The downstream rundown: In case you missed it 2/25
In case you missed any downstream news, this piece will give you a summary of some of the top stories from last week.
thyssenkrupp to build three major polymer plants for SASA
thyssenkrupp Uhde’s subsidiary Uhde Inventa-Fischer signed a contract to build three new polymer plants for SASA Polyester Sanayi A.Ş in Adana, Turkey. One plant is planned to produce 1,050 metric tpd (380,000 tpy) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for low viscosity application combined with a co-PET plant with a capacity of 100 metric tpd (36,000 tpy). The third plant will use Uhde Inventa-Fischer’s proprietary patented MTR (Melt-to-Resin) technology to produce 330,000 tpy of resin to produce PET bottles.
The design of the polycondensation plant will be based on the same proprietary technology, which in this case enables the production of superior high-quality polyester polymer. A characteristic feature of the plant is that the polymer melt will be conveyed directly from the polycondensation plant to several downstream lines.
Vietnam to auction gasoline from reserves, power outage hit refinery
Vietnam will auction 100 MM liters (26.4 MMg) of gasoline from its national reserves, state media reported on Tuesday, as a supply shortage enters its second month. The Southeast Asian country has had to tap into its fuel reserves since its largest refinery cut production last month due to a disagreement between shareholders over financing for crude oil procurement.
A source familiar with Nghi Son refinery's operations, who declined to be identified, said it would not resume full production at least until the end of April, later than the mid-March target announced by the trade and industry ministry earlier this month. The 200,000-bpd refinery is currently operating at 55%—60% of capacity. It typically meets a third of Vietnam's needs.
Toyo starts electrification study on ethylene cracker
Toyo Engineering Corporation has been selected as the commissioned contractor of a project of surveys on an electrification technology of ethylene cracking furnaces aiming to achieve net-zero emissions of CO2 in Thailand. The basic study stage is part of the scheme of the International Demonstration Project on Japan’s Energy Efficiency Technologies in the second public solicitation of 2021 by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization.
Coalition to support Egypt’s climate change agenda
Energy transition leaders join forces to support decarbonization of select operating downstream facilities in Egypt. Bechtel, Enppi, Petrojet, GE, Baker Hughes, HSBC and the National Bank of Egypt signed a MoU under the auspices of Tarek El Molla, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in Cairo.
The coalition will provide execution, technology and financing expertise for a new initiative to support decarbonization of select downstream facilities in Egypt, aligning plans with the country’s leadership of the COP27, UN Climate Change Conference 2022.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary touts importance of low-carbon biofuels
The U.S. secretary of agriculture on Wednesday touted the importance lower-carbon biofuels will have in meeting the Biden administration's targets for reducing carbon emissions.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke of the administration's support for biofuels -- including lower-carbon aviation fuel, which can be made from plant oils and animal fat.
His speech, at the National Ethanol Conference in New Orleans, took place as the industry eagerly awaits final rulemakings from the Biden administration around the nation's biofuel blending law, the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. selects AspenTech for refinery digitalization
Aspen Technology announced that Indian energy company Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. has chosen to partner with AspenTech in the company’s digitalization journey. Key initiatives include maximizing refinery capacity and achieving operational excellence across areas such as product delivery and production of low-volume, high-value products.
Carbios, Indorama Ventures to build plant for bio-recycled PET
Carbios and Indorama Ventures jointly announce a collaboration to build a manufacturing plant operating Carbios’ polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bio-recycling technology at Indorama Ventures’ PET production site in Longlaville, France.
The goal is to build and operate in France the world’s first industrial-scale enzymatic PET bio-recycling plant by 2025. The processing capacity is estimated at 50,000 tpy of post-consumer PET waste, equivalent to 2-B PET bottles or 2.5-B PET trays.
Braskem releases two new polypropylene grades
Braskem announced the expansion of its circular polymer portfolio to include two new polypropylene grades with post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. Braskem's new PCR polypropylene grades can be used in a wide range of U.S. Food and Drug Administration food contact applications where polypropylene is used today, including consumer packaging, caps and closures, housewares and a wide range of thermoforming applications.
ExxonMobil makes first commercial sale of certified circular polymers
ExxonMobil has completed its first commercial sale of certified circular polymers, using its Exxtend technology for advanced recycling of plastic waste. The purchaser is Berry Global, which will use the circular polymers to manufacture containers for high-performance food-grade packaging on a mass balance approach.
The initial sale of certified circular polymers is based on plastic waste processed at ExxonMobil’s advanced recycling facility at its site in Baytown, Texas. The facility began operations in 2021 and has already processed more than 4-MM pounds of plastic waste.
ABB to provide clean power to marine vessels
ABB’s new SureWave Static Frequency Converter (SureWave SFC) enables the automated transfer of power from a ship’s onboard generator to an onshore power source, removing the need to use diesel burning generators when in port. This will enable ship owners to avoid fines and taxes imposed for not using shore power once berthed.
ABB has engineered SureWave SFC to be 50% smaller than previous models and for added flexibility, it can be installed on the marine vessel or port side. In addition, ABB’s SureWave can be paralleled or connected to renewable energy sources like PV or wind farms. As frequency and voltage can vary between ports around the world, the technology allows connection between a 60 Hz powered equipment and 50 Hz supply network or 50 Hz powered equipment and 60 Hz supply network.
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