
bioethanol sources.
“A key feature of Hummingbird is its proprietary catalyst
operating at a lower temperature, higher pressure and
producing a polymer-grade ethylene with over 99% selectivity,”
Technip Energies added.
“The use of the Hummingbird . . . catalyst will allow
LanzaJet to scale and grow strategically to meet the aviation
industry’s need for sustainable fuel,” said LanzaJet
Chief Executive Jimmy Samartzis.
”In fact, it will help us double production and usage of
SAF [sustainable aviation fuel] in the United States, starting
in 2022, and help the aviation industry reduce emissions
and its reliance on fossil fuels used to power its
planes.”
In 2019, Technip Energies was awarded its first commercial
license for the Hummingbird catalyst by LanzaTech,
founder and investor in LanzaJet.

SCG Chemicals and Dow Tout Completion Of MOC Debottleneck Project in Thailand

Rayong—
SCG Chemicals and Dow announced the successful completion
of their Map Ta Phut Olefins Co.’s (MOC) joint venture
debottleneck project in Map Ta Phut, Rayong, Thailand
(PCN, 8 Oct 2018, p 2).
The project, which was completed ahead of schedule
and has started initial production, will expand MOC’s olefins
production capacity by 350,000 t/y. Full commercial
production is expected to be reached this month.
“The MOCD [Map Ta Phut Olefins Debottleneck Project]
is the MOC’s largest project in terms of investment
and technological challenges,” noted Roongrote Rangsiyopash,
president and chief executive of SCG.
“The project was completed earlier than planned, despite
being amid the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to the
stringent and continuous implementation of COVID-19
response measures and our professionals’ capability and
expertise to ensure safe and coherent project progress.
The project is now ready to meet the demands of the domestic
and international markets.”
In 2018, MOC awarded a technology contract to
McDermott International for the project, and an offshore
detailed engineering and procurement services contract to
Toyo Engineering.
SCG holds a 67% indirect stake in MOC, while Dow
owns the remaining 33% of both direct and indirect shares.
SCG Chemicals is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SCG.

 

Pembina Starts Up PRT Export Terminal; Enters Into Purchase Deal with Mitsui

Alberta—
Pembina Pipeline recently completed and placed into service
its “first” propane marine export facility, Prince
Rupert Terminal (PRT), on Watson Island in B.C., Canada
(PCN, 26 Feb 2018, p 4).
The $250-million terminal, with a permitted capacity of
25,000 b/d, will connect the rest of Pembina’s natural gas
liquids infrastructure in Western Canada with growing
demand markets throughout the world.
Pembina began loading propane onto vessels on 9 Apr.
2021. As of 22 Apr. 2021, two vessels had departed PRT
destined for international markets.
In addition, the company entered into a one-year
agreement with a subsidiary of Mitsui, whereby Mitsui will
purchase substantially all of the post-commissioning cargoes
shipped from PRT.
Separately, Pembina said the Prince Rupert Terminal
Expansion remains deferred. Engineering of the expansion
is well advanced and the company expects to make a final
investment decision in the second half of this year.

 

Hanwha Total JV Commissions PP Plant At Daesan Refining and PC Complex

Daesan—
Hanwha Total Petrochemical Co. (HTC), a 50-50 joint venture
of Hanwha General Chemicals and Total, announced
the commissioning of a new polypropylene (PP) line at its
integrated refining and petrochemical complex in Daesan,
South Korea (PCN, 23 Sept 2019, p 1).
The 400,000-t/y PP plant, which cost around $500-
million, is based on W. R. Grace & Co.’s Unipol PP process
technology. The additional capacity increases HTC’s PP
production capacity to 1.1-million t/y.
At the same time, the start-up of a fourth propane furnace
at the complex will boost ethylene production capacity
by 10% to 1.5-million t/y.
The facilities will take advantage of abundant, costadvantaged
propane feedstock from the U.S.
“The successful completion of these projects in South
Korea is an excellent illustration of our strategy of meeting
growing global demand for polymers, especially for durable
applications, by focusing investments on our world-class
complexes,” said Bernard Pinatel, president of Refining &
Chemicals at Total.
“In the case of Daesan, we also leverage competitively
priced feedstock and monomer-polymer integration.”

 

Chevron Phillips Chemical Planning to Build World-Scale 1-Hexene Unit in Old Ocean

Houston—
Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) announced plans to
construct a world-scale plant to produce on-purpose 1-
hexene in Old Ocean, Texas, near the company’s Sweeny
facility.
The plant, which will utilize CPChem’s latest onpurpose
technology, is expected to have 266,000 t/y of 1-
hexene capacity. Start-up is expected in 2023.
“The new unit’s location will provide additional flexibility
and production to meet anticipated demand from the
company’s growing customer base, while establishing room
for continued future growth,” CPChem noted.
The company currently operates the “world’s largest”
on-purpose 1-hexene unit and two full-range alpha olefin
units at its Cedar Bayou plant in Baytown, Texas.

 

Arkema Finalizes Divestment to Trinseo Of Polymethyl Methacrylate Business

Paris—Arkema
announced it has completed the sale of its polymethyl
methacrylate (PMMA) business to Trinseo (PCN, 21-28
Dec 2020, p 3).
The transaction, based on an enterprise value of about
€1.14-billion, is fully in line with Arkema’s ambition to become
a pure specialty materials player by 2024, focused on
three complementary segments of adhesive solutions, advanced
materials and coating solutions, Arkema noted.
The PMMA business employees around 860 people, all
which will join Trinseo, and operates four production sites
in Europe and three in North America.

 

LyondellBasell Starts Commercial Production Of Polymers from Renewable Raw Materials

Berlin—
LyondellBasell said it has begun the commercial production
of virgin-quality polymers from raw materials derived
from plastic waste at its site in Wesseling, Germany.
Produced by the thermal conversion of plastic waste,
the raw material is converted into ethylene and propylene
at the company’s production facilities, and then further
processed into polyethylene and polypropylene.
The company has already successfully produced plastic
materials made from renewable-based raw materials such
as cooking oil, which helps to reduce carbon dioxide over
the product life cycle.
Products made from recycled and renewable-based raw
materials will be marketed under the Circulen brand name
(PCN, 19 Apr 2021, p 4).
“Advancing the circular economy requires definitive action
and by consistently using these new raw materials in
the production of polymers on a commercial scale, we are
doing our part to help eliminate plastic waste and address
climate change,” said Richard Roudeix, senior vice president
of Olefins & Polyolefins for Europe, Middle East, Africa
and India.
“We are expanding our range of sustainable solutions
through our Circulen brand and the use of recycled content,
offering our customers a way to use recycled polymers
in a wide variety of applications.”
Last month, the company announced that it had received
the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification
(ISCC) Plus certification for its Wessling cracker
and European polymer sites (PCN, 12 Apr 2021, p 3).

 

Mitsubishi Chemical Enters Agreement To Transfer Shares in SMP to Sinopec

Tokyo—
Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. (MCC) has signed an agreement
with China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) to
transfer the shares it holds in Sinopec Mitsubishi Chemical
Polycarbonate (Beijing) Co. (SMP) to Sinopec.
Located in Beijing, China, SMP manufactures and sells
bisphenol-A and polycarbonate resins to serve demand in
China and other parts of the world. It was established in
2009 as a joint venture between PCR Investments Japan
Corp. (PCRIJ), which was jointly funded by MCC and Mitsubishi
Engineering-Plastic Corp., and Sinopec.
MCC will transfer all shares of SMP held by PCRIJ to
Sinopec by the end of October 2021, as part of a portfolio
reform in line with Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group’s
medium-term management plan.

 

Black Diamond, Investindustrial Acquire Certain Resins Businesses from Hexion

Columbus—
Hexion has completed the sale of its phenolic specialty
resin, hexamine and European-based forest products resins
businesses to Black Diamond and Investindustrial for
around $425-million (PCN, 12 Apr 2021, p 4).
The transaction included 11 manufacturing facilities
worldwide and approximately 900 employees.
“This sale strengthens our balance sheet, while maintaining
a strong specialty chemical portfolio going forward,”
said Craig Rogerson, chairman, president and chief
executive of Hexion.

 

Ube Splitting Off Syn Rub Business To Form Ube Elastomer Subsidiary

Tokyo—Ube Industries
announced that its board of directors has resolved
to split off the company’s synthetic rubber business and
establish Ube Elastomer Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Ube Industries responsible for the synthetic rubber business.
“As of this year, Ube Industries has operated the synthetic
rubber business for 50 years since it started manufacturing
synthetic rubber at the Chiba petrochemical factory,”
Ube noted. “In recent years, lower demand and
greater supply of synthetic rubber have resulted in stagnant
profitability.
“Given the circumstances, Ube Industries has decided
to split off the business into a separate business entity that
will independently operate the synthetic rubber business,
including related research and development, manufacturing
and marketing.”
In addition to the Chiba, Japan, factory, Ube manufactures
and supplies synthetic rubber products from Thailand,
China and Malaysia.
The company split is planned to be completed on 1 Oct.
2021.

 

KBR Enters Into Agreement with Cummins For Integrated Green Ammonia Solution

Houston—
KBR has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with Cummins Inc. to offer a complete and integrated solution
to produce ammonia from renewable sources.
Under the terms of the MoU, KBR would integrate
Cummin’s proton exchange membrane electrolysis technology
into its proprietary green ammonia solution, K-GreeN.
“Cummins is excited to explore working with KBR,
whose leading ammonia technology can deliver tremendous
value with our electrolysis technologies,” said Amy Davis,
vice president and president of new power at Cummins.
“We see great potential to deploy large-scale electrolyzer
solutions in green ammonia projects and working
with KBR on an integrated solution provides value for our
customers, while enabling decarbonization.”
The MoU is a non-exclusive agreement, under which
KBR and Cummins will identify areas of deeper collaboration
and specific opportunities globally, the companies
noted.

 

People on the Move

Nova Chemicals—John Thayer, senior vice president
of sales and marketing, will assume the additional role of
interim senior vice president, operations. A permanent
replacement will be announced later. Arnel Santos, currently
senior vice president, operations and innovation,
will be leaving the company, effective 21 May 2021.
Hexion—Sanjeev Rastogi has joined the company as
senior vice president, global resins, succeeding Mark Alness,
who has retired. Rastogi most recently served as vice
president and general manager, performance materials
and technologies at Honeywell International.
Cyclyx International—James Trevathan, previously
global sales and operations manager at ExxonMobil
Chemical, has joined Cyclyx as vice president, feedstock
sourcing and supply chain.

 

DAK Americas to Close Cooper River Polyester Staple Fiber Operations

Charleston—DAK
Americas announced that it plans to close the polyester
staple fiber (PSF) manufacturing operations at its Cooper
River site, near Charleston, S.C., on 31 Dec. 2021.
The shutdown of the 150,000-t/y PSF facility will impact
approximately 200 full-service employees and 40 contract
workers. The site will continue to produce polyethylene
terephthalate resins to serve the bottle and packaging
markets.
“This is a very difficult decision for us,” said DAK Co-
President Jorge Young. “The closure of the fibers operations
comes after an extensive analysis of our ability to be
cost competitive in an extremely challenging market that
has faced prolonged and continuing pressure from low
priced imports.
“Current economics do not support the extensive investment
needed to revitalize the site and meet future
market needs.”

 

Petronas Adding 3 Newbuild LNG Vessels Through Hyundai LNG Shipping TCP

Kuala Lumpur–
Petronas LNG Ltd. has signed a time charter party (TCP)
with Hyundai LNG Shipping (HLS) for three newbuild liquefied
natural gas (LNG) vessels.
As part of the agreement, HLS, the shipowner, has
signed shipbuilding contracts with Hyundai Heavy Industries
for construction of the three 174,000-cu m ships. The
new vessels will be “amongst the most energy efficient
LNG carriers ever built,” Petronas noted.
Delivery is expected from the second quarter of 2024 on
a staggered basis and will mainly be used to lift cargoes
from LNG Canada, which will further contribute towards
the “competitive” and uninterrupted supply to Petronas’
customers, said Petronas.

 

Borealis Starts Up Heat Recovery Unit Utilizing ‘Unique’ Qpinch Technology

Antwerp—
Borealis, in a collaboration with Qpinch, said it has started
up a new heat recovery unit demonstrating the “first-ever”
application of the “unique” Qpinch technology at commercial
scale in Belgium (PCN, 29 Oct 2018, p 3).
The unit, located at an existing Borealis low-density
polyethylene production location in Antwerp, will test the
technology’s capabilities, as well as its scale-up potential
for use in other Borealis plants, globally. It will also enable
Borealis to save around 2,200 t/y of carbon dioxide.
By utilizing a chemical process to raise the temperature
of waste heat, the technology provides a heat lift for waste
heat that could otherwise not be utilized, Borealis explained.
Compared to conventional heat pumps, this
closed-loop process minimizes operational costs and
electricity use.
The technology is scalable from one to 50 megawatts,
enabling it to process “enormous” levels of industrial waste
heat.
“The integration of our technology in a complex chemical
production process is the culmination of 10 years of
R&D [research and development] and teamwork,” noted
Wouter Ducheyne, co-founder, co-chief executive and chief
technology officer of Qpinch. “This first unit demonstrates
the vast potential of energy efficiency, and it’s great to
have Borealis as a first mover on this innovation journey.”

 

Mitsui Chem, Mitsui & Co. Get EC Approval To Acquire Joint Control of Honshu Chem

Brussels—
The European Commission (EC) has approved the acquisition
of joint control over Honshu Chemical Industry Co., a
Japanese chemicals producer, by Mitsui Chemicals and
Mitsui & Co.
Last November, Mitsui Chemicals and Mitsui & Co. entered
into a joint tender offer agreement to purchase all of
the shares of Honshu, which would make Mitsui Chemicals
and Mitsui & Co. sole shareholders.
The transaction, which the companies earlier estimated
would be finalized “in or around” this month, would give
Mitsui Chemicals a 51% stake in Honshu, with Mitsui &
Co. owning the remaining 49% interest.
The commission concluded that the proposed acquisition
would raise no competition concerns in view of the
absence of horizontal overlaps and the existence of only
limited vertical links between the activities of the companies
involved.

 

Sulzer, AVA Biochem Partnering to Expand Technology Portfolio for Bio-Based Chems

Bern—
Swiss-Based Sulzer and AVA Biochem have entered into
an exclusive license agreement to commercialize AVA Biochem’s
proprietary COBRIS (Conversion of Biomass to Renewable
Industrial Substances) process to produce sustainable
commodity chemicals from biomass.
The COBRIS process turns sugar-rich biomass into a
renewable and non-toxic compound, 5-HMF, used to produce
a broad range of widely used chemical products, such
as adhesives, films, packaging, textile fibers, food additives,
as well as alternatives to formaldehyde.
Under the agreement, Sulzer’s Chemtech Division will
commercialize the licensed technology, along with its proprietary
key separation equipment for the purification of 5-
HMF, to offer a “one stop” solution, the companies noted.

 

Total Cray Valley, Gevo Complete Phase 1 Of JDA to Develop Renewable Isoamylene

Denver—
Total Cray Valley and Gevo said they have successfully
completed Phase 1 of their joint development agreement
(JDA) to upgrade fusel oils into renewable isoamylene
(PCN, 19 Oct 2020, p 4).
The JDA, signed in 2020, is based on Gevo’s chemicalbased
catalytic processes that selectively convert low-value
fusel oils, a mixture of alcohols that are byproducts from
fermentation processes such as ethanol or isobutanol production,
into renewable isoprene, ketones, aldehydes, or
olefins, in this case isoamylene. The isoamylene will be
used by Gevo is resin manufacturing.
“We were very satisfied with the results of pilot tests
during Phase 1,” noted Valerie Goff, senior vice president
of polymers at Total. “Gevo’s technology was found to be
robust and flexible and the initial economic assessment
shows potential for a profitable business.
“This JDA between Total Cray Valley and Gevo is an
excellent example of collaboration to develop the materials
of the future produced from bio-based feedstock, and meets
a strong demand from our customers.”
The companies are now looking to advance to Phase 2 of
the JDA, which will allow for the scale-up of Gevo’s technology
at a demonstration scale. No other details were
available.

 

Yara & Engie Win A$42.5-Mn ARENA Grant For Renewable Hydrogen, NH3 Production

Perth—
Yara and Engie have won a A$42.5-million grant, as part
of the Australian government’s ARENA Renewable Hydrogen
Development Funding Round, for a project to build a
renewable hydrogen plant for the production of renewable
ammonia in Australia.
The project, to be built within the existing Yara Pilbara
ammonia facility, involves the development, construction
and operation of “one of the world’s first” industrial-scale
renewable hydrogen production operations, the partners
noted. Completion is scheduled for 2023.
The first concrete phase of the project will produce up to
625 t/y of renewable hydrogen and 3,700 t/y of renewable
ammonia. This initial phase would be key to enable the
facility to become the “Pilbara Hydrogen Hub,” they added.
“Renewable hydrogen can decarbonize ammonia production,
and renewable ammonia can serve as renewable
feedstock for a variety of industrial uses, and even more
importantly, renewable ammonia is one of the world’s most
promising fuels for green power generation and shipping,”
said Yara Pilbara General Manager Laurent Trost.
“Yara will integrate the clean hydrogen produced in the
project into the existing ammonia operations to demonstrate
that increases renewable hydrogen use can reduce
the dependence on fossil fuels,” noted Magnus Krogh
Ankarstrand, president of clean ammonia at Yara International.

 

Technip Energies Launches New Suite Of Low-Carbon Hydrogen Solutions

Paris—Technip
Energies announced the launch of BlueH2 by T.EN, a full
suite of cost-efficient, low-carbon solutions for hydrogen
production.
In addition to targeting traditional low-carbon hydrogen
production applications like ammonia and refining manufacture,
BlueH2 by T.EN has been developed to further
support the decarbonization of other industries, including
olefins, liquefied natural gas, power, steel, and cement.
Benefits of BlueH2 by T.EN include: up to a 99% cut in
carbon footprint compared to the traditional hydrogen
process; maximum hydrogen yield with minimum energy
requirement, and highly-efficient carbon avoidance and
carbon capture utilization and storage techniques; “flight
proven” proprietary technologies and equipment, and optional
integration of highly-efficient, low-carbon cogeneration
of power.

 

Nouryon to ‘Spin-Out’ Nobian Business; Will Create Two Separate Companies

Amersfoort—
Specialty chemicals company Nouryon said it plans to
“spin-out” its base chemicals business, Nobian, into a separate
company that will remain under the ownership of The
Carlyle Group and GIC, Nouryon’s equity owners.
The separation, expected to be completed by early in
the third quarter of this year, will result in two separate
companies, each positioned for growth in their respective
focus areas. The transaction is subject to receipt of all
relevant approvals, including final board approval.
“In 2020, Nouryon announced a new company strategy
to grow our leading positions and exceed our customer’s
expectations by delivering innovative, sustainable solutions
that meet society’s everyday needs,” said Nouryon
Chairman and Chief Executive Charlie Shaver.
“The separation will create two powerful, best-in-class
companies . . . each with a compelling and distinct strategic
focus.”

 

PEC Enters Into SPA to Sell a 25% Interest In Huizhou Tianxin Petchem Engineering

Beijing—
PEC Ltd. has signed a sales and purchase agreement
(SPA) with Huizhou Qi An Enterprise Management Co.,
Huizhou Mu Sheng Enterprise Management Co., and
Huizhou Ze Xi Enterprise Management Co. (the purchasers)
to sell a 25% equity stake in Huizhou Tianxin Petrochemical
Engineering (Tianxin) for $1.5-million.
At the same time, PEC entered into a shareholders’
agreement with the purchasers, in which the board of directors
of Tianxin will comprise a maximum of four directors,
of whom PEC is entitled to appoint three directors.
The purchasers, comprising 25% shareholding, are entitled
to appoint one director.
Upon completion of the transaction, PEC will hold a
75% stake in Tianxin. An expected closing date was not
available.
Tianxin is engaged principally in the business of engineering
construction and maintenance, precision instrument
and equipment maintenance, engineering consultation
and procurement, and general contracting of chemical,
pharmaceutical, petroleum, oil and gas product storage
and transportation equipment.

 

Songwon Forms New Chinese Entity

Beijing—Songwon
Industrial Co. said it has established Songwon International-
Qingdao Co., a new business entity in China to
ensure Songwon remains well-positioned to continue serving
customers in the region.
Separately, the company said it has completed the divestment
of its shareholding in the Qingdao Long Fortune
Songwon Chemical Co. joint venture.

 

 

Standard Industries Inks Definitive Deal To Acquire Grace for Around $7-Billion

Columbia—
W.R. Grace & Co. and Standard Industries Holdings have
entered into a definitive agreement, under which Standard
will purchase Grace in an all-cash transaction valued at
approximately $7-billion, including Grace’s pending
pharma fine chemistry acquisition.
Closing of the transaction, which was unanimously approved
by Grace’s board of directors, is subject to customary
closing conditions, including approval by Grace shareholders
and receipt of certain regulatory approvals. The
sale is expected to be finalized in the fourth quarter of this
year.
Once the transaction is complete, Grace will become a
privately-held company and its common stock will no
longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Last November, 40 North Management, a holder of
14.9% of shares of Grace common stock, offered to purchase
all outstanding shares of Grace for $60 per share;
however, Grace believed the offer undervalued the company
(PCN, 18 Jan 2021, p 2).
This past January, 40 North increased its offer to $65
per share for all outstanding shares of Grace. It has now
agreed to vote its shares of Grace common stock in favor of
the transaction with Standard.

 

Lummus Tech Wins Master Licensor Award For NKNK’s PC Project in Nizhnekamsk

Moscow—
Nizhnekamskneftekhim (NKNK) has awarded a master
licensor contract to Lummus Technology to supply its processes
for four new petrochemical plants, being built as part
of an expansion of NKNK’s olefins production facility in
Nizhnekamsk, Russia.
Lummus’ scope includes the technology license and basic
engineering for ethylbenzene (EB), styrene monomer
(SM), ethylene dimerization and olefins conversion units.
A schedule for the project was not given.
Once the expansion is complete, the facilities will produce
250,000 t/y of EB using EBOne technology; 250,000
t/y of SM utilizing Classic SM Technology; and 150,000 t/y
of polymer-grade propylene via olefins metathesis chemistry
using Lummus’ ethylene dimerization and olefins conversion
technologies.

 

Acron Completes Ammonia-4 Plant Revamp To Boost Ammonia Capacity at Novgorod

Moscow—
Acron announced the completion of its $34-million ammonia-
4 plant revamp project at its Veliky Novgorod site in
Russia (PCN, 12 Oct 2020, p 4).
The facility, which successfully passed guarantee test
runs, now has a capacity of over 2,500 t/d. It is “one of the
largest” ammonia units in Europe, the company noted.
Last October, Acron said it began a “major” overhaul of
its units at the site, which would include upgrading four
urea units to reach 2,000 t/d. A schedule was not given.

 

Anchorage Selects C3 Oleflex Technology For Propylene Production Unit in Egypt

Suez—
Honeywell UOP said that its C3 Oleflex technology has
been chosen by Anchorage Investments for the production
of 750,000-t/y of polymer-grade propylene at Anchorage’s
Anchor Benitoite petrochemicals complex in Suez, Egypt.
Under the contract, Honeywell will provide technology
licensing and basic engineering design, in addition to services,
equipment, catalysts and adsorbents for the plant.
No other details of the project were given.
“The increasing consumption of plastics in the region
has created a growing gap between supply and demand for
propylene, which has historically been a by-product of refining
fuels,” said Laura Leonard, vice president and general
manager, Honeywell UOP Process Technologies.

 

BUA Refinery Picks Novolen Technology For New PP Plant at Nigerian Refinery

Abuja—
Lummus Technology’s Novolen business has been awarded
a contract from BUA Refinery to supply technology for a
new polypropylene (PP) plant to be built as part of BUA’s
grassroots refinery and petrochemicals project in Akwa
Ibom, Nigeria.
The 285,000-t/y PP facility will be the “first” unit in Nigeria
to utilize Novolen PP technology. An expected completion
date for the plant was not given. The refinery project
is scheduled to come on stream in 2024.
Lummus’ scope includes the technology license, as well
as basic design engineering, training and services, and
catalyst supply.
“We are pleased to sign this polypropylene contract . . .
with Lummus Technology, a world leader in delivering
polypropylene solutions, which will solve the increasing
demand for high-performance grade polypropylene in Nigeria,
the Gulf of Guinea, as well as the Sub-Saharan Africa
region,” noted Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of BUA
Group.

 

Shintech Begins Project to Boost Capacity At Integrated PVC Facility in Plaquemine

Houston—
Shintech, a U.S. subsidiary of Shin-Etsu Chemical, has
started construction on a project to further increase production
capacity at its integrated polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
manufacturing facility in Plaquemine, La (PCN, 8 Feb
2021, p 1).
Expected to cost $1.25-billion, the project will see increasing
production capacity for vinyl chloride monomer
(VCM) by 580,000 t/y to 2.95-million t/y, PVC capacity by
380,000 t/y to 3.62-million t/y and caustic soda capacity by
390,000 t/y to a total of 1.95-million t/y. Completion is anticipated
by the end of 2023.
In 2018, Shintech began construction on a $1.49-billion
project at the site to develop a new chlor-alkali and VCM
production facility and expand existing PVC production
units. Completion is scheduled for the middle of this year.

 

LyondellBasell to License PE Technology For Shandong Yulong Petchem Complex

Beijing—
Shandong Yulong Petrochemical Co. has selected LyondellBasell’s
Lupotech T high-pressure polyethylene (PE)
technology to be used in two new production lines at its
20,000-t/y integrated refining and petrochemical complex
being built in Longkou, Shandong Province, China (PCN,
15 Feb 2021, p 1).
The technology will be utilized in a 200,000-t/y lowdensity
PE (LDPE) line and a 300,000-t/y LDPE and ethylene
vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer line. Details of the contract
and a scheduled start-up date were not given.
“With continuous significant growth in LDPE and EVA
applications, and the need for benchmark manufacturing
performance to effectively compete in the product market,
Shandong Yulong Petrochemical’s selection of our Lupotech
T underlines our leading position in process technologies
for the production of LDPE and LDPE specialties,”
said Neil Nadalin, director of global licensing and services
at LyondellBasell.
PCN earlier reported that the complex would include
two “mega” mixed feed ethylene crackers, two “large” polypropylene
lines, and “large” ethylbenzene and styrene
monomer plants.

 

Kumho Mitsui Chemicals Plans Project To Increase MDI Production at Yeosu

Yeosu—Kumho
Mitsui Chemicals is planning to expand production capacity
for diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) at its facilities
in Yeosu, South Korea.
The ¥40-billion project will increase MDI production
capacity to 610,000 t/y from 410,000 t/y currently. Construction
is expected to begin this month, with operations
scheduled to start in January 2024.
In addition, the company will install recycling facilities
that can reuse the by-products created during the manufacturing
process as raw materials, which will improve
self-sufficiency for raw materials, and reduce emissions,
Mitsui Chemicals noted.
“Demand for MDI is projected to grow at annual rate of
6% going forward on account of policy measures around the
globe to improve residential insulation as a means of global
warming suppression, as well as due to the heightened
demand accompanying economic growth,” it added.
Kumho Mitsui Chemicals is a 50-50 joint venture of
Kumho Petrochemical Co. and Mitsui Chemicals & SKC
Polyurethanes Inc.

 

Egypt Signs Agreement for PC Complex; Expects Project to Meet Domestic Needs

Cairo—
Egypt’s Red Sea National Refining and Petrochemicals Co.
and the Suez Canal Economic Zone’s development company
have signed an agreement to build a new petrochemical
complex in the Ain Sokhna industrial zone, according to
several industry reports citing a government statement.
The complex, estimated to cost $7.5-billion, would include
the production of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester,
and other chemical and petroleum products. No
other details were available.
The aim of the project is to produce value-added petrochemical
and petroleum products to meet the country’s
domestic needs, and create export opportunities.

 

IOCL Awards Contract to Maire Tecnimont To Build New Paraxylene Plant in Paradip

Paradip—
A consortium of Tecnimont SpA and Tecnimont Private
Ltd., subsidiaries of Maire Tecnimont SpA, have received a
contract from Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. (IOCL) to set up a new
paraxylene unit and relevant offsite facilities in Paradip,
Odisha, India (PCN, 10 Aug 2020, p 1).
The project will involve construction of a new 800,000-
t/y paraxylene plant, which will feed an adjacent 1.2-
million-t/y purified terephthalic acid (PTA) unit. Both
facilities are expected to be complete by early 2024.
Under the lump-sum contract, valued at around $450-
million, the consortium will be responsible for the engineering,
procurement, construction and commissioning
activities of the paraxylene unit up to the performance
guarantees test run.
IOCL is currently building a 357,000-t/y ethylene glycol
(EG) plant at Paradip, which is scheduled to begin operations
towards the end of this year. PTA from the new complex
will be used as feedstock in the EG plant.

 

Michelin Lets McDermott FEED Contract For Plastic Recycling Project in France

Paris—
Michelin Group has awarded a front-end engineering design
(FEED) contract to McDermott for a plastic recycling
project in France.
The project will involve the “first” industrialization of
an “innovative” plastic recycling process to produce regenerated
styrene from polystyrene. The regenerated styrene
will be used in the production of synthetic rubbers for tires
and polystyrene, McDermott noted.
McDermott will provide value engineering, risk analysis
and a detailed constructability study. Work on the project
will begin immediately and is expected to be completed
in the third quarter of this year.
“In line with McDermott’s energy transition strategy,
we will use our strategic solutions to continue supporting
Michelin’s commitment to a circular economy and increasing
demand for sustainable materials,” said Tareq Kawash,
senior vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa at
McDermott.

 

Nova Declares FM on PE in Sarnia

Sarnia—Nova
Chemicals declared force majeure on polyethylene produced
in Canada’s Sarnia region, citing a mechanical failure
beyond its control at its Corunna ethylene cracker, according
to several media reports.
The Corunna cracker supplies ethylene to the company’s
polyethylene facilities in the region, namely its
Mooretown and St. Clair River plants. The force majeure
will not affect any of Nova’s other polyethylene products.
It is not yet known when the force majeure is likely to
be lifted.

 

People on the Move

LSB Industries—Hector Miravete has been appointed
to the newly created role of director of clean energy, effective
3 May 2021, to lead the development and execution of
the company’s Green Ammonia initiative. He comes from
KBR, where he most recently served as global technology
business director.

 

SABIC to Assume Sales & Marketing Rights Of Aramco’s Chemical, Polymer Products

Riyadh—
SABIC, in its first quarter 2021 earnings, said that the
sales and marketing rights of around 5.4-million tons of
chemicals and polymer products will be transferred from
Saudi Aramco to SABIC.
The arrangement, planned to be implemented on a
phased basis beginning this year, will focus SABIC on petrochemicals
products and Aramco on fuel products. The
changes are subject to the receipt of necessary consents.
SABIC will also sell methyl tertiary butyl ether and
benzene to Aramco and will rely on Aramco to source
European cracker feedstock and benzene to its global operations.
The new capacities to be transferred to SABIC include
polyurethane, propylene oxide and butyl glycol ethers,
which will expand its product portfolio.
“We expect our global market share to increase in
polymers and chemicals, which will reinforce SABIC as the
chemicals arm of Saudi Aramco and advance the realization
of our company’s ambition to be the preferred world
leader in chemicals,” SABIC noted.
Last year, Aramco acquired a 70% stake in SABIC from
the Public Investment Fund for a total purchase price of
$69.1-billion (PCN, 12 Apr 2021, p 4).

 

Venture Global Announces Development In Plaquemines LNG Export Facility

Arlington—
Venture Global announced a new partnership with Zachary
Group in the development of its liquefied natural gas
(LNG) export facility in Plaquemines Parish, La. (PCN, 7
Dec 2020, p 3).
KBR, which was recently awarded an engineering, procurement
and construction (EPC) contract for Phase 1 of
the project, will form a new joint venture with Zachry.
Through the joint venture, as KZJV, KBR and Zachry will
executive the EPC contract.
The facility will have a nameplate capacity of 10-million
t/y of LNG. An expected completion date was not given.

 

Shchekinoazot and Topsoe Enter MoU To Reduce CO2 Emissions in Russia

Moscow—
Shchekinoazot and Haldor Topsoe have signed a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) to jointly discover opportunities
to reduce the carbon footprint of Shchekinoazot’s
existing and future plants in the Tula region of Russia.
Shchekinoazot plans to establish the production of
green and blue methanol, ammonia and hydrogen using
Topsoe’s experience and technologies within reforming,
electrolysis, carbon capture and utilization, and ammonia
and methanol synthesis.
The partners will notify each other of latest technological
developments, and jointly explore opportunities of implementing
Topsoe’s technologies at Shchekinoazot’s
plants, in order to “efficiently and safely produce highquality
chemicals with the lowest rates of green house gas
emissions,” Topsoe noted.
“Our company’s vision is to be recognized as the global
leader in carbon emission reduction technologies by 2024,
and we are excited to share our groundbreaking technologies
with our long-term partner, Shchekinoazot,” said Roeland
Baan, president and chief executive of Topsoe.

 

Carbios Confirms Plan for ‘First-of-a-Kind’ 100% PET Recycling Production Facility

Paris—
Carbios confirmed its intention to build a “first-of-a-kind”
100% polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling unit,
once a site is selected.
The plant is expected to have 40,000 t/y of recycled PET
production. Construction is anticipated to begin at the end
of next year, with start-up of the unit expected by the end
of 2024.
In addition, the company said it has terminated the
non-exclusive and non-binding expression of interest (EoI)
with Equipolymers to host the plant at Equipolymers’ site
in Schkopau, Germany, and has signed a new nonexclusive
and non-binding EoI with a “significant” PET
producer to build the unit on one of its production sites.
No other details were given.

 

Repsol to Join Enerkem, Agbar in Project To Build Spanish Waste-to-Chems Plant

Madrid—
Repsol said it will join Enerkem and water and waste
management expert Agbar in a project to build a waste-tochemicals
plant in Tarragona, Spain.
The joint venture, Ecoplanta Molecular Recycling Solutions,
will set up a facility to process around 400,000 tons
of non-recycled municipal solid waste from surrounding
regions and produce 220,000 t/y of methanol. The plant
will utilize Enerkem’s gasification technology and will be
co-managed by Repsol and Agbar.
The methanol will be used as a raw material to produce
circular materials or advanced biofuels, making it possible
to cut 200,000 t/y of carbon dioxide. Operations are expected
to begin in 2025, following a final investment decision
by the first quarter of 2022.
“We are very pleased to join forces with relevant waste
management and innovative technology partners, showing
our commitment to circular economy and reinforcing our
commitment to recycle 20% of our polyolefins production by
2030,” said Jose Luis Bernal, executive director for chemicals
at Repsol.

 

Dow and Empower Launch Study in Nigeria To Advance Circular Economy for Plastics

Lagos—
Dow and Norwegian circular platform company Empower
announced a new study to examine the feasibility of advancing
fully circular value chains in Nigeria, Africa, to
help close the loop on plastics waste.
The study, which will partly funded by the Norwegian
Agency for Development Cooperation, will focus on the implementation
of a scalable digital waste collection and recycling
business model in Lagos.
The results of the study will inform the long-term ambition
of the partnership, which is to digitize the local collection
points, recyclers, and waste streams, to ensure transparency
and reliability of the process of tracking recyclable
plastics waste and converting it into new sustainable packaging,
Dow explained.
The partners will examine the entire value chain to ensure
sustainable plastics sourcing is commercially viable
across all areas. They will also explore the potential to
crowdsource and digitally track waste collection, in order
to create “significant” and “reliable” streams of raw material
feedstock to meet the needs of buyers, Dow added.

 

Trinseo and ETB Sign LoI to Collaborate On Developing Bio-Based 1,3-Butadiene

Berwyn—
Trinseo and ETB have entered into a letter of intent (LoI)
to combine their respective technology and process expertise
for the development of bio-based 1,3-butadiene.
Under the partnership, the parties will jointly explore
opportunities to scale up ETB’s single-stage process to produce
the 1,3-butadiene from ethanol using polyfunctional
catalyst technology.
The companies will initially focus on demonstrating the
viability of sustainable ethanol-based synthetic rubber in
support of green tire production.
Trinseo will conduct a feasibility study, with ETB’s
support, for the construction of a dedicated bio-based 1,3-
butadiene pilot plant at a site in Europe. Once operational,
the plant is expected to include a purification unit
to achieve a purity target of 99.7%. No other details of the
facility were available.
“Our customers are increasingly seeking new ways to
add renewable and bio-based raw materials along the
value chain to support their sustainability goals,” said
Francesca Reverberi, vice president of Engineered Materials
& Synthetic Rubber at Trinseo.
“The ability to derive bio-based butadiene from ethanol,
with close to 100% purity, enables our customers to develop
more sustainable products without compromising on
performance.”

 

MGC & Origin Materials Form Alliance For Carbon-Negative Chems, Materials

Sacramento—
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) and Origin Materials announced
a partnership to industrialize and manufacture
advanced carbon-negative chemicals and materials built on
the Origin Materials patented technology platform.
Origin Materials’ technology platform turns sustainable
wood residues into cost-advantaged, carbon-negative materials
that reduce the need for fossil resources.
The partnership includes an agreement for Origin Materials
to sell the carbon-negative materials to MGC, and a
joint development agreement for the companies to create
new, functionally advantaged chemicals and derivatives,
including high-value specialty chemicals.
The partners aim to explore not only new technologies,
but new industrial supply chain relationships that are expected
to support technology commercialization and enable
downstream products across a variety of industries and
applications.

 

Air Liquide Starts Up New Hydrogen Unit At Covestro’s Antwerp Production Site

Antwerp—Air
Liquide has begun operating a next generation SMR-X hydrogen
plant at Covestro’s production site in the port area
of Antwerp, Belgium (PCN, 23 Apr 2018, p 4).
The new €82-million unit, based on Air Liquide’s proprietary
technology, will produce about 56,000 cu m/hr of
hydrogen. About 40% of the hydrogen will be used by
Covestro for the production of aniline, while the remaining
60% will be supplied to Air Liquide’s other local customers.
Unlike traditional steam methane reformers, the new
plant does not produce excess steam. The result is better
energy efficiency and lower carbon dioxide emissions, Air
Liquide noted.

 

Nouryon & Atul’s Anaven Joint Venture Starts MCA Production at Gujarat Site

Mumbai—
Nouryon announced that Anaven, its new 50-50 joint venture
with Atul, has successfully begun production of
monochloroacetic acid (MCA) at India’s “largest” MCA production
site in Gujarat, India (PCN, 26 Oct 2020, p 1).
The new MCA plant, based on Nouryon’s state-of-theart
technology, has a production capacity of 32,000 t/y and
is designed for a future expansion of up to 60,000 t/y. Cost
of the project was not disclosed.
Nouryon earlier said that Atul would supply chlorine
and hydrogen to the new facility, and consume a portion of
the MCA directly in its own production, while the remaining
MCA would be supplied to the Indian market.

 

Azelis Americas to Exclusively Distribute BASF’s Lupragen PU Catalysts in NA

Westport—
Azelis Americas CASE has entered into a contract, effective
immediately, to exclusively distribute BASF’s Lupragen
portfolio of polyurethane (PU) catalysts in North
America.
The Lupragen portfolio will allow Azelis to offer PU
customers “unparalleled formulating advantages” in the
regional coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers
(CASE) market,” BASF noted.
“With this collaboration, we are excited to expand our
relationship with Azelis to provide our customers across
North America broad access to our Lupragen portfolio,”
said Kevin Anderson, vice president business management,
amines, acetylenics and carbonyl derivatives, BASF North
America.

Sinochem Hongrun Picks Grace Technology For Polypropylene Project in Qingzhou

Beijing—W.R.
Grace & Co. has licensed its Unipol PP (polypropylene)
process technology and its Unipol UNIPPAC process control
software to Sinochem Hongrun Petrochemical Co. for a
PP facility in Qingzhou, Weifang, Shandong, China.
The project will include one reactor lone with the capability
to produce 450,000 t/y of PP. Start-up is scheduled
for next year. Value of the contract was not disclosed.
“Sinochem Hongrun’s decision to purchase our Unipol
UNIPPAC process control software allows them to optimize
their plant operations and extract performance improvements
on an ongoing basis, providing them with competitive
advantages in cost, quality, and product differentiation,”
said Laura Schwinn, president of Grace’s Specialty
Catalysts Division.
“This, coupled with our process and product improvements
program and the vast experience of our global technical
services team, will ensure that Sinochem Hongrun
meets their goal of producing a wide variety of resins for
the Chinese market.”

 

SPEAR Awards EPCM Contract to Worley To Build Dutch Advanced Recycling Unit

Geleen—
SABIC Plastic Energy Advanced Recycling BV (SPEAR), a
50-50 joint venture of SABIC and Plastic Energy, has
awarded an engineering, procurement and construction
management (EPCM) contract to Worley for a new advanced
plastics recycling plant in Geleen, the Netherlands
(PCN, 25 Jan 2021, p 1).
The unit will leverage Plastic’s Energy’s patented recycling
technology to turn mixed and used plastic waste into
recycled oils called Tacoil. The Tacoil will then be used by
SABIC as an alternative feedstock to manufacture certified
circular polymers as part of its Trucircle portfolio. Operations
are expected to begin in the second half of next year.

 

Total Corbion PLA Selects NextChem To Design Grandpuits PLA Facility

Paris—Maire
Tecnimont’s NextChem subsidiary has been awarded a
contract by Total Corbion PLA, a 50-50 joint venture of
Total and Corbion, to carry out the front-end engineering
design for a new polylactic acid (PLA) manufacturing plant
in Grandpuits, France (PCN, 28 Sept 2020, p 4).
The new 100,000-t/y facility, scheduled to be operational
in 2024, will be the “first of its kind” in Europe, the
joint venture noted.
It will make Total Corbion PLA the global “market
leader” in PLA, firmly positioned to cater to the rapidly
growing demand for Luminy PLA resins, it added.
“Signing this contract with NextChem is an important
milestone as it reinforces our commitment to the global
bioplastic market as the first company to launch commercial-
scale lactic acid to PLA capability in Europe,” said Total
Corbion PLA Chief Executive Thomas Philipon.

 

CF Industries Lets Thyssenkrupp Contract For Donaldsonville Green NH3 Complex

Deerfield—
CF Industries Holdings has awarded an engineering and
procurement contract to Thyssenkrupp for a green ammonia
(NH3) project at CF’s Donaldsonville, La., manufacturing
complex (PCN, 2 Nov 2020, p 3).
The project involves installation of a 20-megawatt alkaline
water electrolysis unit, developed by Thyssenkrupp, to
generate carbon-free hydrogen that will then be supplied to
an existing plant to produce about 20,000 t/y of green ammonia.
Construction and installation is expected to begin
in the second half of 2021 and be completed in 2023.
“Today we launch a new era for CF Industries as we
sign a definitive agreement to develop the first commercialscale
green ammonia project in North America,” said Tony
Will, president and chief executive of CF.
“This project highlights the competitive advantage our
world-class ammonia production network offers to industries
sourcing carbon-free energy and reinforces our commitment
to make significant progress in reducing our carbon
footprint by 2030.”

 

Capricorn & Southern Research Form Renewable Chemicals Start-Up Firm

Montgomery—
Capricorn Partners and Southern Research have jointly
formed Trillium Renewable Chemicals, a new Alabamabased
start-up company to accelerate the commercial development
of Southern Research’s renewable chemicals
technology.
Southern Research has exclusively licensed its patented
chemical manufacturing platform to Trillium, which converts
renewable feedstocks, such as sugar or glycerol to
chemical products like acrylonitrile, propylene glycol, and
acrylic acid.
The two partners will continue to work jointly on the
process development, while Trillium will team up with
strategic partners for the scale-up and deployment of the
technology.
‘This process has the potential to improve economics
and the overall environmental footprint of downstream
products that utilize acrylonitrile as a raw material,” noted
Amit Goyal, lead inventor at Southern Research.

 

Arkema Plans ’22 Start-up of New Plant For Bio-Sourced PA at Jurong Island

Singapore—
Arkema said it is on track to start up its new world-scale
facility for the production of Rilsan high-performance biosourced
polyamide (PA) at Jurong Island, Singapore, in the
first half of next year (PCN, 13 May 2019, p 2).
The plant, which will represent a 50% increase in the
company’s global PA11 capacity, will produce both amino
11 monomer and its polymer, Rilsan PA11. Production will
be 100% derived from renewable castor beans.
To finance the project, Arkema said it successfully placed
its first ever green bond in October 2020, for a total
amount of €300-million.

 

Air Products Supplying Syngas to BPCL’s Propylene Derivatives Petchem Project

Kochi—Air
Products announced that its Kochi Industrial Gas Complex
is reliably supplying syngas to Bharat Petroleum Corp.
Ltd.’s (BPCL) Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical Project
(PDPP) at BPCL’s Kochi refinery in India (PCN, 21 May
2018, p 2).
The syngas plant utilizes Air Product’s cryogenic gas
separation technologies to produce a hydrogen/carbon
monoxide syngas to feed the PDPP.
“The syngas supplied by Air Products is a critical component
for PDPP and will enable BPCL’s entry into the
propylene derivative petrochemical market in a big way,”
said Sanjay Khanna, executive director of BPCL Kochi Refinery.
“This represents a significant multi-national company
investment in India and support for India’s vision to become
self-reliant. PDPP will produce niche products like
acrylic acid, oxo-alcohols and acrylates utilizing industrial
gases supplied by Air Products.”

 

Inter Pipeline Provides Latest Details On Heartland Petrochem Complex

Calgary—Inter
Pipeline announced updates on its Heartland Petrochemical
Complex (HPC), an integrated propane dehydrogenation
(PDH) and polypropylene (PP) production facility being
built in Strathcona County, Alberta, Canada (PCN, 12
Apr 2021, p 3).
The complex, in its final stages of completion, will convert
22,000 b/d of locally sourced propane into around
525,000 t/y of PP. The PDH unit is expected to be mechanically
complete next month and the PP facility by the
end of the year. PP production is scheduled to begin in
early 2022.
In addition, the company said its contracting efforts to
date have yielded “significant” results, with approximately
60% of HPC’s production capacity held under executed
take-or-pay agreements with seven counterparties. One of
the agreements is subject to conditions expected to be satisfied
this quarter.
“We are over 85% of the way to our [70%] minimum
contracting objective and advanced negotiations are proceeding
with a number of additional counterparties,” said
Inter Pipeline President and Chief Executive Christian
Bayle.

 

Yokohama Team Develops ‘World’s First’ Butadiene from Biomass Technology

Tokyo—Yokohama
Rubber, in a joint research team with Riken and
Zeon, said it has developed the “world’s first” technology
capable of “efficiently” producing butadiene from biomass.
The team created cells capable of producing butadiene
using new artificial pathways and enzymes. This will allow
producers to go through “cheaper” intermediates than
conventional metabolic pathways, and by incorporating the
knowledge of the enzymes that have been developed to
date, the cost of butadiene fermentation production will be
“significantly” reduced, Yokohama noted.
The partners have also succeeded in producing polybutadiene
rubber from the butadiene produced using the new
technology.

 

Abu Qir Awards Contract to Stamicarbon For Urea Plant Revamp in Alexandria

Cairo—
Stamicarbon has signed a licensing contract with Abu Qir
Fertilizers Co. to supply the license and process design
package for the revamp of one of Abu Qir’s urea melt
plants (Abu Qir 3) in Alexandria, Egypt.
The project involves increasing production capacity of
the unit to 2,370 t/d from 1,940 t/d currently, and reducing
emissions from the melt plant absorbers to meet the local
average. Operation is expected to begin in 2025.
The revamp will utilize Stamicarbon’s Evolve Capacity
Mega Design and Medium Pressure Add-On technology,
which allows capacity expansion of a plant without having
to invest in high pressure equipment or a high pressure
carbon dioxide compressor, while at the same time reducing
energy consumption.

 

ACC Issues Set of Policy Recommendations For ‘Dramatic’ Cuts in GHG Emissions

Washington—
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) said it has issued
a set of climate policy recommendations to enable “dramatic”
reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Specifically, ACC calls on Congress to enact legislation
to increase government investment and scientific resources
to develop and deploy low emissions technologies in the
manufacturing sector; adopt transparent, predictable, technology-
and revenue-neutral, market-based, economy-wide
carbon price signals; and encourage adoption of emissionsavoiding
solutions and technologies throughout the
economy to achieve significant emissions savings.
“As President Biden convenes world leaders and sets an
ambitious new U.S. target to address the global challenge
of climate change, we’ve created a policy platform to advance
progress in the manufacturing sector and U.S. economy,”
noted ACC President and Chief Executive Chris
Jahn.
“As a nation, we need to boost clean manufacturing innovation
and supersize the use of energy-saving materials
and technologies. The third piece is a clear, consistent,
and effective way to reduce emissions economy-wide.
“ACC has long supported market-based, economy-wide
carbon price signals as part of our climate policy principles.
The proposals we’re putting forward today are concrete
steps that could help the Biden Administration advance its
goals announced today,” he added.
On 22 Apr. 2021, President Biden announced a new
target for the U.S. to achieve a 50% to 52% reduction from
2005 levels in economy-wide net GHG pollution in 2030.
Separately, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
last week said Canada will cut its GHG emissions by 40%
to 45% from 2005 levels by 2030.

 

People on the Move

Petrobras—Joaquim Silva e Luna has become chief
executive. Previously Brazilian general director of Itaipu
Binacional, he succeeds Roberto Castello Branco, who had
been chief executive since 2019.
Trecora Resources—Rafael (Ralph) Pons, currently
site leader at the company’s South Hampton Resources
facility in Silsbee, Texas, has been appointed chief manufacturing
officer, effective 15 May 2021. He will succeed
John R. (Dick) Townsend, who will retire on 14 May 2021.

 

Ineos, Trinseo Select Recycling Technologies As Technology Partner for PS Recycling

Paris—
Recycling Technologies has been selected to join Ineos Styrolution
and Trinseo as technology partner for new commercial-
scale polystyrene (PS) recycling plants in Europe
(PCN, 5 Oct 2020, p 4).
Following a detailed assessment of technology options,
Recycling Technologies was chosen as the technology provider.
Recycling Technologies’ solution provided the “highest
yields” in the conversion of PS to styrene monomer and
provided the most scalable solution due to the company’s
fluidized bed reactor combined with expertise of a “highly
skilled” technical team, the companies noted.
The three parties will further develop the technology in
a PS recycling pilot plant, which will be built in the UK in
2020.
Ineos Styrolution plans to build a full commercial scale
recycling facility in Wingles, France, while Trinseo plans to
build its own plant in Tessenderlo, Belgium, which is expected
to be operational in 2023. Each plant would aim to
convert 15,000 t/y of PS waste into recycled styrene.

 

ENOC Group, Rotary Complete Expansion Of Terminal Operations in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh—
ENOC Group, in partnership with Rotary Arabia, has
completed a project to improve the transportation and
storage of petrochemicals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s
Western Province.
The project involved building four new pipelines from
Farabi Petrochemical’s Yanbu facility on the Red Sea coast
to storage tanks at Arab Tank Terminal Ltd. (ATTL), associated
pumps lines and export lines, as well as highly automated
facilities.
Four of 26 storage tanks at ATTL, which have a chemical
and petroleum storage capacity of 288,100 cu m, have
been revamped. Two additional pipelines were also built
from ATTL to Berth 21 at Port of King Fahad Yanbu.
“The GCC chemical industry today is predominantly focused
on petrochemicals, which make up 72% of its total
production, with Saudi Arabia being the leading producer
in the region, accounting for 68.2% of total chemical output,”
explained ENOC Group Chief Executive Saif Humaid
Al Falasi.
“Our expansion into the Kingdom comes at a time when
the regional market is poised to step up overseas production
capacity by 7.6%. This strategic alliance with Rotary
Arabia to boost transportation capacity also reflects
ENOC’s regional growth plans in strengthening our terminalling
footprint, while contributing to the Kingdom’s
overall energy sector growth.”
Farabi’s main output from the Yanbu facility is linear
alkyl benzene and normal paraffins.

 

Domo Finalizes Divestment to JPF Italy Of Its Domo Film Solutions Business

Rome—Domo
Chemicals has completed the sale of 100% of the shares in
Domo Film Solutions (DFS) SpA to JPF Italy SpA, an affiliate
of Jindal Films Europe (PCN, 11 Jan 2021, p 3).
DFS, a nylon film specialist based in Italy, is one of
Europe’s “major” producers of both biaxially-oriented polyamide
and coextruded cast non-oriented nylon films for
flexible packaging, Domo noted. Value of the transaction
was not given.

 

BASF, Quantafuel & Remondis Sign MoU To Jointly Invest in New Pyrolysis Plant

Berlin—
BASF has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with Quantafuel and Remondis to jointly evaluate cooperation
in chemical recycling of plastic waste, including a joint
investment in a pyrolysis plant.
The new plant, for which a location has not yet been decided,
would use technology jointly developed by BASF and
Quantafuel. Remondis, a waste and water management
company, would supply suitable plastic waste to the plant,
which Quantafuel intends to operate.
BASF plans to use the resulting pyrolysis oil as feedstock
in its production Verbund, as part of its ChemCycling
project (PCN, 22 June 2020, p 4).
In order to maximize a circular economy for plastics,
the parties will identify which of the waste plastics provided
by Remondis could undergo chemical recycling in the
future.
“BASF has set itself the goal to process 250,000 metric
tons of recycled feedstock annually from 2025 onwards,”
noted Dr. Lars Kissau, senior vice president of global strategic
business development at BASF’s Petrochemical Division.
“In this regard, it is important to use feedstock derived
from plastic waste that would otherwise not have
undergone recycling.
“Partnering with companies from the waste management
and recycling sector, as well as innovative technology
providers, is an ideal constellation to build a sustainable
circular economy model for previously non-recycled plastic
waste. However, solving the plastic waste challenge will
only be possible in a favorable regulatory environment.”

 

Domo Names Bamberger Distributor For N. American Product Portfolio

Buford—Domo
Chemicals recently selected Bamberger Polymers as an
authorized distribution partner for Domo’s North American
product portfolio, including its Domamid, Econamid and
Domonyl nylon 6 and 66 compounds, effective immediately.
“We are excited to be partnering with Domo Engineering
Plastics in North America,” said Michael Wickersham,
managing director-ETPs at Bamberger.
“Their integrated polyamide value chain, broad product
portfolio and focus on being a solutions provider, along
with our position as a thermoplastic materials distribution
leader, provides the opportunity to grow the Domo brand
with customers we loyally serve today, as well as to develop
new clients through the expansion of our offering.”

 

JGC, Teijin and Itochu Ink Agreement For Chemical Recycling of Polyester

Tokyo—JGC
Holdings, Teijin Ltd. and Itochu Corp. have concluded a
joint agreement to establish a system for the chemical recycling
of used polyester fiber products into raw materials.
The collaboration will bring together Teijin’s proprietary
chemical recycling technology deployed in the production
of polyester, the expertise JGC has gained from its
global engineering business, and Itochu’s extensive network
of textile industry players.
Going forward, the companies aim to expand the range
of effective solutions for the mass disposal of used textile
products.

 

Dow, Mura in Partnership to Scale Up Mura’s Advanced Recycling Process

Teesside—Dow
and Mura Technology have formed a partnership to support
the “rapid” scaling of Mura’s new Hydrothermal Plastic
Recycling Solution (HydroPRS) advanced recycling
process to help keep plastic waste out of the environment
(PCN, 29 Mar-5 Feb 2021, p 3).
The HydroPRS process uses supercritical steam to convert
plastics back into the chemicals and oils from which
they were made, for use in new, virgin-equivalent plastic
products.
It can recycle all forms of plastic, including multi-layer,
flexible plastics used in packaging, which are currently
harder to recycle and frequently incinerated or sent to
landfill.
The world’s “first” plant using HydroPRS is being developed
in Teesside, UK, with the first 20,000-t/y line expected
to be operational in 2022, the parties noted. Once
all four lines are complete, Mura will be able to recycle up
to 80,000 t/y of plastic waste, providing Dow with materials
produced by the process.
Dow will contribute its materials science capabilities,
global scale and financial resources to the partnership.

 

Sinopec Capital, LanzaTech to Focus On Chemicals from Waste Carbon

Chicago—Sinopec
Capital has decided to partner with and invest in LanzaTech
with a focus on promoting direct production of
chemicals from waste carbon.
Sinopec Capital, the industrial investment arm of
Sinopec Group, is particularly interested in LanzaTech’s
synthetic biology capability, which enables the production
of chemicals directly from waste carbon, rather than via a
building block such as ethanol.
Over 50 chemicals have already been demonstrated, including
continuous production of acetone and isopropyl
alcohol at pilot scale.
“When products made via this carbon recycling process
reach the end of their useful life, they can go unsorted and
uncleaned to a LanzaTech facility and be converted back
into a gas stream and recycled repeatedly without losing
any of the properties of the original material,” LanzaTech
explained.
Sinopec Group will provide its expertise in deployment,
supply chains and chemical processing to accelerate deployment
of LanzaTech’s waste-to-chemicals platform,
globally.

 

NextChem and MET Enter MoU with TAIF To Co-Develop Russian Biopolymer Unit

Kazan—
NextChem and MET Development, subsidiaries of Maire
Tecnimont SpA, have signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with MC TAIF JSC (TAIF) to jointly develop
a new biodegradable polymer facility in Tatarstan,
Russia.
Under the agreement, the parties will assess and
evaluate the biopolymer plant opportunity in order to establish
the fundamentals of the joint development collaboration
between the three companies. Details of the
planned facility were not given.
NextChem will be chosen to provide its expertise and
know-how to carry out the front-end engineering design
and engineering, procurement and construction activities
for the proposed unit.
“Maire Tecnimont Group will bring technological solutions
and the best know-how for project development and
execution, relying on its portfolio of technologies, as well as
its strong capabilities as an end-to-end developer of largescale
complex projects,” said Maire Tecnimont.

 

Azelis & BASF Sign Distribution Deal For Australia and NZ CASE Market

Singapore—BASF
has chosen Azelis as distributor for its dispersions, additives,
and resins range in Australia and New Zealand,
commonly used in CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants and
elastomers).
The new agreement builds upon the relationship between
the two companies for the CASE industry in the
Americas, Turkey and some African countries.
“This collaboration with Azelis in Australia and New
Zealand will strengthen our local market penetration by
offering focused technical, marketing and sales support,”
noted Arun Rangaswamy, industry manager, resins and
additives, Australia at BASF.

 

Evergreen Doubling rPET Capacity

Toledo—Evergreen,
formerly Evergreen Plastics, is planning to double
manufacturing capacity of recycled polyethylene terephthalate
(rPET) pellets at its recycling and manufacturing facility
in Clyde, Ohio, to meet growing demand.
The expansion project, expected to start next month
and be completed in May 2022, will increase rPET manufacturing
capacity to 80-million lbs/yr from 40-million
lbs/yr.
The company currently collects over 1-billion postconsumer
PET bottles each year, which it then sorts,
cleans and recycles into the rPET pellets. It will continue
to partner with municipalities and other aggregators to
collect the bottles, as well as other recyclables.

CNOOC & Shell JV Starts Up New Units At Its Nanhai Petrochemicals Complex

Beijing—
CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Co., a 50-50 joint venture
of CNOOC Oil & Petrochemicals Co. (CNOOC) and
Shell Nanhai BV, announced the start-up of several new
petrochemical units at its Nanhai petrochemicals complex
in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China (PCN, 25 May
2020, p 1).
The first new unit, based on Shell’s SMPO process
technology, is producing up to 630,000 t/y of styrene monomer
(SM) and 300,000 t/y of propylene oxide (PO). It is the
“largest” of its type in China and the second of its kind
built at the complex, Shell noted.
Three additional new plants that started up process PO
into up to 600,000 t/y of polyols, utilizing Shell’s advanced
polyols technologies.
The start-up of the new units concludes the phase two
expansion of the complex, which now supplies customers
with up to 6-million t/y of diverse, high-quality intermediate
and performance chemicals, including polyols, ethylene
glycol, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene.
A third phase is already being planned for the complex
and will include a 1.5-million-t/y ethylene plant, as well as
14 units for the production of propylene, butadiene, ethylene
oxide/ethylene glycol, SM/PO, linear alpha olefins,
metallocene PE, and other products. No schedule was
given.

 

Sumitomo Awards Toyo Contract to Build Ethanol-to-Ethylene Pilot Plant in Japan

Tokyo—
Toyo Engineering has been awarded an engineering, procurement
and construction contract by Sumitomo Chemical
for an ethylene pilot plant at Sumitomo’s Chiba site in Japan
that utilizes waste-derived ethanol as raw material
(PCN, 21-28 Dec 2020, p 2).
The facility will use Axen’s Atol technology to transform
the ethanol into polymer-grade ethylene that will be polymerized
into polyolefins. Pilot production is scheduled to
begin from fiscal year 2022, with full-scale market launch
of the production in fiscal 2025.
Last year, Sumitomo and Sekisui Chemical agreed to
form a strategic alliance that combines Sekisui’s production
technology for converting waste into ethanol with Sumitomo’s
technological know-how in manufacturing polyolefins.
Sekisui will provide the ethanol feedstock for the
project.
Toyo was also responsible for the basic design of the pilot
facility.

 

ExxonMobil Lets Contract to Sinopec For Proposed Huizhou Chem Project

Beijing—
Sinopec Engineering (Group) Co. said it has received a contract
from ExxonMobil (Huizhou) Chemical Co. for the construction
of phase one of ExxonMobil’s planned Huizhou
chemical complex project in Guangdong, China (PCN, 27
Apr 2020, p 1).
The proposed project, to be located in the Daya Bay
Petrochemical Park, will include a 1.6-million-t/y ethylene
flexible feed steam cracker, two performance polyethylene
lines and two differentiated performance polypropylene
lines. ExxonMobil earlier said the project was expected to
start up in 2023.
The main scope of services under the multibillion-dollar
contract includes the basic design, engineering, procurement
and construction of all the process units, utilities and
infrastructures.

 

Enter Selects Grace’s Unipol Technology For Jizzakh’s Planned Uzbek PP Plant

Tashkent—
W.R. Grace & Co. has licensed its Unipol PP (polypropylene)
process technology to Enter Engineering for a new PP
line to be built as part of Jizzakh Petroleum’s new methanol-
to-olefins gas chemical complex n the Bukhara region
of Uzbekistan (PCN, 8 Feb 2021, p 1).
The PP unit, expected to start up by 2025, will have the
capacity to produce 257,000 t/y of PP. Enter is acting as
licensee on behalf of Jizzakh, who will own and operate the
gas chemical complex.
The Unipol process provides a broad range of PP homopolymers,
random copolymers, and impact copolymers.
Earlier this year, Versalis licensed its low-density polyethylene
(LDPE)/ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) technology to
Enter for a new LDPE/EVA swing unit to be built as part
of the complex. The plant will be designed for a maximum
EVA-equivalent production capacity of 180,000 t/y.
Jizzakh previously said the complex would process 1.5-
billion cu m/yr of natural gas for the production of 500,000
t/y of olefins. No other details were available.

 

Samsung Wins EPC Contracts from AGIC For New PDH Plant at Jubail Complex

Jubail—
Advanced Petrochemical’s Advanced Global Investment Co.
(AGIC) subsidiary has awarded engineering, procurement
and construction (EPC) contracts to Samsung Engineering
Co. and Samsung Saudi Arabia Co. for a new propane dehydrogenation
(PDH) unit for propylene production in
Jubail, Saudi Arabia (PCN, 4 Jan 2021, p 3).
Under the contracts, valued at a total of $1.198-billion,
Samsung will build the PDH unit for the production of
843,000 t/y of propylene, which will be used for the production
of polypropylene (see related story, page 2).
The PDH plant will utilize Catofin technology from
Lummus Technology. Commercial operations are expected
by the second half of 2024.

 

AGIC Selects Tecnimont’s Subsidiaries To Build Two New PP Units in Jubail

Jubail—
Advanced Global Investment Co. (AGIC) has awarded a
contract to Tecnimont SpA and Tecnimont Arabia Ltd.,
subsidiaries of Maire Tecnimont, to set up two new polypropylene
(PP) units as part of a project being implemented
in Jubail Industrial City II, Saudi Arabia (PCN, 4
Jan 2021, p 3).
Valued at around $500-million, the contract involves
the construction of two 400,000-t/y PP units, which will be
part of an integrated propane dehydrogenation/PP complex.
The project is expected to be completed by the second
quarter of 2024 (see related story, page 1).
The scope of work involves complete engineering services,
equipment and out-of-kingdom material supply (to be
performed by Tecnimont) and in-kingdom material supply,
erection and construction activities up to start-up and
guarantee test run (to be performed by Tecnimont Arabia).
AGIC is building the project with SK Gas Petrochemical,
through their Advanced Polyolefins Co. joint venture.
AGIC is a subsidiary of Advanced Petrochemical Co., while
SK Gas Petrochemical is a subsidiary of SK Gas Co.

 

Sinopec Yizheng Boosting PET Capacity As Part of Planned Expansion in China

Shanghai—
Sinopec Yizheng Chemical Fibre plans to add 1.5-million
t/y of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) capacity to its recently
announced expansion project in Jiangsu Province,
China, reported Argus Media.
In January, Invista Performance Technologies said it
would license its PTA P8++ technology to Sinopec Yizheng
for a third purified terephthalic acid (PTA) line to be installed
at the site with a nameplate capacity of 3-million
t/y (PCN, 25 Jan 2021, p 1).
The PET expansion involves adding three 500,000-t/y
PET production lines. Construction is planned to begin on
the first PET line in the fourth quarter of this year, while
construction on the PTA plant is expected to start in the
middle of this year, with completion anticipated in 2023,
according to Argus.

 

NextDecade and Mitsubishi Execute ESA For Carbon Capture at Rio Grande LNG

Houston—
NextDecade and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America
(MHIA), part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), have
signed an engineering services agreement (ESA) for a carbon
capture and storage (CCS) project planned at NextDecade’s
proposed Rio Grande LNG (liquefied natural gas)
project in Brownsville, Texas (PCN, 22 Mar 2021, p 3).
The Rio Grande project is expected to include five LNG
trains with a total capacity of 27-million t/y of LNG. A final
investment decision (FID) is anticipated on a minimum
of two trains in 2021, and the FID on the CCS project “soon
after,” NextDecade recently said.
NextDecade’s Next Carbon Solutions subsidiary will
help develop the CCS project, which is expected to enable
the capture and permanent geologic storage of more than
5-million t/y of carbon dioxide.
MHIA will provide the design, license and performance
guarantee of the KM CDR Process, a post-combustion carbon
capture technology, developed by MHI, to be used in
the CCS project.

 

KBR Agrees to License K-PRO Technology For JS Energy’s PDH Plant in Pakistan

Islamabad—
KBR has signed an agreement with JS Energy Ltd. to license
its proprietary K-PRO propane dehydrogenation
(PDH) technology for JS Energy’s planned PDH unit in
Pakistan.
The project, scheduled for commissioning in 2024, will
convert propane into propylene. No other information was
available.
“KBR offers various sustainable technologies that are
energy efficient and environmentally-friendly,” said Doug
Kelly, president of technology at KBR. “K-PRO is based on
an innovative catalyst that does not contain costly precious
metals or environmentally-sensitive chromium and is a
continuous process with efficient energy integration, heat
recovery and high conversion.”
PCN recently reported that Engro Polymer & Chemicals
plans to spend $31.4-million to study the feasibility of
building a new PDH unit for the production of polypropylene
in Pakistan (PCN, 12 Apr 2021, p 1).
According to the report, Engro’s PDH unit would be the
“first of its kind in Pakistan.”

 

Ultranav, Navigator Ink Non-Binding LoI To Merge Ultragas Assets into Navigator

London—
Naviera Ultranav Ltda. (Ultranav) has signed a nonbinding
letter of intent (LoI) with Navigator Holdings to
merge Ultragas ApS’ fleet and business activities with
Navigator.
The combined entity would remain Navigator Gas with
a total fleet of 56 vessels. Ultragas will provide its seven
modern 22,000-cu m semi-refrigerated vessels, five 12,000
cu m ethylene vessels and six gas carriers in the 3,770-
9,000 cu m range.
The transaction, expected to close by the end of the second
quarter of this year, is subject to the execution of a
definitive share purchase agreement, approval by the
board of directors of both Navigator and Ultragas, regulatory
approvals and other customary closing conditions.
“The combination will result in a LPG [liquefied petroleum
gas] and petrochemical shipping company with unmatched
scale and diversification,” said David Butters,
executive chairman of the board of Navigator.
“The Ultragas fleet will significantly strengthen our position
in the handy sized sector and provide our customers
with greater flexibility in transporting smaller parcels in a
cost-advantaged basis.”

 

Hexpol to Acquire Rubber Firm Unica

Malmö—
Hexpol AB has entered into an agreement to purchase Union
de Industrias C.A. (Unica), a rubber compounder based
in Spain, from private equity firm Espiga Capital.
The acquisition, valued at €48-million on a cash and
debt free basis, will close following receipt of regulatory
approval, expected in the second quarter of 2021.
“Through the acquisition of Unica, we will strengthen
our position in rubber compounds for demanding customers
in Spain and other EU [European Union] countries,”
noted Ralph Wolkener and Carsten Ruter, presidents of
Hexpol Compounding Europe/Asia.
“Unica will be a perfect complement to our existing operations
in Spain, mainly active in other sectors.”

 

Air Products Buys Remaining 50% Stake In Gasification Technology JV in China

Shanghai—
Air Products has purchased the remaining 50% stake in its
Chinese gasification technology joint venture with China
Shenhua Coal to Liquid and Chemical Co., a subsidiary of
China Energy Group, for an undisclosed amount (PCN, 12-
19 Aug 2019, p 3).
“Our latest investment is another step to support our
gasification growth strategy that addresses the world’s
energy and environmental challenges,” noted Seifi
Ghasemi, chairman, president and chief executive at Air
Products.
“We continue to execute several megaprojects in China
and around the world. The acquisition further strengthens
our position to leverage our complete gasification technology
portfolio to serve our customers.”
Air Products acquired its initial 50% interest in the
joint venture in 2019, as part of its purchase of GE’s gasification
business from GE Power.

 

Sojitz & Jeplan Agree to Jointly Promote PET Chem Recycling Business in Japan

Tokyo—
Sojitz and Japan Environment Planning (Jeplan) have
formed a partnership to jointly promote a polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) chemical recycling business, in Japan
and overseas, that utilizes Jeplan’s chemical recycling
technology.
Jeplan, using its proprietary BRING technology, is able
to selectively extract bis (2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate
from PET. It can then recover high-purity monomers in
order to manufacture recycled PET resin at an industrial
scale that meets strict bottle-grade quality standards, the
companies noted.
Equipment upgrades are currently being made at Jeplan’s
facility. Once the plant restarts this summer, the
company will be able to produce about 22,000 t/y of recycled
PET resin.
The partners will also promote the establishment of a
system to collect used PET bottles for use as raw material,
and the construction of new production facilities.

 

Dialog Completes and Opens Phase 3A Of Pengerang Deepwater Terminals

Johor—Dialog
Group has completed and officially opened Phase 3A of the
Pengerang Deepwater Terminals (PDT) development in
Malaysia (PCN, 20 May 2019, p 3).
The first parcel of Phase 3 consists of storage tanks
with a capacity of 430,000 cu m for clean petroleum products,
common tankage facilities (including shared infrastructure)
and deepwater marine facilities.
“I believe the continued development of Phase 3 has the
potential to attract more refining and petrochemical complexes,
as well as downstream petrochemical manufacturing
plants, and spur increased trading activities, which
could potentially bring multi-million Ringgit investments
to Johor,” said Haji Hasni bin Mohammad, Mentari Besar
of Johor YAB Dato.
“Such continued investments to develop Pengerang will
create more economic value add, catalyze long-term economic
activity and create high value, skilled jobs for both
Johor and Malaysia.”

 

New Hope Energy and CPChem Enter Deal For Certified Renewable Chem Feedstock

Tyler—
New Hope Energy said it has signed a long-term agreement
with Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. (CPChem) to
provide ISCC Plus certified renewable chemical feedstock
produced through pyrolysis.
New Hope Energy builds advanced recycling plants that
process scrap plastic and municipal solid waste into renewable
chemical feedstocks. It will supply CPChem from
its Trinity Oaks Tyler Phase I facility in Texas, which is
the first of many plants to be built by New Hope Energy
and is now operating 24/7, New Hope noted.
New Hope Technologies, an affiliate of New Hope Energy,
has entered into a joint development and commercialization
agreement with Green Circle, a division of
Lummus Technology, to scale and license New Hope proprietary
processes and equipment on a world-wide basis
(PCN, 19 Oct 2020, p 1).
New Hope Fabrication, a subsidiary of New Hope Energy,
will be the exclusive manufacturer of the equipment
and Lummus will provide a production and quality guarantee
on the equipment and output.
In the future, New Hope Energy plans to create sustainable
trade zones to co-locate eco-friendly businesses to
facilitate the circular economy.

 

WV Resources Picks Honeywell Technology For Carbon Capture & Storage Project

Indianapolis—
Wabash Valley (WV) Resources has selected a range of
Honeywell UOP technologies for a carbon capture and
storage project at West Terre Haute, Ind.
The project, expected to be “one of the largest” carbon
sequestration initiatives in the U.S. to date, will capture
and sequester up to 1.65-million t/y of carbon dioxide (CO2)
and produce clean hydrogen energy from a repurposed
gasification plant, Honeywell explained.
UOP will provide technology licenses, basic engineering
and specialty equipment, including a modular MOLSIV
molecular sieve dehydration unit, modular Ortloff CO2
Fractionation unit, and Polybed pressure swing adsorption
unit to sequester CO2 and process synthesis gas from the
gasification unit.
“This project will allow for market access to clean hydrogen,
as well as support the domestic growth of the hydrogen
economy,” said Dan Williams, managing director of
Wabash Valley.

 

Synthomer Opens Asia Innovation Center

Johor—
Synthomer recently launched its new state-of-the-art Asia
Innovation Center at iPark near Johor Bahru, Malaysia, to
provide leadership in research and development for both
performance elastomers and functional solutions business
units.
The RM 35-million center has sufficient expansion capacity
to meet the future anticipated needs of the business,
the company noted. It will ensure Synthomer stays at the
forefront of nitrile latex product development and applications
know-how, it added.
“This is the first phase of what we expect to be an ongoing
investment in innovation in Asia, supporting all divisions
of the company,” said Dr. Zhenli Wei, vice president
of innovation for the Performance Elastomers Division.

 

Chemours Announces Goal to Achieve Net Zero GHG Emissions by 2050

Wilmington—
Chemours announced its “ambitious” goal to achieve net
zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, and has
improved it 2030 climate goal by switching from a relative
to absolute goal.
“Chemours is driving to achieve a 60% absolute reduction
of operations-related greenhouse gas emissions by
2030, putting the company on the path to net zero greenhouse
gas emissions by 2050,” the company noted.
To address direct emissions from operations (Scope 1),
the company will continue to enhance emissions control
technologies at its manufacturing sites and improve energy
efficiency across its operations.
In order to address indirect emissions from electricity
and other energy sources (Scope 2), Chemours will increase
the amount of electricity and other energy generated from
renewable resources.
The company is also in the process of defining goals related
to indirect emissions from its value chain (Scope 3)
and will announce them at a later date.
Sheryl Telford, previously vice president of environment,
health, safety and corporate responsibility, has been
appointed to the newly created position of chief sustainability
officer.

 

Saudi Petrochem Projects Expected to Drive Oil & Gas Projects by ‘25, Says GlobalData

Riyadh—
Petrochemical projects are expected to drive the start of
upcoming projects across the oil and gas value chain in
Saudi Arabia, accounting for about 61% of the total projects
expected to start operations during the period of
2021-2025, according to a new report from data and analytics
firm GlobalData.
The report, Middle East Oil and Gas Projects Outlook to
2025 – Development Stage, Capacity, Capex and Contractor
Details of All New Build and Expansion Projects, reveals
that among these projects, new builds dominate with 84%,
while the rest are expansion projects.
“Petrochemical projects will be the highest with 50, followed
by midstream with 18, refinery at eight, and upstream
(fields) at six,” said the report.
“Saudi Arabia’s aggressive investments in the petrochemicals
sector is part of its 2030 vision plan, where the
country aims to reduce its dependence on the upstream
sector and diversify into other segments,” noted Soorya
Tejomoortula, an oil and gas analyst.

 

Borealis Launches Feasibility Study For New Chemical Recycling Unit

Stenungsund—
Borealis has begun a feasibility study for a new chemical
recycling plant to be established at its production site in
Stenungsund, Sweden, which has been ISCC Plus certified
since February 2021.
The unit would be part of a project to secure an additional
supply of chemically recycled feedstock for the production
of more circular based chemicals and polyolefinbased
products.
The study, being funded in part by the Swedish Energy
Agency, is being carried out with Borealis’ project partner
Stena Recycling. The study will evaluate the best technology
for the unit and its integration in the cracker at the
site. Subject to a successful feasibility study and final investment
decision, operations are planned to begin in 2024.
Stena would recover plastic waste and, after sorting to
remove materials suitable for mechanical recycling, would
deliver it to the new chemical recycling unit. It plans to
invest in its own plants to produce plastic waste feedstock
for Borealis.
In addition, Fortum Recycling and Waste is looking into
funding for a feasibility study for the production of feedstock
from plastic waste for Borealis’ proposed unit.
“The integration of waste management and processing
directly into a steam cracker would be one of the first of its
kind,” Borealis noted.

 

PetroChemical News Briefs

BASF has launched new plasticizers based on renewable
and chemically recycled feedstock. The biomass balanced
(BMB) plasticizers are sold under the names Hexamoll
DINCH BMB, Palatinol N BMB, Palatinol 10-P BMB
and Plastomoll DOA BMB.
Worley has been awarded multiple master services
agreements by subsidiaries of Cheniere Energy to provide
engineering, procurement, construction and construction
management services to Cheniere’s liquefied natural gas
facilities based on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
LyondellBasell announced the launch of its new Circulen
suite of polymer products to advance circular solutions.
CirculenRecover polymers are made from plastic
waste through a mechanical recycling process, CirculenRevive
polymers are made using an advanced (molecular)
recycling process, and CirculenRenew polymers are made
from renewable feedstocks such as used cooking oil.

Jinzhou Lets Lummus Novolen Contract For New Polypropylene Unit in China

Beijing—Jin
Guo Tou (Jinzhou) Petrochemical Co. has awarded a contract
to Lummus Technology’s Novolen business for a new
polypropylene (PP) unit in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province,
China.
The PP unit will consist of a 600,000-t/y line and a
300,000-t/y line, the “largest” single-line capacity that has
been licensed in the market today, Lummus Technology
noted. Value of the contract and an expected completion
date were not given.
Lummus’ scope includes the technology license for the
PP unit, as well as basic design engineering, training and
services, and catalyst supply.

 

KMG, Tatneft Ink Cooperation Agreement For Planned Kazakh Butadiene Facility

Atyrau—
KazMunayGas (KMG) and Tatneft have signed a basic cooperation
agreement to jointly implement a new butadiene
rubber project in the Atyrau region of Kazakhstan.
The project, expected to be implemented by 2025, will
include a facility with a production capacity of 186,000 t/y
of butadiene rubber and 170,000 t/y of isobutene.
Approximately 2,000 jobs are expected to be created
during construction and 400 jobs once operational.
Tengizchevroil LLP will supply butane feedstock to the
facility.

 

AmSty & Agilyx Launch Feasibility Study For Second Advanced Recycling Facility

St. James—
AmSty and Agilyx announced an agreement to explore the
development of a second jointly-owned advanced recycling
facility and have already begun a feasibility study for the
project.
The initial scope of the project will be a 50-t/d to 100-t/d
advanced recycling facility at AmSty’s styrene production
plant in St. James, La. Feedstock will be supplied by Cyclyx,
Agilyx’s feedstock management company. A schedule
for construction and commissioning will be announced as
progress continues.
The new facility will be a next generation expansion of
Agilyx advanced recycling technology already in use at the
partners’ Regenyx joint venture in Tigard, Ore., where
post-use polystyrene products are converted back into virgin-
equivalent styrene monomer (PCN, 22 Mar 2021, p 3).
“Development of this technology has picked up over the
past decade, and it is time to reach a larger scale,” said
Agilyx Chief Executive Tim Stedman.
“We have been operating Regenyx with AmSty since
2019 and are pleased to expand our relationship toward a
much larger facility at St. James. Joining AmSty as a coinvestor
underlines our commitment to accelerating the
implementation of Agilyx advanced recycling technology
and our licensing model.”

 

Engro Achieves Commercial Operation Of Integrated PVC Facility in Pakistan

Karachi—
Engro Polymer & Chemicals Ltd. (EPCL) announced that
it recently began commercial operation of its new integrated
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) facility in Pakistan (PCN,
3 Sept 2018, p 2).
The 100,000-t/y PVC plant increases the company’s total
PVC production capacity to 295,000 t/y.
Separately, EPCL plans to spend $31.4-million to study
the feasibility of building a new propane dehydrogenation
(PDH) unit for the production of polypropylene, Argus Media
reported.
The PDH unit would be the “first of its kind in Pakistan,”
the report said. A final investment decision will be
based on the results of the study.

 

Acron Boosting Ammonia Production With Revamp of Two Existing Units

Moscow—Acron
Group announced it is revamping two ammonia units at its
Veliky Novgorod site in Russia to increase ammonia
production (PCN, 12 Oct 2020, p 4).
The $190-million project will raise ammonia output by
375,000 t/y. Completion is expected in 2023.
Acron Engineering will act as chief designer of the project,
with KBR providing the process license, base design
package and licensed equipment.
“Upgrading the units and expanding their capacity will
allow us to increase our output of all ammonia-based products,
while reducing both consumption of natural gas and
nitric and carbon oxides emissions,” said Alexander Popov,
chairman of the board of directors of Acron.
The company currently operates three ammonia units
with a total capacity of 2.2-million t/y.

 

Tamilnadu Investing in Series of Projects To Increase Petrochemical Production

Chennai—
Tamilnadu Petroproducts Ltd. (TPL) said it is investing a
total of Rs 435 crore on expansion and modernization projects
that will increase petrochemical production in India.
The company plans to spend about Rs 30 crore to build
a new propylene recovery unit in the same complex as it
manufactures propylene oxide. The new unit, with an initial
capacity of 21,000 t/y, will utilize technology developed
in-house. The project will be implemented in around 12-18
months following regulatory approvals.
TPL will invest around Rs 165 crore to modernize its
caustic soda and chlorine unit by replacing the existing
mono-polar membrane technology with a more advanced
bipolar membrane technology. Once complete, about 18
months after obtaining approvals, caustic soda production
capacity will increase to 250 t/d from 150 t/d currently.
Finally, TPL will increase linear alkyl benzene capacity
to 145,000 t/y from 120,000 t/y currently. The project, estimated
to cost Rs 240 crore, would be commissioned in
about 24 months, following receipt of regulatory approvals.

 

Trinseo and BASF Expanding Partnership For Styrene Based on Circular Feedstock

Berlin—
Trinseo and BASF announced their intention to enhance
their business collaboration with the production of styrene
based on circular feedstock.
The partnership aims to increase efforts by both companies
in the development and management of styrene
featuring an improved environmental profile.
Trinseo has recently been procuring first supplies of the
synthetical chemical styrene based on circular feedstock
from BASF for use in its solution-styrene butadiene rubber
and polystyrene products.
“By creating synergy across the value chain, the Trinseo-
BASF collaboration is an important move towards
helping our customers reach their sustainability goals, as
well as the development of a truly circular economy,” noted
Nicolas Joly, vice president, Plastics & Feedstocks at Trinseo.
“CO2 emission reduction and a circular economy are
BASF’s paramount targets,” said Klaus Ries, vice president
for BASF’s Styrenic Business Europe.
“Using circular feedstocks instead of virgin fossil resources
contributes directly or indirectly to an improved
CO2 footprint of subsequent products. While our customer,
Trinseo, procures biomass balanced (BMB) styrene
for their downstream business already, styrene Ccycled
will be available in the near future.”
To produce BMB styrene, BASF replaces fossil resources
with renewable feedstocks derived from organic
waste or vegetable oils. When manufacturing Ccyled products,
BASF uses pyrolysis oil derived from plastic waste
that is not recycled mechanically, e.g., mixed household
waste or end-of-life tires, as a feedstock.

 

Novonor Resumes Sales Process to Divest Up to Its Full Equity Stake in Braskem

São Paulo—
Novonor, formerly known as Odebrecht, has restarted the
process to sell its interest in Braskem, reported Reuters,
citing a source with knowledge of the matter.
Last August, Braskem said it had received notification
from Odebrecht, its controlling shareholder, that Odebrecht
was preparing to structure a process for the private
sale of up to its total equity ownership in Braskem (PCN,
17 Aug 2020, p 1). In December 2020, Odebrecht changed
its name to Novonor.
Novonor owns a 38% stake in Braskem, including 50.1%
of the voting shares.

 

IRSG Schedules World Rubber Summit As Virtual Event from 8-11 June ‘21

Singapore—The
International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has decided to
hold its World Rubber Summit 2021 as a virtual event
from 8-11 June 2021.
The summit will be based on the theme “Facing the Future:
Inclusiveness, Sustainability and Growth for the Next
Normal.”
The World Rubber Summit allows producers, users,
traders, financial institutions, research and development
organizations, non-governmental organizations and academia
to meet, together with governments’ representatives,
and exchange views on the major challenges confronting
the rubber economy.

 

Gulei Refining Integrated Project Achieves On-Spec Production of PP at Zhangzhou

Beijing—
Gulei Refinery, a 50-50 joint venture of Sinopec and
Xuteng, has achieved on-spec production of polypropylene
(PP) at its refining integrated project in Zhangzhou, Fujian
Province, China, according to Argus Media.
The new 350,000-t/y PP plant, which is fed with merchant
propylene from the local market, utilizes Sinopec’s
ST-III technology.
The PP facility is the first unit to begin operations. The
project also includes a 1-million-t/y ethylene cracker; an
integrated 100,000-t/y ethylene oxide/700,000-t/y ethylene
glycol unit; a 600,000-t/y styrene monomer plant, and a
300,000-t/y ethylene vinyl acetate facility, all expected to
start-up in the third quarter of 2021.

 

OLCV & Cemvita to Build Pilot Plant For CO2-to-Bioethylene Technology

Houston—Oxy
Low Carbon Ventures (OLCV), a subsidiary of Occidental,
and Cemvita Factory, a bio-engineering start-up, are planning
to build and operate a new bioethylene pilot plant
that uses their jointly developed technology to produce bioethylene
from carbon dioxide (CO2).
The one ton per month facility will scale up the process
that was successful in laboratory tests. Start-up of the
plant is expected in 2022.
“Today bioethylene is made from bioethanol, which is
made from sugarcane, which in turn was created by photosynthesizing
CO2,” said Moji Karimi, co-founder and chief
executive of Cemvita.
“Our bio-synthetic process simply requires CO2, water
and light to produce bioethylene, and that’s why it saves a
lot of cost and carbon emissions.”

 

DSM Concludes Divestment to Covestro Of Its Resins & Functional Materials

Heerlen—Royal
DSM said it has completed the sale of its Resins & Functional
Materials and associated businesses to Covestro for
an equity value of €1.6-billion (PCN, 5 Oct 2020, p 4).
The sale included all of DSM’s Resins & Functional Materials
businesses, including DSM Niaga, DSM Additive
Manufacturing, and the coatings activities of DSM Advanced
Solar.

 

People on the Move

Clariant—Gunter von Au has been appointed chairman
of the board of directors, succeeding Hariolf Kottmann. Au
has been a member of the board of directors since 2012 and
served as vice chairman from 2012 to 2018.
Novonor—Jose Mauro Carneiro, most recently chairman,
has become chief executive of Novonor, previously
known as Odebrecht. He succeeds Ruy Sampaio.
Kraton Corp.—Marcello Boldrini, senior vice president
and chemical segment president, has been appointed
to the expanded role of chief sustainability officer.
Birla Carbon—Dr. Ann Schoeb has been named chief
research and development officer. She was previously chief
technology officer at AdvanSix.

 

Inter Pipeline Receives Alberta Grant For New Integrated PDH/PP Facility

Calgary—Inter
Pipeline has won $408-million under the Alberta Petrochemicals
Incentive Program (APIP) to support its Heartland
Petrochemical Complex (HPC), an integrated propane
dehydrogenation (PDH) and polypropylene (PP) production
facility being built in Strathcona County, Canada (PCN, 15
Mar 2021, p 2).
The complex, scheduled to be operational in early 2022,
will convert 22,000 b/d of locally sourced propane into approximately
525,000 t/y of PP.
APIP is an incentive program introduced by the Government
of Alberta to attract investment into the development
of local petrochemical plants.
“HPC’s construction has created thousands of well-paid
technical, manufacturing and construction jobs over its
multi-year build and has been a symbol of hope during difficult
economic times for the province,” said Christian
Bayle, president and chief executive of Inter Pipeline.
The company said it expects HPC to generate hundreds
of permanent “high-quality” full-time jobs.
Inter Pipeline was earlier approved to receive $200-
million of royalty credits for the project under the Petrochemicals
Diversification Program, but has decided to resign
the credits in favor of the APIP grant.
The grant will be paid in equal installments over a period
of three years, once the complex is operational.

 

IOCL Awards Technip Energies Contract For BR9 Expansion Project in Barauni

Barauni—
Technip Energies said it has received a “significant” engineering,
procurement, construction and commissioning
contract from Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. (IOCL) for its BR9 Expansion
Project in Barauni, Bihar, India.
The project, for which a schedule was not given, will expand
refinery capacity to 9-million t/y from 6-million t/y
currently. It will also add petrochemicals, such as polypropylene,
into the refinery’s product portfolio.
Technip Energies’ contract covers the installation of a
new 1-million-t/y once-through hydrocracker unit, a fuel
gas treatment unit and associated facilities.
For Technip Energies, a “significant” contract is valued
at between €50-million and €250-million.

 

Mitsubishi Merges U.S. Companies Into Mitsubishi Chemical America

Charlotte—
Mitsubishi Chemical America Inc. announced it has
merged with seven of its U.S. subsidiaries to form an expanded
and integrated company, headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C.
The merging companies include Dianal America, Lucite
International, MC Ionic Solutions US, Mitsubishi Chemical
Composites America, Mitsubishi Chemical Imaging
Corp., Mitsubishi Chemical Performance Polymers and
Mitsubishi Polyester Film.
The core businesses of the merging companies include
acrylic monomers, polyester film, specialty resins, performance
polymers, imaging materials, battery materials
and metal composites.
This regional integration is part of a global Mitsubishi
Chemical initiative that is also underway for selected subsidiaries
in Germany and the UK.

 

Baltic Gets OK for Gas Chem Complex; Construction Will Begin This Month

Moscow—Baltic
Chemical, a subsidiary of RusGazDobycha, has received
approval from the Committee for State Construction Supervision
and State Expertise of the Leningrad Region to
build a gas chemical facility in Ust-Luga, Russia, and construction
will start this month (PCN, 22 Mar 2021, p 1).
The facility will include two 1.4-million-t/y ethane
cracking plants and six polyethylene reactor lines, each
designed to have a capacity of 500,000 t/y. Completion is
expected in 2024.
Gazprom and RusGazDobycha are setting up a gas
processing complex in Ust-Luga that will process 45-billion
cu m/yr of gas and produce 13-million t/y of liquefied natural
gas, as well as ethane fraction, liquefied petroleum gas
and pentane-hexane fraction.
The gas chemical facility will be technologically interconnected
with the gas processing complex to process ethane
generated by the complex.

 

Sinochem & ChemChina Get Consent To Undertake Joint Restructuring

Beijing—Sinochem
Group and China National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina)
have obtained approval from the state council to carry out
a joint restructuring of the two companies to assist in the
development of the chemical industry in China.
Under the restructuring plan, the equity interests of
both Sinochem and ChemChina will be owned by a newlyincorporated
company (the holding company), which will be
established and wholly-owned by the state-owned Assets
Supervision and Administration Commission on behalf of
the state council.
Sinochem and ChemChina will become the whollyowned
subsidiaries of the new holding company. They will
proceed with the joint restructuring in compliance with
relevant laws and regulations.
“This joint restructuring will create synergy, build up a
world-class chemical company, and promote a high-quality
development of the chemical industry in China,” Chem-
China noted.

 

LyondellBasell’s European Polymer Sites Obtain New Sustainability Certification

Rotterdam—
LyondellBasell has received the International Sustainability
and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification for
its Wesseling, Germany, cracker and European polymer
sites.
As a result of the certification, the company will offer
mass balance certificates for its advanced (molecular) recycled
and renewable-based Circulen polymers.
LyondellBasell can also offer a Carbon-14 analysis for
certain products, a “reliable” method to determine the percentage
of renewable content in a physical product, the
company noted.
“This ISCC PLUS certification . . . is another milestone
on our path to becoming an industry leader in the production
and marketing of recycled and renewable-based polymers,”
said Richard Roudeix, senior vice president of olefins
and polyolefins for Europe, Middle East, Africa and
India at LyondellBasell.
The company plans to broaden the ISCC PLUS certification
to its sites in other regions and expects to obtain it
for its North American plants later this year.

 

Kuraray Resumes Production in Texas At La Porte, Bayport, Pasadena Sites

Houston—
Kuraray announced that production has resumed at its La
Porte, Bayport and Pasadena, Texas, sites, where it had
been suspended following the cold wave in mid-February
2021 (PCN, 15 Mar 2021, p 3).
Although operations remain suspended at certain lines,
production has resumed for all products, including vinyl
acetate monomer and Poval resin at La Porte; Poval resin
at Bayport, and ethylene vinyl alcohol resin and thermoplastic
elastomer at Pasadena.

 

MISC Takes Delivery of Sixth VLEC From HHI Shipyard in South Korea

Kuala Lumpur—
MISC Berhad has taken delivery of Seri Elbert, its sixth
very large ethane carrier (VLEC), from the Hyundai Heavy
Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea (PCN, 11
Jan 2021, p 4).
Seri Elbert, Seri Everest, Seri Erlang, Seri Emei, Seri
Emory and Seri Emperor are a series of second generation
VLECs – all of which were acquired by MISC from Zhejiang
Satellite Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (STL) in July 2020.
The 98,000-cu m Seri Elbert and her five sister vessels
are on a long-term charter to STL. They signify MISC’s
entry into China and its position as the “largest” operator
of VLECs in the niche and growing market of moving ethane
globally, MISC noted.
Eaglestar is the appointed ship manager of all six
VLECs.

 

SABIC to Begin Marketing Aramco’s Allocation of Products from Sadara

Riyadh—SABIC
will start marketing Saudi Aramco’s allocation of products
from Sadara Chemical, a joint venture of Aramco and Dow
Chemical, beginning 1 July 2021.
The change is the result of an agreement between
SABIC, Aramco, Sadara and Dow, and aligns with SABIC’s
strategic position as the chemicals arm of Aramco.
Aramco last year acquired a 70% interest in SABIC
from the Public Investment Fund for a total purchase price
of $69.1-billion (PCN, 22 June 2020, p 1).
“By marketing Aramco’s allocation of Sadara products,
SABIC expects to drive further supply chain efficiencies,
strengthen its brand and combined product and services
offering, and help to maintain competitive preference in
the global chemicals industry,” SABIC noted.

 

Kem One to Receive €15-Million Subsidy To Modernize Electrolysis Technology

Paris—Kem
One said it would receive €15-million of government funding
to support the conversion of its electrolysis technology
at its chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen production unit
in Fos-sur-Mer, France.
The project, estimated to require a total investment of
over €100-million, will involve replacing the existing diaphragm
process with a membrane process, which will make
the site “one of the most” high performance sites in Europe
in energy terms, the company noted. Start-up is expected
in 2024.
The conversion of the process is part of Kem One’s energy
performance strategy, which aims to reduce energy
consumption by 30% and gas emissions by 50% by 2030,
compared with its 2013 baseline year.

 

Hexion Gives Update on Transaction To Divest Phenolic Specialty Resins

Columbus—
Hexion plans to complete the divestment of its phenolic
specialty resin, hexamine and European-based forest products
resins businesses to Black Diamond Capital Management
and Investindustrial on 30 Apr. 2021 (PCN, 25 Jan
2021, p 3).
The transaction, valued at around $425-million, involves
11 manufacturing facilities worldwide and approximately
900 employees.
Hexion is working to complete a limited number of the
necessary government approvals and other customary closing
conditions to complete the sale. It earlier said the divestment
was expected to be finalized in the first quarter
of 2021.

 

Sadara Signs New Long-Term Agreements To Supply Feedstock to SADIG-ILCO JV

Jubail—
Sadara Chemical and SADIG-ILCO, a joint venture of
SADIG Industries and ILCO Chemicals, have signed new
long-term agreements, in which Sadara will supply feedstock
to the joint venture’s future specialty chemical manufacturing
plant in PlasChem Park in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
Under the terms of the agreement, SADIG-ILCO’s new
facility will offtake ethylene oxide and propylene oxide
from Sadara through new pipelines being built by Sadara.
PlasChem Park is adjacent to Sadara’s chemical complex
and is “uniquely” positioned to enable and support
downstream opportunities in numerous market segments,
including the chemicals intermediates, ethylene oxide/
propylene oxide, polyurethanes and polymers clusters,
Sadara noted.

 

BASF, SABIC and Linde Sign Agreement To Develop Electrically Heated Furnace

Berlin—
BASF, SABIC and Linde announced the signing of a joint
agreement to develop and demonstrate solutions for the
“world’s first” electrically heated steam cracker furnace.
Subject to a positive funding decision, the project aims
to offer a promising solution to “significantly” contribute to
the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions within the
chemical industry, the parties noted.
The companies are evaluating construction of a multimegawatt
demonstration plant at BASF’s Ludwigshafen
site in Germany, which is targeted for start-up as early as
2023.
By using electricity from renewable resources to power
the process, the fundamentally new technology has the
potential to reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 90%.
The partners have applied for grants at the EU Innovation
Fund and the funding program Decarbonization in
Industry, a new program of the Germany Federal Ministry
for the Environment.
“To be able to drive a timely scale-up and industrial
implementation of this technology, investment support and
competitive renewable energy prices will be important prerequisites,”
said Dr. Martin Brudermüller, chairman of the
board of executive directors of BASF SE.

 

Celanese to Begin Utilizing Recycled CO2 To Boost Clear Lake Methanol Capacity

Dallas—
Celanese announced that it will begin using recycled carbon
dioxide (CO2) as an alternative feedstock in methanol
production at its integrated chemical manufacturing facility
in Clear Lake, Texas.
This carbon capture and reuse process is expected to
produce sustainable methanol with a high capital efficiency
at competitive pricing via an expansion of Fairway Methanol
LLC, a manufacturing joint venture between Celanese
and Mitsui & Co., Celanese noted.
Once fully operational, the 1.62-million t/y plant is expected
to displace around 180,000 tons of CO2. Furthermore,
an estimated 60% of currently vented process CO2
from the entire site will be transformed into sustainable
methanol. A completion date was not given.

 

KBR Commissions NH3 Plant Revamp At Acron’s Dorogobuzh Site in Russia

Moscow—KBR
said it has successfully commissioned an ammonia revamp
project for Acron at Acron’s Dorogobuzh site in Russia
(PCN, 26 Mar-2 Apr 2018, p 2).
The plant was revamped using KBR’s KRES technology
to enhance ammonia production capacity to 2,100 t/d from
1,360 t/d and reduce energy consumption. Value of the
contract was not given.
KBR supplied the technology license, basic engineering
design package, proprietary equipment, post-engineering
and commissioning services.

 

Celanese Boosting UHMW-PE Capacity With New Production Unit in Europe

Dallas—
Celanese announced plans to expand its GUR ultra-high
molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) production
capacity in Europe with construction of a new plant.
The facility, planned to have a nameplate capacity of
about 34,000 t/y, would be located at either an existing or
greenfield location. Site selection is underway and the unit
is scheduled to be online beginning in 2024.
The company recently announced it was expanding
GUR capacity by about 15,000 t/y with construction of a
new plant at its manufacturing facility in Bishop, Texas
(PCN, 26 Oct 2020, p 1). Production is planned to begin
next year.

 

Invista Concludes Technology Upgrade At Its Adiponitrile Plant in Victoria

Victoria—Invista
has completed a project to upgrade its adiponitrile (ADN)
facility to use the company’s most advanced ADN technology
at its site in Victoria, Texas (PCN, 29 June 2020, p 2).
The project, earlier estimated to cost $250-million, was
completed as part of the site’s regularly planned maintenance
turnaround. The site will manage a controlled startup
and ramp-up of ADN production.
“We’re pleased this ADN retrofit will bring additional
production capacity online in Victoria and are looking forward
to how this will support growth in downstream nylon
6,6 applications,” said Bill Greenfield, president, Invista
Intermediates.
The technology brings “improved product yields, reduced
energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions,
enhanced process stability and reduced capital intensity
compared to existing technologies,” Invista noted.

 

Lummus Technology Gets Contract For Ethylbenzene Project in China

Beijing—Lummus
Technology has been awarded a contract from an unidentified
customer for its EBOne technology for an ethylbenzene
project in Jiangsu Province, China.
Once complete, the unit will produce 508,000 t/y of
ethylbenzene. Cost and a schedule for the project were not
disclosed.
Lummus’ scope for the project includes the technology
license, basic engineering, training and related site services.
Its technology and catalyst offer “high product yield,
low operating costs, and operational reliability throughout
the plant’s life cycle,” Lummus noted.

 

Celanese Raising Acetyl Chain Capacities With Investments in China & Germany

Dallas—
Celanese announced a series of investments to expand its
acetyl chain capacities through plant expansions, new unit
builds and key debottlenecking projects in Nanjing, China,
and Frankfurt, Germany.
The company is initiating an expansion of its vinyl acetate
monomer (VAM) production unit at its chemical industrial
park in Nanjing.
Production capacity is initially expected to increase to
60,000 t/y from 50,000 t/y, with a phased approach of up to
90,000 t/y. When complete, VAM nameplate capacity at
the facility is expected to increase to nearly 400,000 t/y
from 300,000 t/y.
Celanese is planning a 10,000-t/y expansion of acetic
anhydride production at Nanjing. The project will bring
the total acetic anhydride nameplate capacity at the site to
about 130,000 t/y by 2022.
In addition, the company plans to build two new vinyl
acetate ethylene (VAE) reactors by 2023—one in Nanjing
and one at the Frankfurt site.
The reactors will increase VAE capacity at Nanjing by
about 65,000 t/y and VAE capacity at Frankfurt by approximately
45,000 t/y.
Finally, Celanese said debottlenecking efforts are already
underway at its European powders facilities to increase
redispersible polymer powders capacity by about
20,000 t/y by 2023.
The planned expansions are subject to regulatory approvals
in their respective countries of operation.

 

Sadara Shuts Down Mixed-Feed Cracker For Maintenance After Technical Issue

Jubail—
Sadara Basic Services Co. announced that its parent company,
Sadara Chemical Co., has shut down its mixed feed
cracker in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, for immediate maintenance
due to a technical failure of a gas compressor on 16
Mar. 2021.
“As repairs are currently underway, the company will
temporarily experience non-availability or limited availability
of ethylene and propylene which will, as a result,
impact production of related downstream products for an
estimated period of 30 days,” Sadara noted.
“The company is working diligently to mitigate the impact
to its customers.”

 

Acron Group Awards Contracts to KBR For Revamp of Russian NH3 Facilities

Moscow—KBR
has been awarded contracts by Acron Group for revamping
two ammonia units at Acron’s Veliky Novgorod site in Russia
(PCN, 12 Oct 2020, p 4).
The project will expand ammonia production capacity
by over 30% to 2,300 t/d each, increase energy efficiency
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Completion of the
first revamp, including commissioning and start-up is expected
in 2023.
KBR will supply the process technology license, basic
engineering design package and proprietary equipment,
including its KRES technology and Horizontal Ammonia
Convertor.
Acron announced last year that it had started a “major”
overhaul of its ammonia, urea, ammonium nitrate and nitric
acid production facilities at the site.

 

Lotte GS Chemical Selects Technologies For Yeosu Phenol, Acetone Production

Yeosu—Lotte
GS Chemical has selected Honeywell UOP Q-Max, Phenol
3G, and Evonik MSHP technologies for the production of
over 565,000 t/y of phenol and acetone at Lotte’s petrochemicals
facility in Yeosu, South Korea.
UOP will provide a license for the technology, as well as
basic engineering design services, key equipment, catalysts
and adsorbents, and technical services.
As part of the project, UOP will supply cumene and
phenol units with alpha-methylstyrene (AMS) hydrogenation.
The Evonik MSHP process hydrogenates AMS to cumene
to be recycled back to oxidation.
The UOP Phenol 3G unit converts cumene into phenol
and acetone with high yields and product quality, and low
utility consumption.
The combined technologies allow Lotte to produce phenol
and acetone derivatives from benzene and polymergrade
propylene. A schedule for the project was not given.
“Global demand for plastics and resins, such as polystyrene,
styrenic resin, polycarbonate and phenolic resin is
driving the need for aromatic derivatives,” said Bryan
Glover, vice president and general manager of Honeywell
UOP’s Process Technologies business.
“By increasing the production of phenol and acetone,
Lotte raises its market position in high-margin petrochemicals
and contributing to the global supply.”

 

Nauticol & Enhance Energy Partnering To Capture CO2 from Blue Methanol

Calgary—
Nauticol Energy and Enhance Energy have entered into an
agreement to collaborate for the capture and sequestration
of up to 1-million t/y of carbon dioxide (CO2) from Nauticol’s
blue methanol facility planned near Grande Prairie,
Alberta, Canada (PCN, 15 Mar 2021, p 2).
Nauticol and Fortrec recently announced the launch of
a new Singapore-based company, Nauticol Singapore, to
develop, build and operate the world-scale, net zero blue
methanol plant.
The multibillion-dollar facility would utilize natural
gas, combined with carbon capture and sequestration, to
produce 3-million t/y of blue methanol. Commercial operation
is scheduled for 2025.
The partnership between Nauticol and Enhance will accelerate
project development for both companies and help
create up to 5,000 jobs during construction and hundreds
more during operation.

 

People on the Move

Gevo—Dr. Paul Bloom has joined the company has
chief technology officer and chief innovation officer. He
was most recently vice president of sustainable materials
at ADM.
Indorama Ventures (IVL)—Kim Hoyt, previously
lead project management officer at Indorama Ventures
Oxides LLC, has been named site director for IVL’s Integrated
Oxides and Derivatives plant in Port Neches, Texas.
PetroChina Co.—Huang Yongzhang, most recently a
non-executive director of the company, has become president
and executive director. He succeeds Duan Liangwei,
who has become a non-executive director.

 

JM’s Process Chosen for ‘World’s First’ Climate Neutral Methanol Facility

Santiago—Johnson
Matthey (JM) said it has agreed to supply technologies,
equipment and advisory services to the Haru Oni project in
Patagonia, Chile, the “world’s first” climate neutral methanol
plant, which will harness energy from wind.
The project, being developed by Siemens Energy, in
partnership with JM and several other corporations, including
Porsche, will involve an integrated and commercial
large-scale facility to produce e-methanol and e-gasoline.
In the initial pilot phase, the unit will be capable of
producing about 900,000 liters/yr of e-methanol, as early as
2022. In two further phases, capacity will be increased to
about 55-million liters/yr of e-fuels by 2024 and around
550-million liters/yr of e-fuels by 2026.
The JM designed unit will take atmospheric carbon dioxide
(CO2) as feedstock for the conversion to e-methanol.
This CO2 will be recovered by direct air capture and combined
with green hydrogen.
“We are very excited to be collaborating again with
Siemens Energy for this pioneering project to convert wind
energy into clean, green, net-zero chemicals and fuels for a
cleaner, healthier world,” said JM Managing Director John
Gordon,

 

Evonik Finalizes “Significant” Expansion Of Sodium Methylate Capacity in U.S.

Santiago—Johnson
Matthey (JM) said it has agreed to supply technologies,
equipment and advisory services to the Haru Oni project in
Patagonia, Chile, the “world’s first” climate neutral methanol
plant, which will harness energy from wind.
The project, being developed by Siemens Energy, in
partnership with JM and several other corporations, including
Porsche, will involve an integrated and commercial
large-scale facility to produce e-methanol and e-gasoline.
In the initial pilot phase, the unit will be capable of
producing about 900,000 liters/yr of e-methanol, as early as
2022. In two further phases, capacity will be increased to
about 55-million liters/yr of e-fuels by 2024 and around
550-million liters/yr of e-fuels by 2026.
The JM designed unit will take atmospheric carbon dioxide
(CO2) as feedstock for the conversion to e-methanol.
This CO2 will be recovered by direct air capture and combined
with green hydrogen.
“We are very excited to be collaborating again with
Siemens Energy for this pioneering project to convert wind
energy into clean, green, net-zero chemicals and fuels for a
cleaner, healthier world,” said JM Managing Director John
Gordon,

 

Evonik Finalizes “Significant” Expansion Of Sodium Methylate Capacity in U.S.

Mobile—
Evonik announced the completion of a “significant” capacity
expansion at its sodium methylate production facility in
Mobile, Ala.
The facility, which has a production capacity of up to
90,000 t/y, will mainly support the growing demand driven
by renewable energy, such as biodiesel, and will strengthen
the company’s position serving the performance chemicals
and life science markets.
“In addition to the importance of the improved offering
in North America, the new capacity in the U.S. also contributes
to Evonik’s global positioning as a key player in
the alkoxides market and supports our global supply chain
network,” said Alexander Weber, vice president and global
head of marketing and sales.
Evonik also produces sodium methylate in Germany
and Argentina.

 

Celanese Plans Investments at Asia Sites For Engineered Materials Compounding

Shanghai—
Celanese said it intends to initiate a three-year plan to
expand engineered materials compounding capacities at
three of its manufacturing facilities in Asia.
In Suzhou, China, the company plans to increase nylon
compounding capacity at the facility by approximately
7,000 t/y by the second quarter of 2022.
At Celanese’s Nanjing integrated chemical complex in
China, about 52,000 t/y of compounding and long-fiber
thermoplastics capacity will be added by the second half of
2023.
Finally, in Silvassa, India, the company plans to increase
compounding capacity by around 7,000 t/y by the
first quarter of 2022.
Celanese is planning these projects to support the expected
demand growth for compounded polymers.

 

Plastic Energy, ExxonMobil Collaborating On Advanced Recycling Project in France

Paris—
Plastic Energy and ExxonMobil have agreed to work together
on an advanced recycling project that will convert
post-consumer plastic waste into raw materials for the
manufacturing of virgin-quality polymers.
Under terms of the agreements with affiliates of
ExxonMobil, Plastic Energy will build, own and operate an
advanced recycling facility adjacent to ExxonMobil’s Notre
Dame de Gravenchon petrochemical complex in France.
The plant will convert difficult-to-recycle mixed plastic
waste into raw materials that can be transformed into certified
circular polymers and other high-value products at
the petrochemical complex.
The new unit will have an initial capacity of 25,000 t/y
of plastic waste, with plans to scale up to 33,000 t/y in the
future. It is expected to be “one of the largest” advanced
recycling plants in Europe, Plastic Energy noted.
A final investment decision is expected in mid-2021
with start-up anticipated in 2023. The project has received
financial support from the French government, as part of
their Plan de Relance and Regional Planning Grant
Scheme.

 

ReNew Selects Wood as EPC Contractor For Teesside Plastic Recycling Plant

Teesside—
Advanced recycling firm ReNew ELP said it has named
Wood as engineering, procurement and construction contractor
for the “world’s first” commercial-scale plastics recycling
plant in Teesside, UK, using an advanced recycling
process.
The multi-million pound project will be based on Mura
Technology’s HydroPRS (Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling
Solution) process technology to recycle end-of-life plastic
waste into hydrocarbon feedstocks, for use in new plastic
products and other materials.
In the first phase, Wood will construct four HydroPRS
recycling lines, each able to process 20,000 t/y of plastic
waste. The three remaining lines will follow soon after.
Once complete, the facility will recycle 80,000 t/y of plastic
waste. Operations are planned to begin in late 2022.
Mura, the parent company of ReNew, has a goal of seeing
a 1-million t/y global recycling capacity in operation or
development by 2025.
“On completion, this plant will make it possible to not
only reduce the plastic pollution in our natural environment,
but will help to reduce both CO2 [carbon dioxide]
emissions and the requirement for single-use plastic,” said
Craig Shanaghey, president of Wood’s operations business
across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

 

SI Expanding French Tackifier Capacity

Paris—SI Group said it has decided to double tackifier resin capacity
at its manufacturing site in Bethune, France.
The investment, scheduled for completion later this
year, addresses an increasing demand for Novolac tackifiers
in one of the company’s core regions. No other details
were available.
“We have taken the decision to further grow capacity as
another step forward in reinventing our business model,”
noted Robert Kaiser, vice president of Rubber & Adhesives
Solutions.

 

Topsoe & Nel Enter MoU for End-to-End Green Ammonia, eMethanol Solutions

Lyngby—
Haldor Topsoe and Nel have signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) to offer customers complete renewable
electricity to ammonia and methanol solutions using their
existing technologies.
Under the MoU, Topsoe intends to supply the license,
engineering, proprietary hardware, catalyst and technical
service for its ammonia and eMethanol technologies, as
well as system integration engineering. Nel plans to supply
its alkaline or PEM electrolysis technology and proprietary
hardware, and subsystem engineering.
“We are very excited to join forces with Haldor Topsoe,
who offers world-leading ammonia and methanol technologies
that can add tremendous value together with our electrolysis
technologies,” said Nel Chief Executive Jon Andre
Lokke.
“Our vision is all about ‘Empowering generations with
clean energy forever.’ We see much promise in adding the
possibility of processing hydrogen into eMethanol and
green ammonia, which are widely regarded as important
low-carbon fuels of the future.”

 

Engie Enters Deal to Supply Green Power To Covestro’s Antwerp Site in Belgium

Antwerp—
Engie and Covestro have concluded a power purchase
agreement covering the supply of wind energy from Engie
to Covestro’s site in Antwerp, Belgium.
Effective 1 Apr. 2021, Engie will supply Covestro with
about 45% (39 megawatts) of the electricity demand of the
Antwerp site. The energy will be supplied from 15 wind
turbines in four newly constructed onshore wind farms.
The deal will reduce Covestro’s carbon footprint in Belgium
by more than 38,500 tons of carbon dioxide. Value of
the contract was not disclosed.
“The new supply agreement is a milestone in the conversion
of our production to the use of renewable energies,”
said Georg Wagner, managing director at Covestro in Antwerp.
“Wind energy, together with the use of sustainable raw
materials and innovative recycling technologies, are important
steps towards realizing our vision of becoming fully
circular and achieving the climate goals of the European
Green Deal.”
Covestro already signed a contract with Orsted to cover
a “significant” portion of the electricity requirements of its
German sites, the company noted.

 

Maire Tecnimont Group, Adani Ink MoU For Green Hydrogen Projects in India

New Delhi—
Maire Tecnimont Group’s NextChem, Stamicarbon and
MET Development subsidiaries have signed a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) with Adani Enterprises Ltd.
(AEL) to explore the development of green hydrogen projects
in India.
Under the MoU, AEL, part of the Adani Group, and
Maire Tecnimont Group’s subsidiaries would jointly explore
integrated opportunities for the valorization of the
renewable feedstock by using NextChem and Stamicarbon’s
technologies for chemicals, ammonia and green hydrogen
applied to the chemicals value chain.
“Adani Group is at the forefront of India’s energy transition,
and green hydrogen is a natural extension of our
globally leading renewable portfolio,” said Jayant Parimal,
advisor to the chairman at Adani.
“Scaling up of the green hydrogen economy will require
multiple use-cases, including green ammonia and green
chemicals. They may present a significant benefit not only
from the environmental perspective, but also in terms of
supply chain resilience for India. AEL is pleased to partner
with Maire Tecnimont to explore these opportunities.
“This partnership brings Maire Tecnimont’s formidable
technical and project management expertise in ammonia
and green chemistry, with Adani’s world-class execution
and scale in renewables. We are entering a new phase,
whereby global synergies will play a vital role in optimally
harnessing renewable energy for powering future energy
and industrial needs.”

 

Technip Energies, Nipigas to Create JV To Drive Energy Transition in Russia

Moscow—
Technip Energies and Nipigas announced plans to create
Nova Energies, a joint venture to drive the energy transition
journey in Russia.
Nova Energies will provide a wide range of expertise,
including engineering and design project documentation
and CAPEX estimates, as well as engineering, procurement,
construction, installation and commissioning for
carbon dioxide removal, carbon capture, clean hydrogen
production, bio-energies, bio-refineries, bio-chemistry,
ammonia, as well as other energy transition related
themes, Technip noted.
“The general global trend for decarbonization has become
one of the key factors in the modernization of existing
and creation of new industries in Russia,” said Nipigas
Chief Executive Dmitry Evstafiev.
“With the participation of Nipigas, the best environmentally-
friendly and safe design solutions are implemented,
corresponding to the best world standards within
the framework of the country’s largest projects.”


AGC Plans to Integrate and Reorganize Chlor-Alkali Subsidiaries in Thailand

Bangkok—AGC
plans to integrate and reorganize its three consolidated
chlor-alkali subsidiaries in Thailand and form a new company
to promote its chlor-alkali business there, and in the
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) markets.
The subsidiaries involved include Vinythai Public Co.
Ltd. (VNT), owned 58.78% by AGC, 24.98% by PTT Global
Chemical (GC) and 16.24% by others; AGC Chemicals
(Thailand) Co. (ACTH), owned 100% by AGC; and AGC
Chemicals Vietnam Co. (ACVN), owned 78.11% by AGC,
15% by Mitsubishi Corp, and 6.89% by Vung Tau Shipyard.
Following completion of the reorganization, expected by
the first half of 2022, VNT will be delisted from the stock
exchange of Thailand. AGC will not tender its shares and
will remain a majority shareholder of VNT.
AGC will implement procedures to make ACVN a subsidiary
of ACTH. VNT and ACTH will then merge to form
a new company, which has not yet been named.
GC has the right to increase its stake in the new company
up to 35% through a third-party allotment of new
shares to GC.
The plan is subject to approval from shareholders of
VNT and fulfillment of all the merger conditions, such as
delisting of securities of VNT from the stock exchange.
“Through this decision, we will further strengthen our
chlor-alkali business base in Thailand and CLMV markets
and aim for further growth by deepening our partnership
with [GC], a shareholder in the newly integrated company
and a leading petrochemical manufacturer in Thailand,”
said AGC.

 

EPC Contract for Ust-Luga Gas Complex Terminated to Optimize Project Costs

Moscow—
Gazprom, RusGazDobycha and Nipigaz, in an effort to improve
project costs, have decided to terminate the engineering,
procurement and construction (EPC) contract
awarded earlier to Nipigaz for the Ust-Luga gas processing
complex planned in Russia (PCN, 15 June 2020, p 3).
RusKhimAlyans, a joint venture company formed by
Gazprom and RusGazDobycha to operate the complex,
awarded the EPC contract to Nipigaz in 2020.
The complex will process 45-billion cu m/yr of gas and
produce 13-million t/y of liquefied natural gas, as well as
ethane fraction, liquefied petroleum gas and pentanehexane
fraction.
Baltic Chemical, a subsidiary of RusGazDobycha, is setting
up a new gas chemical facility that will be technologically
interconnected with the gas processing complex to
process ethane generated by the complex.
The chemical facility will include two 1.4-million-t/y
ethane cracking plants and six polyethylene reactor lines,
each designed to have a capacity of 500,000 t/y. Completion
is expected in 2024.
Termination of the contract will have no affect on the
project’s schedule. A new EPC contract is planned to be
awarded in the “near future,” Gazprom noted.

 

NextChem and Agilyx Sign Deal to Deploy Advanced Chem Recycling Units Globally

Milan—
NextChem and Agilyx Corp. have entered into an agreement
to support the global development of advanced
chemical recycling facilities, worldwide, utilizing Agilyx’s
advanced pyrolysis technology in the conversion of mixed
waste plastic into circular olefins and fuels.
Under the agreement, NextChem, a subsidiary of Maire
Tecnimont SpA, will act as a technology and EPC (engineering,
procurement and construction) partner for Agilyx.
The scope of the partnership, in its first phase, is to develop
a series of chemical recycling projects for third parties.
The initial focus will be on two already identified projects—
one in Europe and one in South America.
The agreement will also represent an opportunity for
co-investments in specific projects in order to accelerate
the overall commercial pipeline.
“We are proud to include this new partnership with Agilyx
into our portfolio, and further develop our basket of
technological solutions for the circular economy that already
include upcycling, waste-to-chemicals, waste-tofuels,
polymerization and now also thermochemicals conversion
(pyrolysis),” said Pierroberto Folgieri, chief executive
of Maire Tecnimont Group and NextChem.
“We are strongly committed to finding solutions for
plastics sustainability along its life-cycle and to enabling a
new circular, low carbon economy.”

 

Olin Announces Capacity Reduction At Chlor-Alkali Facility in Alabama

Montgomery—
Olin announced plans to permanently shut down around
50% (200,000 tons) of its diaphragm-grade chlor-alkali capacity
at its facility in McIntosh, Ala., by 31 Mar. 2021.
“This is yet another step in Olin’s efforts to right-size
our asset base and achieve reinvestment economics across
our complete Electrochemical Unit portfolio,” said Olin
President and Chief Executive Scott Sutton.
“Shareholders can expect Olin to continue to take highcapital,
non-accretive assets off our balance sheet as existing
contractual supply obligations end, focusing our Olin
teammates and resources toward unleashing Olin’s true
value potential.”

 

Total Purchases BASF’s 60% Interest In Port Arthur Condensate Splitter

Houston—Total
Petrochemicals & Refining USA announced the acquisition
of BASF’s 60% stake in a condensate splitter the two companies
jointly own in Port Arthur, Texas, making Total
sole owner.
“Located within the Total Port Arthur refinery perimeter,
this acquisition will allow Total to immediately capitalize
on its access to competitively-priced U.S. light crudes
and reinforce the synergies within the refinery,” Total
noted.

 

Borealis Lifts Declaration of Force Majeure On Its Stenungsund Cracker Operations

Vienna—
Borealis recently lifted the force majeure declared last May
on its cracker operations in Stenungsund, Sweden (PCN,
18 Jan 2021, p 1).
The company shut down the cracker and declared force
majeure on 11 May 2020, after a fire broke out at the
cracker two days earlier. The fire started because of a
technical incident in the compressor.
According to Borealis’ website, the Stenungsund
cracker is “one of the most flexible in Europe.” Its main
products are ethylene, propylene, polyethylene (PE), highdensity
PE, low-density PE and Borstar products. It can
use naphtha, ethane, propane and butane as raw materials
in the cracking process.

 

Guangxi Huayi Anticipates Q2 Start-Up Of Methanol Facility at Qinzhou Port

Beijing—
Guangxi Huayi Energy Chemical expects to start up a new
1.8-million-t/y coal-fed methanol plant at China’s Qinzhou
port in May or June of this year, reported Argus Media.
The facility, which will be the “largest” methanol plant
along China’s coastal regions, will source around 2.7-
million t/y to 3-million t/y of coal to feed the plant, the report
said.
Guangxi Huayi also expects to start up a 500,000-t/y
downstream acrylic acid (AA) unit around the same time as
the methanol plant, and a 700,000-t/y AA unit at the end of
2021. The AA plants will use the methanol as feedstock.

 

Dow Updates on Gulf Coast Operations After Assets Affected by Winter Storm

Houston—Dow,
during the recent J.P. Morgan 2021 Industrials Conference,
said that all of its U.S. Gulf Coast crackers, with the
exception of Sabine River, are now operational after being
impacted by Winter Storm Uri.
The company expects all of the assets affected by the
storm to continue to ramp up through the end of March,
and into April, as it is still dealing with a few raw material
constraints and continuing to do some freeze damage repairs.
Sabine River will restart later this month.
Also, while many of Dow’s businesses declared force
majeure on products following the storm, its teams are
working to mitigate the operational and customer impact
as much as possible, Dow noted.
Separately, the company said it also recently started up
a new polyethylene glycol unit on the U.S. Gulf Coast. No
details are available.

 

Daelim Starts Up New LLDPE Unit

Yeosu—Daelim
Industrial has begun production at a new linear lowdensity
polyethylene (LLDPE) plant at its complex in
Yeosu, South Korea, reported Argus Media.
The 200,000-t/y metallocene LLDPE unit increases total
LLDPE capacity at the site to 410,000 t/y. Daelim also
operates two 150,000-t/y high-density PE lines at the complex.
The complex receives feedstock from YNCC, a 50-50
joint venture between Daelim Industrial and Hanwha
Chemical.

 

PureCycle Technologies, Roth CH Merge; New Company Using PureCycle Name

Ironton—
PureCycle Technologies Inc. has completed the previously
announced business combination with Roth CH Acquisition
I Co. (Roth CH), following the approval by Roth CH’s
stockholders at a meeting held last week (PCN, 23-30 Nov
2020, p 4).
Upon completion of the transaction, for which a value
was not given, the combined company changed its name to
PureCycle Technologies Inc. Michael Otworth is continuing
as chief executive and chairman of the board.
PureCycle uses proprietary technology licensed from
Procter & Gamble to recycle waste polypropylene (PP) into
virgin-like recycled PP from myriad applications. The
company is currently building its first commercial-scale
plant in Ironton, Ohio.
The facility is expected to have a nameplate capacity of
about 107-million lbs/yr of ultra-pure recycled PP when
fully operational. Production is planned to begin in late
2022, with full capacity expected to be reached in 2023.
PureCycle plans to have 30 commercial lines operational
by 2030 and 50 by 2035, globally.
“The consummation of this transaction represents yet
another major milestone for PureCycle, demonstrating
broad market validation of our value proposition,” Otworth
noted. “Most importantly, we now have the increased capital
market access to support the accelerated scaling required
to revolutionize the transformation of waste polypropylene
into sustainable products.”

 

People on the Move

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.—Mitch Eichelberger,
currently senior vice president of polymers and specialties,
has been named executive vice president, polymers and
specialties, effective 1 Apr. 2021.
Benjamin (Benny) Mermans has been appointed vice
president of sustainability, effective 1 Apr. 2021. This is
the first time the company has appointed an executive to
focus exclusively on its sustainability strategy. He is currently
general manager for EAME (Europe, Africa and
Middle East).
European Petrochemical Assn. (EPCA)—Christian
Kohlpaintner, chief executive of Brenntag SE, has been
elected to the board of directors of EPCA.
Agilyx—Shellie Gasaway has been appointed vice
president of business development, Americas and Asia-
Pacific. She was previously with Powell Industries, where
she was global strategic account and business segment
leader.
PureCycle Technologies—Brett Hafer has become
vice president of manufacturing operations. He was previously
site operations manager, Houston refining, at LyondellBasell.
Jim Haw, most recently vice president of operations at
Surge Engineering, has joined PureCycle as vice president
of automation and digital strategy.
Mike Weber was recently appointed vice president of
technology.
Inter Pipeline—Margaret McKenzie, currently chair of
the Special Committee, has been appointed chair of the
board of directors. She succeeds Richard Shaw, who has
retired.

 

EC Okays Proposed Industrial Gases JV Of Sipchem and Linde in Saudi Arabia

Jubail—The
European Commission (EC), under the European Union
Merger Regulation, has approved the planned 50-50 joint
venture between Sahara International Petrochemical Co.
(Sipchem) and Linde GmbH for developing industrial gases
projects and networks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Under a 20-year contract, signed last year, the joint
venture plans to develop a “world-class” industrial gases
network in Jubail Industrial City by connecting, via pipeline,
existing hydrogen and syngas plants owned and operated
by the partners (PCN, 21-28 Dec 2020, p 3).
The main focus of the partnership will be on the development
of new production facilities in order to supply carbon
monoxide, hydrogen, syngas ammonia and associated
gases, as well as efficient solutions for the decarbonization
of downstream production in industrial clusters in the
kingdom.
The commission concluded that the proposed joint venture
would raise no competition concerns because it would
only have negligible actual or foreseen activities in the
European Economic Area.

 

Sojitz Mulls Investment in Indonesia To Develop Methanol, NH3 Industry

Jakarta—Sojitz
Corp. of Japan has expressed interest in investing about
$5-billion in the development of the methanol and ammonia
industry in Bintuni Bay Industrial Area in Indonesia,
reported Antara News citing Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang
Kartasasmita.
The project would involve construction of a new methanol
plant, which would be considered a National Strategic
Project, making it eligible to get facilities and various incentives
from the government.
“With domestic demand for methanol reaching around
2-million tons, the construction of a new methanol plant is
direly needed,” Kartasasmita noted.
Sojitz’s Kaltim Methanol Industry business in Bontang,
East Kalimantan, is currently the only methanol producer
in Indonesia. The plant has a production capacity of
660,000 t/y.
The two countries will continue discussions this coming
May. If the project is approved, production is planned to
begin in 2024.

 

NextDecade Forms Next Carbon Solutions To Reduce Emissions at Rio Grande LNG

Houston—
NextDecade Corp. said it has formed Next Carbon Solutions
LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary that will develop a
carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at NextDecade’s
planned Rio Grande LNG (liquefied natural gas) project in
Brownsville, Texas (PCN, 8 Feb 2021, p 3).
The Rio Grande project is expected to include five LNG
trains with a total capacity of 27-million t/y of LNG. A final
investment decision (FID) is anticipated on a minimum
of two trains in 2021, and the FID on the CCS project “soon
after,” NextDecade noted.
The CCS project is expected to reduce permitted carbon
dioxide emissions at Rio Grande LNG by over 90%, without
major design changes to the LNG project. As a result, Rio
Grande LNG is expected to be the “greenest LNG project in
the world,” the company added.

 

Aquamarine and Topsoe Enter into MoU For Green Ammonia Plant in Germany

Berlin—
Aquamarine and Haldor Topsoe have signed a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) for the construction of a new
green ammonia facility in northern Germany.
Aquamarine, through its company HydrGEN, is developing
a large-scale green ammonia facility to be built in
multiple stages.
In the first phase, the proposed plant will use Topsoe’s
proprietary solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOEC) to produce
green hydrogen from 100 megawatt of renewable electricity.
The hydrogen will be further processed into 300 t/d of
green ammonia, also using Topsoe’s technology. Operations
are expected to begin in 2024.
The plant will be located near existing offshore wind
farms, where the product can be sold to the marine shipping
industry.

 

AFPM Schedules Annual Meeting To Be Held Virtually Next Month

Washington—The
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM)
will hold a virtual edition of its Annual Meeting on 12-13
Apr. 2021.
The meeting will address both significant opportunities
and challenges for U.S. refiners and petrochemical manufacturers,
and will include live streamed sessions, panel
discussions, interactive content and numerous networking
opportunities in video rooms.
“This year it may seem the challenges outweigh the opportunities,
but we are an optimistic group and we are excited
to deliver a program designed to arm you with critical
information to help you achieve more, go farther, and improve
your company’s performance,” said AFPM.
For more information, or to register online, visit AFPM
at https://www.afpm.org/events/AM21.

 

AmSty Joins Cyclyx as Founding Member; Barnette Joins Executive Advisory Board

Tigard—
Cyclyx International announced that AmSty, the “largest”
polystyrene producer in the Americas, has joined Cyclyx as
a founding member.
Agilyx and ExxonMobil established Cycylx on 1 Jan.
2021 to help scale up the supply of qualified plastic waste
for the plastics recycling industry (PCN, 1 Mar 2021, p 3).
The joint venture combines Agilyx’s expertise in plastic
waste conversion with ExxonMobil’s technology expertise
and large-scale petrochemical manufacturing network.
As a member of the Cyclyx consortium, AmSty will have
access to the Cyclyx platform, which includes chemical
characterization of plastics and predictive modeling of feed
sources to product pathways, custom feedstock recipes, and
customized supply chains, in order to deliver waste plastic
feedstocks appropriate for all existing and new mechanical
and advanced recycling pathways.
As part of AmSty’s membership, the Regenyx chemical
recycling facility, a joint venture of AmSty and Agilyx, will
contract with Cyclyx to source feedstock for plastic waste
conversion. AmSty will also have access to the Cyclyx platform
for other future potential advanced recycling plants.
Tim Barnette, vice president of polymers and sustainability
at AmSty, has been appointed to Cyclyx’s executive
advisory board.

 

Synova and Technip Energies Cooperate To Commercialize Recycling Technology

Rotterdam—
Synova and Technip Energies have entered into a joint
development and cooperation agreement to commercialize
Synova’s advanced plastic waste-to-olefins technology, in
combination with Technip’s steam cracking technology.
Synova’s thermochemical recycling technology takes
dirty and mixed plastic waste and breaks it down to its
basic building blocks, such as olefin monomers and coproducts,
to produce circular plastics.
The patented process has a low-carbon footprint, displaces
the need for virgin polymers and reduces the need
for intensive plastic waste sorting, Synova noted. Technip
will cooperate with Synova in the optimization and improvement
of the technology.
The technology was invented by the Netherlands Organization
for Applied Scientific Research, and independent
research organization. Together with Synova, the
technology has been further developed, tested and piloted
over a 15-year period.
“Chemical recycling is going to be a big business and we
have a technological advantage in the race,” said Synova
Chief Executive Van Morris. “Partnering with Technip
Energies brings the expertise, skill and reputation to
achieve the last mile of commercialization and allow this
technology to provide a path to a more sustainable future.”

 

Clariant Opens One Clariant Campus, Strengthening Its Position in China

Shanghai—
Clariant said it has strengthened its position in China with
the official opening of its CHF 45-million One Clariant
Campus in Shanghai (PCN, 2 May 2016, p 4).
The campus, located in the XinZhuang Industrial Park,
is home to Clariant’s Greater China operational headquarters,
as well as its regional innovation center.
“As an integral part of the One Clariant Campus, the
new innovation center will foster Clariant’s research and
development capabilities in China,” said Clariant Chief
Technology Officer Martin Vollmer.
“While the new facilities will greatly enhance the abilities
of our own teams, we will also step up our cooperation
with local key customers and key suppliers by inviting
them to co-locate in our center for the joint development of
next generation products.
“Supported by additional cooperation with academic
partners and other industrial partners, the center will be
the beating heart of our innovation efforts in China.”

 

Repsol Planning to Build Spain’s ‘First’ Polyurethane Foam Recycling Plant

Madrid—Repsol
announced plans to build Spain’s “first” chemical polyurethane
foam recycling facility at its Puertollano industrial
complex.
The project, requiring an investment of around €12-
million, will be capable of processing over 2,000 t/y of polyurethane
foam waste, the equivalent of 200,000 mattresses,
for the production of circular polyols. Operations
are expected to begin by the end of next year.
“Integrating this new recycling plant into the Puertollano
petrochemical complex will ensure the quality of this
circular product by allowing the maximization of synergies
with the facility’s standard processes,” Repsol noted.
The company is planning investments totaling €700-
million in decarbonization and circular economy projects to
be carried out through 2025 at the complex, ensuring a
competitive future for the industrial facility.

 

Air Liquide Signs Its First Long-Term PPA For Renewable Energy in the Netherlands

Paris—Air
Liquide said it has signed its first power purchase agreement
(PPA) with Vattenfall to purchase a total of 25
megawatts of offshore wind capacity in the Netherlands,
over a period of 15 years.
The contract will enable Air Liquide to supply renewable
energy to some of its industrial and medical gas production
assets in the Netherlands. This includes the “first”
world-scale oxygen production plant fit to accommodate
renewable energy in the grid, which the group is building
in the port of Moerdijk, Air Products noted.
The offshore wind farm is currently under development
and scheduled to be operational by 2023. It will be the
“first” subsidy-free and “world’s largest” offshore wind
farm, saving Air Liquide up to 750,000 tons of carbon dioxide
emissions over the duration of the contract.

 

Grace Restarts All Units Affected by Uri

Columbia—
W. R. Grace & Co. announced that all of its sites in Louisiana
and Texas that were impacted by Winter Storm Uri
have resumed operations.
Grace manufactures polyolefin and other catalysts at
its sites in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, and Norco, La., and
its site in Pasadena, Texas. All sites had experienced interruptions
as a result of the storm.
“Winter Storm Uri . . . caused widespread manufacturing
disruption across the region because of freezing temperatures
and loss of electricity, gas, water and other utilities,”
Grace explained. “Most polyolefin manufacturers
and refineries were forced to shut down or operate at reduced
rates following the storm.”

AGIC Gets Ministry Approval to Establish New Petchem Complex in Saudi Arabia

Jubail—
Advanced Global Investment Co. (AGIC), a subsidiary of
Advanced Petrochemical Co., has received approval from
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy for allocating the necessary
feedstock to set up a new petrochemical complex in
Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia.
The project will include the production of 1.15-million
t/y of ethylene, 850,000 t/y of propylene and 400,000 t/y of
aromatics and fuels, and their derivatives. Start-up is
scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025.
AGIC will select “leading and most efficient” technologies
in energy and feedstock consumption, Advanced noted.
Cost of the project was not disclosed.

 

Air Liquide E&C to Supply Technology To Brass Fertilizer Methanol Project

Nigeria—Air
Liquide Engineering & Construction (E&C) has entered
into an agreement with Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical
Co. Ltd. (BFPCL) to provide its technology for BFPCL’s
planned methanol plant in Odioma, Brass Island, Bayelsa
State, Nigeria (PCN, 8 Feb 2021, p 1).
The $3.5-billion integrated methanol and gas project,
which will utilize Air Liquide E&C’s proprietary Lurgi
MegaMethanol process, will be able to produce up to
10,000 t/d of methanol. Operations are expected to begin
in 2024.
Nigeria National Petroleum Co., Nigeria Content Development
and Monitoring Board, and DSV Engineering
are responsible for building the project, which will be the
“largest” methanol plant in Africa, Air Liquide E&C noted.
Shell Petroleum Development Co. will provide the gas
under a purchase agreement.

 

McDermott Acquires Minority Stake In Lummus Technology Holdings

Houston—Mc-
Dermott International announced it has completed a minority
investment in Lummus Technology Holdings I LLC,
a holding company of Lummus Technology, for an undisclosed
amount (PCN, 6 July 2020, p 1).
Under the terms of a share and asset purchase agreement
for the sale of Lummus Technology—entered into on
21 Jan. 2020 with a joint partnership between Haldia Petrochemicals
and Rhone Capital—McDermott was given the
option to purchase a minority common equity ownership
interest in the entity purchasing Lummus. McDermott
recently exercised that right.
On 30 June 2020, McDermott finalized the sale of
Lummus Technology to the partnership for a base purchase
price of $2.725-billion.
McDermott and Lummus have continued to work together
through their strategic agreement to bring customers
technology solutions through the entire plant life cycle,
McDermott noted.

 

IOCL and IDCO Enter MoU to Develop Planned Paradip Plastic Park in India

Paradip—
Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. (IOCL) and Odisha Industrial Infrastructure
Development Corp. (IDCO) have signed a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) to develop the Paradip
Plastic Park in Odisha, India.
The park is expected to enhance the petrochemicals and
plastic infrastructure, as well as auxiliary industries and
micro, small and medium enterprises in Odisha and Eastern
India. It is estimated that about 26 units will be located
in the park, generating direct and indirect employment
of about 6,000.
“Keeping the enterprise and employment generation
potential of the plastic sector in mind, [the] government of
India has initiated the cluster development of the industry
through its Plastic Park scheme,” said Minister of Petroleum
& Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan.
“Currently six such parks have been approved by the
government of India, with Paradip Plastic Park being one
of them.”
To attract investments in the downstream polymer industries
at the park, IOCL announced a special strategic
incentives scheme until 31 Mar. 2030. It will offer an incentive
of Rs 2000 per ton on polypropylene (PP) granules
to manufacturing units located in the park.
IOCL has a 680,000-t/y PP facility in Paradip, which
began operating in December 2018.

 

ADNOC and Petronas Ink Deal to Explore Opportunities in Upstream, Downstream

Abu Dhabi–
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) and Petronas have
signed a strategic framework agreement to explore opportunities
for collaboration across the upstream and downstream
sectors, as well as in technology and trading.
Under the terms of the agreement, the parties will
jointly explore opportunities to partner in the exploration,
development and production of conventional and unconventional
hydrocarbon resources in Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates.
ADNOC and Petronas also agree to explore potential
partnership opportunities in trading, including optimization
of crude and feedstock supply and refined products
offtake.
In addition, they will look to team up to identify technology
solutions, as well as on hydrogen and research and
development in areas of mutual interest, including enhanced
hydrocarbon recovery and carbon capture utilization
and storage.

 

Clarification

In the 8 Mar. 2021 issue of PetroChemical
News, we reported that SCG had set aside around $53,000
for research and development this year, under its Accelerate
Innovation Plan. The company has, in fact, allocated
about $53-million. We apologize for any confusion we have
caused.

 

Inter Pipeline BOD Urges Shareholders To Reject Brookfield’s Takeover Offer

Calgary—Inter
Pipeline announced that its board of directors (BOD)
unanimously recommends that shareholders reject the hostile
takeover bid by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners to
acquire all outstanding common shares of the company
(PCN, 1 Mar 2021, p 2).
Last month, an affiliate of Brookfield offered to acquire
all outstanding common shares of Inter Pipeline for
C$13.5-billion.
The board determined that Brookfield’s hostile bid is
not in the best interests of the company or its shareholders,
and believes it “significantly” undervalues the company’s
standalone plan.
“Our business continues to perform strongly and we
continue to expect that our nearly completed Heartland
Petrochemical Complex, the largest growth project in our
history, will deliver a step change in cash flow starting
next year,” said Margaret McKenzie, chair of the special
committee.
“We have launched a comprehensive strategic review
process focused on maximizing value for shareholders and
we believe superior offers or other alternatives may
emerge.”

 

Nauticol & Fortrec Partnering to Build New Blue Methanol Plant in Alberta

Alberta—
Nauticol Energy and Fortrec have launched a new Singapore-
based company, Nauticol Singapore, to develop, build
and operate a world-scale, net zero, blue methanol plant in
Alberta, Canada.
The multibillion-dollar facility will utilize abundant and
competitively priced natural gas from Western Canada,
combined with carbon capture and sequestration, to produce
3-million t/y of the blue methanol, which will be distributed
through the partners’ Singapore trading platform.
Commercial operation is planned for 2025.
Approximately $25-million of development activity has
already been completed. A development site has been secured
and key regulatory, environmental and water permitting
has been obtained. Critical technology, construction
and commercial partners have been selected for all
essential project elements, Nauticol noted.

 

Biffa Expanding Recycling Capacity For HDPE at Washington Facility

London—Biffa is
investing £13-million to increase recycling capacity for
high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic at its plant in
Washington, Sunderland, England.
The project will allow the company to recycle an additional
14,000 t/y of HDPE, increasing its total capacity to
39,000 t/y. A schedule was not given.
“The extended capacity of HDPE recycling will benefit
packaging producers in the UK, who from 2022 will be required
to use at least 30% recycled plastic in their products
to avoid the new plastic packaging tax,” Biffa noted. “It is
estimated an extra 36,000 tons of recycled HDPE will be
needed to meet demand.”
Last year, the company started up its £27.5-million
plastics recycling facility at Seaham, UK (PCN, 11 Feb
2019, p 4). Biffa originally said the project would cost £15-
million.

 

Clariant & India Glycols to Establish New Renewable EO Derivatives JV

Kashipur—
Clariant and India Glycols Ltd. (IGL) announced a strategic
partnership to establish a joint venture in renewable
ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives in India.
Under the terms of the proposed agreement, Clariant
would contribute its local Industrial and Consumer Specialties
business in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal,
held by Clariant India., while IGL would contribute its
renewable Bio-EO Derivative business, which includes a
multipurpose production facility, as well as an alkoxylation
unit in Kashipur, Uttarakhand, India.
In addition, IGL has agreed to a long-term supply
agreement for EO made from bio-ethanol, as well as further
utilities.
“By working closely together and leveraging the unique
capabilities of both parties, we see opportunities for profitable
growth based on strong local organic demand, as well
as the global megatrend for renewable products,” said
Christian Vang, global head of Clariant’s Industrial &
Consumer Specialties business unit.
Subject to customary regulatory approvals, the joint
venture would be owned 51% by Clariant International and
49% by IGL. U.S. Bhartia would be the designated chairman
of the joint venture, which is expected to have around
200 employees at its inception.

 

Braskem Forms Partnership with Maersk To Open New Singapore Logistics Hub

Singapore—
Braskem has entered into a strategic partnership with integrated
container logistics firm A.P. Moller – Maersk
(Maersk) to establish a new logistics hub in Singapore that
will give customers in Asia regular access to Braskem’s
polymer products.
Singapore has served as the headquarters of Braskem’s
Asian operation for over 10 years through a regional commercial
office, with the addition of a logistics hub now allowing
it to fully account for growing demand from markets
such as China, India, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand,
Braskem noted.
“This new development comes off the back of Braskem’s
existing partnership with PSA, whose specially curated
Forward Hubbing Scheme allows Braskem to use PSA Singapore
– the world’s largest container trans-shipment hub
– as a regional distribution focal point,” said Braskem.
“This offers it the fastest lead time to market and comprehensive
access to PSA Singapore’s inventory details.”

 

People on the Move

Royal Dutch Shell—Andrew Mackenzie has been appointed
chair of the company, with effect from the conclusion
of Shell’s annual general meeting, scheduled for 18
May 2021. He will succeed Chad Holliday, who will step
down. Mackenzie has been on Shell’s board of directors
since October 2020.
Mitsui Chemicals—Sakata Akinori has been named
director of the PTA (purified terephthalic acid) Dept. in the
PTA & PET (polyethylene terephthalate) Division of the
basic materials business sector, effective 1 Apr. 2021. He
is currently general manager of the Marketing Division at
Mitsui Chemicals & SKC Polyurethanes.

 

BASF Completes New Production Line For Acrylic Dispersions in Malaysia

Pasir Gudang—
BASF has started up a new acrylic dispersions production
line in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia, doubling its capacity there
(PCN, 8 Oct 2018, p 2).
The state-of-the-art facility, originally scheduled to be
completed by early 2020, complements the existing set up.
It allows the production of new dispersions technologies
under Acronal Edge, Acronal Plus, Joncryl and Acronal Eco
product ranges. Capacity was not given.
“With proximity to three world-class ports, the expansion
will be a key supply point for our customers in Malaysia,
Singapore and other ASEAN countries, also in Australia
and New Zealand (ANZ),” said Peter van der Zwan, director
of ASEAN & ANZ Dispersions & Resins at BASF.
“The first commercial quantities will be produced for
our customers in March this year.”
The company began operating its first acrylic dispersions
production line at the site in 2015.

 

Uniper Enters Partnership to Develop Green Methanol as a Maritime Fuel

Berlin—Uniper
announced it is collaborating with shipping service provider
Liberty Pier Maritime Projects and engineering firm
SDC to establish green methanol on the market as a sustainable
and carbon-neutral marine fuel.
The parties have joined forces to form an open collaboration—
the Green Methanol Corp. (GMC). The GMC will
develop the infrastructure and logistics framework needed
to supply methanol in Europe and establish the relevant
shipping requirements.
A medium-term goal of GMC is to build ships that can
burn green methanol. The project will initially focus on
European coastal shipping using vessels with a load capacity
of 5,300 tons and 8,300 tons, and container feeders.
Green methanol is produced using hydrogen from renewable
sources and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,
and is easier to transport and store than green hydrogen.
It is seen as a “sensible” solution for decarbonization,
both for European coastal shipping and international deep
sea shipping. It can also be used for specialist applications,
such as cruise ships and inland navigation, Uniper
noted.
“All three partners are certain that green methanol will
play an important role in the maritime fuels sector in the
future.”

 

Ascend Names Snetor a Distributor For PA Range in Europe & Africa

Paris—Snetor has
become Ascend Performance Material’s official distributor
for the polyamide (PA) range in parts of Europe and Africa.
Snetor will be responsible for distribution of Ascend’s
Vydyne PA66 and Hidura PA610 and PA612; Poliblend’s
Polimid PA6 and PA66 compounds and Secomid PA6 and
PA66 compounds from recycling plastics; and EuroStar’s
Starflam and Staramide PA6 and PA66 compounds.
The distribution agreement covers France, Spain, Portugal,
Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the
UK, Ireland, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic,
Bulgaria, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Turkey,
North Africa and South Africa.

 

Kuraray Provides Update on Texas Sites Impacted by Last Month’s ‘Cold Wave’

Houston—
Kuraray Group said last month’s “cold wave” caused a partial
restriction in the supply of raw materials and a service
interruption in some utilities, affecting production at several
sites in Texas operated by its Kuraray America subsidiary.
In La Porte, vinyl acetate monomer production and
Poval resin production have been under scheduled operational
suspension since mid-February 2021.
In addition, EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) resin and
thermoplastic elastomer production at Pasadena, and
Poval resin production at Bayport have also been suspended.
Relevant facilities and infrastructure are currently undergoing
inspection to confirm there status in preparation
for the resumption of operations.

 

Technip Energies, IBM & Under Armour Form JV to Advance Plastics Recycling

Paris—
Technip Energies, IBM and Under Armour have entered
into a joint venture agreement to build and commercialize
a new recycling framework and circular economy for polyethylene
terephthalate.
The joint venture will combine Technip’s abilities in
technology development, engineering studies and licensing
experience; IBM Research technologies and expertise; and
Under Armour’s technical apparel, footwear and global
textile supply chain capabilities. Work is set to begin later
this year.
“We are very proud to collaborate with two global leaders:
IBM and Under Armour,” said Technip Energies Chief
Executive Arnaud Pieton. “This initiative reflects our
commitment to energy transition and aims to strengthen
Technip Energies’ position in the circular economy and
sustainable chemistry.
“We look forward to initiating this work and exploring
how technology can help to advance the expanded recycling
of plastics and fibers across different industries.”

 

PetroChemical News Briefs

Celanese began starting up units on 6 Mar. 2021 at
its Clear Lake, Texas, facility, which were suspended after
last month’s cold weather.
TPC restarted a plant at its Houston, Texas, site on
11 Mar. 2021, also shut down by the recent winter weather
in the area. The company did not disclose which unit was
restarted.
On 10 Mar. 2021, LyondellBasell said it was currently
in a “unit startup modes” at its site in La Porte,
Texas. More updates will become available.
Alterra Energy has been certified ISCC Plus as a pyrolysis
plant and collection point for mixed plastic waste.
The plant processes 60 t/d of plastic waste in Akron, Ohio.
Solvay has completed a new high-purity hydrogen
peroxide plant at its site in Bernburg, Germany, to serve
the semiconductor industry.
Exmar has been awarded an approval in principle for
its 40,000-cu m ammonia-fueled, mid-size gas carrier, a
“significant” milestone for the progression of alternative
fuels in shipping, the company noted.

 

BASF to Use 100% Renewable Electricity For Plants at Guangdong Verbund Site

Zhanjiang—
BASF said it will use 100% renewable electricity to power
the first plants of its approximately $10-billion smart
Guangdong Verbund project in Zhanjiang, China (PCN, 9
Dec 2019, p 4).
The plants will produce thermoplastic polyurethanes
and 60,000 t/y of engineering plastics to serve the needs of
various growth industries in the South China market, and
throughout Asia. Construction began in November 2019,
with the first unit scheduled to be operational by 2022.
The whole site is planned to be completed by 2030.
“By collaborating with local partners and the local
community, we will bring forward more initiatives on carbon
reduction and circular economy in the near future,
thereby contributing to China’s carbon reduction goal,”
said Haryono Lim, senior vice president, senior project new
Verbund site China at BASF, and general manager, BASF
Integrated Site (Guangdong) Co. Ltd.
BASF Integrated Site (Guangdong) is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of BASF to oversee the operations of the new
Verbund site, which will be the company’s “largest” investment,
BASF stated.

 

KIST Research Team Develops Technology To Boost Ethylene Production Efficiency

Seoul—A
research team at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology
(KIST) has developed a carbon dioxide (CO2)-based
ethylene technology to enhance the efficiency of ethylene
production, reported BusinessKorea.
The team, led by Dr. Oh Hyung-suk, Hwang Yoon-jung
and Lee Woong-hee, developed an echinoid-like copper
catalyst, which can produce a large quantity of ethylene in
an electrochemical CO2 conversion system.
An analysis of the chemical properties of the catalyst,
under various circumstances, found that the basic substance
in the catalyst results in increased copper hydroxide
and copper oxide components, as well as an increase in
CO2 conversion efficiency.
“This means that higher hydroxide and oxide ratios in
the reaction are a key to higher ethylene production efficiency
and this fact can suggest a direction of catalyst design
in future researches,” the team explained.
According to the team, the catalyst is capable of improving
ethylene production capacity by at least 50%. They
have already confirmed the possibility of its commercial
use.

 

OCI Inks Two Separate Deals Supporting Ammonia, Methanol as Shipping Fuels

Amsterdam—
OCI NV has signed an agreement with MAN Energy Solutions
(MAN) and Hartmann Gas Carriers, and a separate
agreement with MAN and Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS),
to begin the commercialization of ammonia and methanol
as the shipping fuels of the future by 2023/24.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with
MAN and Hartmann, OCI plans to charter ammonia vessels
built, owned and operated by Hartmann and its commercial
arm, GasChem Services, that are operated using
ammonia engines designed by MAN.
The partnership with MAN and Hartmann aims to
drive the commercialization of ammonia-fueled ships and
accelerate the energy transition and decarbonization of the
shipping industry.
Under the MoU with MAN and EPS, the parties will
target retrofitting existing vessels from EPS’ tanker fleet
to methanol and ammonia; new-build methanol and ammonia-
fueled tankers to drive the commercialization of
these fuels, and provide a path for the current conventional
fuel vessel fleet to decarbonize.
The technology to retrofit a vessel to accept methanol
as a fuel is already available and, in the next two years,
OCI intends to charter the “first” retrofitted methanolfueled
vessel operated by EPS using already in-service
MAN engines and technology, OCI noted.
According to OCI, converting all long-distance shipping
fuel to ammonia would require about 750-million t/y to
900-million t/y of ammonia by 2050, which is four to five
times the current total global ammonia production.
Switching all long-distance shipping fuel to methanol
would require around 650-million t/y to 720-million t/y by
2050, six to seven times the current total global methanol
production.

 

Solvay Names Nevicolor as Distributor For Sulfone-Based Polymers in Italy

Rome—Solvay
has appointed Nevicolor to distribute its sulfone-based
polymers in Italy, effective 1 May 2021.
The agreement covers Solvay’s Udel polysulfones, Adel
polyphenylene sulfones and Veradel polyether sulfones;
Amodel polyphthalamides, Ryton polyphenylene sulfides,
Ixef polyarylamides, and Omnix and Kalix highperformance
polyamides.
It also includes Solvay’s Ketaspire polyetheretherketones,
and AvaSpire polyaryletherketones; Hyflon perfluoropolymers/
MFA, Solef polyvinylidene fluorides, Halar
ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylenes and Tecnoflon fluoroelastomers,
as well as Xencor long-fiber thermoplastics compounds.

 

OQ Chemicals & Rohm Enter into MoU For New U.S. Gulf Coast MMA Plant

Berlin—OQ
Chemicals and Rohm have signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) to evaluate construction of a new
methyl methacrylate (MMA) production facility on the U.S.
Gulf Coast.
The proposed 250,000-t/y MMA unit would be based on
Rohm’s ethylene-based LiMA (‘Leading in Methacrylates’)
technology. Commissioning is expected in 2023.
Under the MoU, OQ will integrate the plant into its existing
site in Bay City, Texas, and provide raw materials,
utilities and site services to Rohm.
“We are very pleased to have found in OQ a very competent
and reliable partner,” said Rohm Chief Executive Dr.
Michael Pack. “This project will strengthen the reliability
of our supply chain towards our valued customers in the
Americas and globally.
“Basic engineering for this C2-based technology has
been under way for some time already and will allow us to
decide on the final investment in the first half of 2021.”

 

ExxonMobil Announces Job Reductions At Singapore Manufacturing Complex

Singapore—
ExxonMobil announced that it will cut around 300 positions
at the company’s integrated refining and petrochemical
manufacturing complex in Singapore.
“Unprecedented market conditions resulting from the
COVID-19 pandemic accelerated ongoing reorganization
and work-process changes that will improve the company’s
long-term cost competitiveness and ability to manage
through near-term challenges,” the company noted.
The complex, which includes a 592,000-b/d refinery and
1.9-million-t/y ethylene plant, continues to be a strategic
location for ExxonMobil. The company currently has over
4,000 employees there.
“This is a difficult but necessary step to improve our
company’s competitiveness and strengthen the foundation
of our business for future success,” said Geraldine Chin,
chairman and managing director of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific
Pte.

 

Yankuang Group Selects Eurotecnica For New Chinese Melamine Facility

Beijing—
Eurotecnica, the technology arm of Proman, has been
awarded a contract by Yankuang Group for the licensing,
engineering and procurement of a single-train melamine
plant in China.
The new 60,000-t/y unit, which will utilize Eurotecnica’s
proprietary Euromel technology, will increase
Yankuang’s total licensed nameplate capacity to 860,000
t/y. No other details were available.
“The project also confirms Euromel Melamine as the
leading melamine technology in Asia, the Middle East and
the Americas,” Proman noted.

 

Braskem Idesa Signs Deal With Pemex For Ethane Supply to Etileno XXI Unit

Mexico City—
Braskem Idesa has entered into a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with Mexico’s state-owned oil and gas firm,
Pemex, to discuss the supply of ethane to its Etileno XXI
complex in Mexico, and the development of an import terminal
for the raw material (PCN, 11 Jan 2021, p 1).
The MoU establishes terms and conditions to discuss
potential addenda to the supply agreement. Braskem
Idesa said it is “unable to predict the outcome of the discussions,”
but will keep the market informed of relevant
developments. The ethane supply agreement between
Braskem Idesa and Pemex remains in force and valid until
any possible amendment.
In addition, Braskem Idesa has signed a 15-year gas
transportation agreement with state-owned agency Cenagas.
The duration of the deal is conditional on signing the
final negotiation with Pemex.
As a result of the agreements, the complex has started
receiving natural gas transported by Cenagas, which had
unilaterally suspended deliveries in December 2020.
The Etileno complex includes an ethylene cracker with
the capacity to produce over 1-million t/y of low- and highdensity
polyethylene.

 

Methanex, NGC ‘Wholly Refute’ Statements In Report of the Parties Going to Court

Couva—
Methanex and the National Gas Co. (NGC) of Trinidad and
Tobago have released a joint announcement wholly refuting
the “erroneous” statements published in the Trinidad
Guardian, claiming that Methanex has taken NGC to
court.
“The claim that NGC has confirmed the status of any
matters that may or may not be before the court of arbitration
is deceptive and therefore misleading,” said the parties.
“NGC’s practice is to never make public statements
on its customers and takes seriously all confidentiality
clauses.”
In December 2019, Methanex and NGC entered into an
interim agreement, in which NGC would supply natural
gas to Methanex’s Titan methanol facility in Point Lisas,
Trinidad, from 1 Jan. 2020 to 31 Jan. 2020. The short
term deal enabled Methanex to continue operations at Titan,
while continuing negotiations with NGC for a longer
term supply agreement (PCN, 23-30 Dec 2019, p 4).
Methanex idled the facility on 16 Mar. 2020, in anticipation
that methanol demand could be impacted by the
COVID-19 pandemic.
This past January, Methanex said it has not been successful
reaching an agreement for a longer-term natural
gas agreement and given that the economic recovery path
remains uncertain, the plant would remain idled indefinitely
(PCN, 11 Jan 2021, p 1). It continues to operate its
Atlas methanol plant in Point Lisas.
NGC and Methanex said they remain committed to
working together to find solutions for the long term.

 

BP and SABIC Announce New Agreement To Drive Circular Economy in Germany

Berlin—BP
and SABIC have signed an agreement to work together to
drive a circular economy in the petrochemical activities at
the Gelsenkirchen, Germany, chemical complex.
Building on a long established relationship between the
parties at the site, the new collaboration will help to boost
production of certified circular products that use mixed
plastics as feedstock, thereby reducing the amount of fossil
resources needed in the petrochemical plants at the site.
Circular polymers, part of SABIC’s Trucircle portfolio,
are produced using advanced recycling that converts lowquality
mixed and used plastic, otherwise destined for incineration
or landfill, into pyrolysis oil.
The oil will be processed at BP’s local refining site and
then used by SABIC in its Gelsenkirchen polymer plants to
produce the certified circular products.
Following successful trials last December, polymer production
using the alternative feedstock began early this
year. The final material has identical properties to virginbased
polymers and allows plastics to be recycled over and
over, with no loss of properties or characteristics, the companies
noted.
“This is an important milestone in our vision of achieving
up to 30% of our ethylene and propylene production
from sustainable, recyclable raw materials by 2030,” said
Wolfgang Stuckle, vice president, refining and specialties
solutions, Europe & Africa at BP.

 

Dow Enters MoU With Zhanjiang EDZ For New South China Specialties Hub

Zhanjiang—
Dow has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with the Zhanjiang Economic and Technological Development
Zone Administrative Committee (Zhanjiang EDZ) to
build the Dow South China Specialties Hub at Donghai
Island, Zhanjiang, China.
The new manufacturing hub is a multi-year project providing
customers local access to the company’s portfolio of
high value products and innovative technologies, Dow
noted. It would extend the company’s local reach, further
enhancing supply reliability, responsiveness to market
needs and customized innovation.
Under the MoU, Dow would invest approximately $250-
million to build specialty polyurethanes and alkoxylates
facilities with a total capacity of around 250,000 tons. The
site also offers the opportunity for future development and
expansion at the hub.
“We are committed to turning our petrochemical park
at the Donghai Island into a world-class one, providing a
modern infrastructure and necessary supportive policies to
Dow and the park’s other companies,” said Zhangjiang
EDZ Party Secretary Liang Pei.

 

Corbion Launching Expansion Projects To Further Boost Lactic Acid Capacity

Amsterdam—
Corbion is launching a series of expansion projects at four
global sites to increase its production capacity for lactic
acid and its derivatives.
The projects, which are expected to produce a combined
additional output roughly equivalent to a new production
site, will take place at Corbion’s production sites in Gorinchem,
the Netherlands; Rayong, Thailand; Campos, Brazil;
and Montmelo, Spain. No schedule was given.

 

Daelim Finalizes Separation of Company Into Three New Stand-Alone Businesses

Seoul—
Daelim Industrial recently completed a split of the company
into three firms in order to concentrate on each separate
area (PCN, 14 Sept 2020, p 4).
The new organization includes DL E&C, a spin-off of
Daelim’s construction business, and DL Chemical, which is
a split-off of Daelim’s petrochemical business. The remaining
holding company, formerly Daelim Industrial, is now
named DL Co.
Separately, DL E&C is planning to pursue new business
opportunities in hydrogen energy and carbon capture
and sequestration/storage, according to BusinessKorea.
“An entry into the ESG (environmental, social and governance)
business is an essential survival strategy for
companies at the moment,” said the report quoting DL
E&C Chief Executive Ma Ching-min. “DL E&C will actively
move into areas where it has secured competitiveness.”

 

OMV Building ‘Glycerin2Propanol’ Unit At Its Schwechat Refinery in Austria

Vienna—OMV is
planning to invest around €30-million in the construction
of a new glycerin-to-propanol (‘Glycerin2Propanol’) pilot
facility at its Schwechat Refinery in Austria.
The plant, with a planned capacity of about 1.25-million
liters/yr, will use a patented process developed by OMV to
produce the propanol, which will then be utilized as a bioadditive
for gasoline. It can also be used in the chemical
industry as a replacement for fossil-based propanol.
OMV’s Glycerin2Propanol plant will be located next to
its ReOil plant so that both units can utilize a single measuring
station. Construction is expected to start in the
second quarter of this year, with operations scheduled to
begin in 2023.
Future plans involve commercializing the process in order
to produce around 125-million liters/yr of propanol and
reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 180,000 tons.

 

People on the Move

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.—Bruce Chinn has
been named chief executive. He is currently president of
Chevron Chemicals.
B.J. Hebert, currently executive vice president and chief
operating officer, will become president and chief operating
officer.
The chief executive and president roles are currently
held by Mark Lashier, who is retiring from Chevron Phillips
Chemical. Both appointments are effective 1 Apr.
2021.
Nova Chemicals—Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi has been
appointed chairman of the board of directors, succeeding
Musabeh Al Kaabi, who was named chief executive of UAE
investments at Mubadala Investment Co. Al Idrissi is also
chief executive of direct investments at Mubadala.
Phillips 66—Mark Lashier will join the company as
president and chief operating officer, effective 1 Apr. 2021.
He began his career at Phillips Petroleum Co. in 1989 as a
research engineer.
ExxonMobil Global Projects Co.—Jon Gibbs, currently
senior vice president, has been named president to
replace Neil Duffin, who is retiring, effective 1 Apr. 2021.

 

Air Liquide’s ALMTG JV to Purchase Industrial Gas Units in Kazakhstan

Atyrau—Air Liquide
Munay Tech Gases (ALMTG), a joint venture of Air
Liquide and KazMunayGas (KMG), has entered into an
agreement to invest up to €86-million to acquire and modernize
hydrogen and nitrogen production units from KMG’s
Atyrau refinery.
Within the framework of the agreement, Air Liquide
will bring its technical know-how, digital and energy optimization
expertise to modernize the assets and improve
the overall carbon dioxide footprint of the site.
The units will be connected to Air Liquide’s Smart &
Innovative Operations Center to optimize energy consumption,
flexibility and reliability.
ALMTG will operate the plants to supply industrial
gases to the Atyrau refinery. The units will produce up to
200-million normal cu m/yr of hydrogen and up to 50-
million normal cu m/yr of nitrogen.
ALMTG is owned 75% by Air Liquide and 25% by KMG,
the state owned oil and gas company of Kazakhstan.

 

Aker Clean Hydrogen, Mainstream Partner On Green Hydrogen, Low-Cost Ammonia

Santiago—
Aker Clean Hydrogen and Mainstream Renewable Power
recently signed a letter of intent (LoI) to jointly explore the
development of green hydrogen and low-cost ammonia production
in Chile.
The parties will collaborate on developing a complete
and commercially viable green value chain in Chile, using
Aker Clean Hydrogen’s hydrogen project development capabilities
and Mainstream’s portfolio of wind and solar
park projects in the country. Over 1-gigawatt has been
earmarked for this partnership.
“Chile has stated an ambition to produce the most costefficient
green hydrogen in the world by 2030,” Mainstream
noted. “The green ammonia will be utilized by several
industrial end-users locally in South America, and
also exported to other markets.”
Aker Clean Hydrogen was formed by Aker Horizon, the
renewable platform of Aker ASA, to develop, build, own
and operate clean hydrogen production plants.
This past January, Aker Horizons announced an
agreement to acquire a 75% stake in Mainstream. The
transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of
2021, subject to customary approvals and financial closing.

 

Cerberus and Koch Agree to Purchase PQ Performance Chems for $1.1-Bn

New York—
Cerberus Capital Management, together with its affiliates,
and Koch Minerals & Trading announced a partnership
that has agreed to acquire the PQ Performance Chemicals
business of PQ Group Holdings for about $1.1-billion.
PQ Performance Chemicals is a “leading” global producer
of sodium silicates, specialty silicas and zeolites, the
companies noted. Following completion of the transaction,
expected in 2021, the business will continue to operate under
the PQ brand.
“We are looking forward to joining forces with Cerberus
in this exciting partnership with the PQ Performance
Chemicals team,” said Vance Holtzman, senior vice president
at Koch Minerals & Trading. “We are eager to invest
and execute on management’s growth plans, leveraging the
complementary capabilities of the partnership.”

 

Topsoe Plans SOEC Manufacturing Plant To Meet Demand for Green Hydrogen

Lyngby—
Haldor Topsoe is building a new large-scale, highly efficient
solid oxide electrolyzer (SOEC) manufacturing facility
to meet customer demand for green hydrogen production.
The new plant, which will be the “largest of its kind”
will have an electrolyzer production capacity of 500 megawatt
per year, with the option to expand to 5 gigawatt per
year, Topsoe noted. Construction will begin next year and
operations will commence by 2023.
“With efficiencies above 90%, Topsoe’s proprietary
SOEC electrolyzers offer superior performance in electrolysis
of water into hydrogen, when compared to today’s standard
alkaline or PEM electrolyzers,” stated the company.
“This new manufacturing facility is a concrete step to
take a leading role in the ongoing energy transition towards
a low carbon future,” said Haldor Topsoe Chief Executive
Roeland Baan.
“We strongly believe that one of the most viable routes
to this goal lies in the efficient utilization of renewable
electricity to produce green hydrogen, fuels and chemicals.”

 

Aramco & HHIH Sign Non-Binding MoU For Blue Hydrogen, NH3 Opportunities

Dhahran—
Saudi Aramco and Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings
(HHIH) have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding
(MoU) to collaborate on research and development
opportunities to demonstrate the use of blue hydrogen
and ammonia.
Through the agreement, Hyundai Oilbank, the oil refinery
unit of HHIH, plans to cooperate with Aramco on
the realization of a “carbon zero” process, Hyundai noted,
while Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the
shipbuilding unit of HHIH, plans to develop the “world’s
first” combined ship capable of carrying both liquefied petroleum
gas (LPG) cargoes and captured carbon dioxide.
Under a MoU, Hyundai Oilbank will import liquefied
petroleum gas from Aramco, which it will then convert into
blue hydrogen. The hydrogen will be used at desulphurization
facilities at Hyundai Oilbank refineries, and be sold to
the market.
Also, Hyundai Oilbank plans to receive blue ammonia
from Aramco and use it as fuel for LPG boilers that are
scheduled to be established in 2024. Blue ammonia as a
power plant fuel would “significantly” reduce carbon dioxide
emissions, the companies said.

 

TPC Reaches Deal for C4 Processing

Houston—TPC
Group said it has “successfully” reached a C4 processing
agreement with a third-party crude C4 toll processor.
The agreement uses TPC Group’s logistic and storage
facilities, along with its commercial agreements for feedstock
and product sales, to supply a steady stream of crude
C4s to the processor.
Available butadiene extraction capacity will be used to
process the crude C4 and return the finished butadiene
and raffinate products to TPC for distribution.
“This agreement provides us access to significant capabilities
to consume our committed crude C4 volumes, as
well as meet the requirements of our long-term butadiene
product sales agreements,” noted Charlie Graham, senior
vice president, commercial.

 

Neste Completes Acquisition of Bunge’s Refinery Facility in the Netherlands

Rotterdam—
Neste has finalized the purchase of Bunge Loders Croklaan’s
refinery plant that is located next to Neste’s existing
biorefinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for an undisclosed
amount.
The plant consists of a pretreatment facility, tank farm,
jetties and pipeline connection to Neste’s site. The transition
of operations and employees will be implemented in
phases with the refinery plant’s full and modified pretreatment
capacity available for processing Neste’s feedstock
by the end of 2024.
“The completion of this acquisition is an important step
forward in delivering on Neste’s global growth strategy in
renewables,” said Neste President and Chief Executive
Peter Vanacker.
“It allows us to accelerate the scaling up of our renewable
raw material pretreatment capacity, which is an important
driver for expanding the use of waste and residue
feedstocks and increasing our feedstock flexibility.
“We are committed to increasing the share of waste and
residues to 100% of Neste’s total renewable raw material
inputs at the latest by 2025, and growing our production
platform to help customers reduce greenhouse gas emission
by 20-million tons annually by 2030.”

 

Ineos, Engie Cooperate in Pilot Project To Replace Nat Gas with Hydrogen

Antwerp—Ineos
Phenol and Engie have partnered in a pilot project for the
gradual replacement of natural gas by hydrogen at Ineos’
commercial-scale cogeneration plant in Doel, Belgium.
Initially, 10% of the gas feed will be replaced by hydrogen.
If successful, the feed will be increased to 20%. This
is the “first” time that such tests have been carried out on
an industrial scale in Belgium, Ineos noted.
“The commercial-scale project plays a pioneering role in
the energy transition of the chemical industry,” said Ineos.
“This practical exploration by Engie and Ineos will provide
both partners with valuable insights and data in the
use of hydrogen in industrial facilities, such as monitoring
efficiency and measuring emissions during combustion,
which is essential in the development of a next generation
of burners.”
Engie is responsible for the design, installation and operation
of the technology at the site. Ineos has the necessary
permits for the project and expertise in handling hydrogen.

 

SCG Announces Three ‘Strategic’ Plans For Long-Term Growth, Sustainability

Bangkok—
SCG announced three “strategic” plans toward a “Chemicals
Business for Sustainability,” in order to gain a higher
competitive edge in the global stage, and to build long-term
growth with sustainable development.
The company has set a target to achieve 200,000 tons of
green polymer sales volume by 2025, and to increase the
proportion of sales of high value-added products by 50%
within 2030, while integrating digital technology to enhance
operations throughout the supply chain.
The three business strategies include: Accelerate Circularity,
Accelerate Innovation and Accelerate Digital Technology.
Under the Accelerate Circularity plan, SCG will promote
resource use efficiency and mitigate global warming.
It will offer solutions catered to the needs of brand owners
and eco-conscious customers through design for recyclability,
post-consumer recycled resin, chemical recycling and
bioplastics.
This year, under the Accelerate Innovation plan, the
company has set aside around $53,000 for research and
development. In 2019, it established the i2P (Ideas to
Products) Center, which offers a product prototype development
unit for customers, and facilitates product development
at about three times the normal pace, SCG noted.
Finally, as part of the Accelerate Digital Technology
plan, digital technology is implemented to enhance business
capabilities with regards to speed and efficiency.
With these three strategies, “SCG is fully equipped to
deliver solid and sustainable growth,” while also meeting
sustainable development goals and ESG (environmental,
social, governance) targets, the company added.

 

PetroChemical News Briefs

Chevron Phillips Chemical notified the local community
that it will be preparing equipment for operation at its
Baytown, Texas, facility, after last month’s extreme
weather caused the plant to suspend operations (PCN, 22
Feb 2021, p 4).
Targa Resources reported a fire incident at its facility
in Galena Park, Texas, on 4 Mar. 2021. No other details
are currently available.
Enterprise Products Partners said its PDH 2 (propane
dehydrogenation ) plant being built in Mont Belvieu,
Texas, remains on schedule, and on budget, to come on line
in the second quarter of 2023 (PCN, 6 July 2020, p 2). The
unit will have the capacity to upgrade 35,000 b/d of propane
into 1.65-billion lbs/yr of polymer-grade propylene.