The downstream rundown: In case you missed it 4/15
In case you missed any downstream news, this piece will give you a summary of some of the top stories from last week.
Sibur to revise strategy on Amur Gas Chemical Complex
Sibur, Russia's largest petrochemical producer, plans to revise its strategy for developing the Amur Gas Chemical Complex (AGCC) with Sinopec. The company reported that a decision on the matter would be made soon. Sources told Reuters in March that the state-run Sinopec Group had suspended talks on a major petrochemical investment and a gas marketing venture in Russia.
AGCC is set to be one of the world's largest polymer production facilities. Upon completion, the project will have a capacity of 2.3 MMtpy of polyethylene and 400 ktpy of polypropylene.
Brightmark, Georgia county cancel plastic-to-fuel project
Brightmark Energy and a county in the U.S. state of Georgia scrapped plans to build "the world's largest" facility to turn plastic waste into fuel, according to a termination agreement, a blow to a technology the petrochemical industry has promoted heavily.
Brightmark had said the Renewal Georgia project would use its pyrolisis technology to convert hard-to-recycle plastics, like films and styrofoam, into 64 MMg of low sulfur diesel fuel and naphtha blend stocks, and 20 MMg of wax. It aimed to divert 400,000 tpy of plastic waste from landfills and incinerators.
NOVA Chemicals joins Cyclyx as newest consortium member
Cyclyx International has announced that NOVA Chemicals has joined as the newest member of the consortium.
NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals and plastic resins that make everyday life healthier and safer. With a focus on sustainability, NOVA Chemicals works toward polyethylene solutions that enable a more circular economy for plastics.
Veolia to produce CO2-neutral biofuel from pulp production
Veolia launches the world's largest biorefinery project producing CO2-neutral bio-methanol from a pulp mill in Finland. The project allows to unlock the potential of this alternative source of feedstock for biofuel that is almost completely unexplored to date.
Developed in close cooperation with Metsä Fibre, the refinery will be based on Veolia’s innovative industrial scale concept of commercial bioproduct-derived biomethanol production, which safely integrates the refining of crude sulfate methanol into the pulp production process.
Maire Tecnimont wins $185-MM urea diesel exhaust fluid plant project
Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announces that its main subsidiaries Tecnimont S.p.A. and Tecnimont USA has been awarded a new urea diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) project in the U.S., by the same leading global chemicals producer that recently awarded to Tecnimont a blue ammonia project.
The contract value is approximately $185 MM. The urea DEF plant, which will be based on Stamicarbon’s proprietary technology (part of Maire Tecnimont Group), entails a 1,500 tpd urea production unit plus the necessary utilities and facilities, including a CO2 purification plant. Project completion is expected as early as 2025. Once completed, the plant will receive the ammonia from the above-mentioned blue ammonia plant.
Clariant increases prices across its Catalysts business portfolio
Effective immediately, or as contracts permit, Clariant will implement price increases across its Catalysts portfolio. The price adjustments are driven by the significant escalation of energy and key raw materials costs, as well as the continued increase of freight and logistics costs.
Guinea asks bauxite miners to present local refinery plans by May
The interim government of Guinea, the world's second-largest bauxite producer, asked international mining companies to present plans to refine their bauxite production into alumina within the country by May 2022.
Africa's biggest producer of the aluminum ore has been seeking to channel its mineral wealth into economic development, pressuring companies in recent years to commit to building local facilities that will refine bauxite into higher value alumina.
Citrine Informatics, LyondellBasell collaborate to accelerate product development
LyondellBasell has entered into a multi-year agreement with Citrine Informatics to utilize the Citrine Platform for Materials Informatics and artificial intelligence-guided product development.
In 2021, LyondellBasell successfully launched and implemented the Citrine Platform resulting in the expansion of their collaboration with Citrine. The Citrine Platform enables users to become more agile in their approach to product development and gain additional insights into the end-to-end value chain, from raw materials to manufactured products.
Phillips 66 announces CEO transition plans
Phillips 66 has named its current President and Chief Operating Officer, Mark Lashier, as President and Chief Executive Officer effective July 1. Lashier will succeed Greg Garland, who will remain as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors until he retires in 2024.
Technip Energies, Clariant ink agreement to implement ethanol technology
Technip Energies and Clariant announced that they have signed a cooperation agreement for the implementation of Clariant’s sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology.
By choosing Technip Energies, sunliquid customers can benefit from combining Clariant’s proven technology with Technip Energies’ deep experience as an engineering, procurement and construction contractor to build advanced biofuel plants.
The sunliquid process converts agricultural residues, woody materials or municipal solid wastes into advanced biofuel. The bio-sourced feedstock is converted into cellulosic sugars, which is then fermented into cellulosic ethanol.
Linde to continue expanding capacity in U.S. Gulf Coast
Linde announced it is expanding its La Porte, Texas, facility, effectively doubling the facility’s merchant liquid production capacity.
Starting up in 2024, the increased capacity will help Linde to meet growing demand from the petrochemicals, clean energy, manufacturing, food and aerospace sectors in the U.S. Gulf Coast. It will also supply Linde’s existing Gulf Coast pipeline system, which includes nitrogen and oxygen pipelines extending from the Houston ship channel south to Freeport, Texas.
Biden renews push for sustainable aviation fuel tax credit
U.S. President Joe Biden made a renewed push for new tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a key part of reducing carbon emissions from air travel.
Biden last year called for tax incentives for low carbon jet fuel, made from waste and vegetable oils as part of a broader climate and social spending package that is stalled in Congress. The White House is targeting 20% lower aviation emissions by 2030 and those incentives are crucial to making the fuel competitive.
GE Power Conversion, Ruhrpumpen to help Mexico achieve energy self-sufficiency
GE Power Conversion will supply 19 electrical motors to power water-cooling tower pumps manufactured by Ruhrpumpen. The motors will support the build of a large refinery located in Dos Bocas, Mexico.
The refinery is slated to become the biggest refinery in Mexico, anticipated to produce approximately 340,000 bpd. Construction of the refinery started in June 2019, and the facility is set to commence commercial operation in late 2022. It will play a key role in Mexico’s National Refining Plan in efforts to become more energy self-sufficient.
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