Asia/Pacific
Metso opens new Thai automation service center
Metso has a large installed base for process automation products and valves, especially in the Thai pulp and paper industry. Customers include the Siam Cement Group, which has a pulp mill and several paper mills in the area. The new service center is located in Banpong, Ratchaburi.
Essar Energy sees continued strong performance at India, UK refineries
In a mangement statement, Essar said gross refining margins at its Vadinar refinery in India rose to $9.75/bbl for the final 2012 quarter, compared with $2.82/bbl for the same time a year earlier, thanks to refinery upgrades that allow it to process larger amounts of oil as well as cheaper grades.
KBR to design new Indonesia ammonia, urea plant
The plant will be designed using KBR’s Purifier technology, which has demonstrated higher reliability than conventional designs and offers the lowest proven energy consumption in the industry. Construction of the grassroots facility is part of a consortium between Rekayasa and Toyo Engineering.
Solazyme, Mitsui to jointly develop triglyceride oils
The $20 million, multi-year agreement includes further development of Solazyme’s breakthrough high myristic algal oil, a valuable raw material in the oleochemical industry, as well as additional oils that Solazyme is developing for the oleochemical and industrial sectors, according to the companies.
PTT venture to build condensate splitter in Timor
PTT International will own around 70% of the venture and petroleum firm Timor Gap will own the rest. The companies also agreed to jointly engage in condensate trading activities, he said, adding that the two deals require a combined investment of 5 billion baht ($168 million).
China to raise fuel standards for diesel, gasoline
China's State Council, or cabinet, said Wednesday it would ratchet up national fuel standards to levels similar to those currently found in the US and Europe by the end of 2017. Beijing will also give room to China's refining industry to pass on the cost to consumers, according to the statement.
Honeywell to supply automation for Borouge UAE polyolefins expansion
Honeywell will be the main automation contractor (MAC) for this project, providing Linde and other engineering, procurement and construction contractors involved in the project with integrated control and safety systems. Honeywell’s technologies were previously implemented at the Borouge UAE site.
Shell to raise polyol capacity at Singapore complex
The upgrade will increase the Singapore plant's capacity to produce polyols -- industrial chemicals used to make high-quality foams -- by more than 100,000 metric tpy to 360,000 tpy. The company didn't provide any financial details but said it expects to complete the upgrade in 2014.
Refinery optimization: Closing the gap between planned and actual performance
Plant managers should remember that small, incremental changes can make huge differences to the competitiveness of a refinery in today's international marketplace.
New residue-upgrading complex achieves Euro 5 specifications
In late 2010, Grupa LOTOS SA completed construction of a major residue-upgrading project at its refinery in Gdańsk, Poland. Its 10+ Program was designed to unlock a step change in the facility’s long-term profitability. After two years of operating, this project has had a profound effect on the refinery’s economics.
- Malaysia plans to produce sustainable jet fuel in 2027 11/27
- ADNOC launches $80-B low-carbon energy and chemicals investment company 11/27
- Chevron sees California's fuel inventory law raising prices for customers 11/27
- Clariant’s MegaMax™ catalysts to power China’s first biomass-to-green methanol project 11/27
- easyJet, Renavia and WFS sign MoU for long-term supply of SAF 11/27
- Cyclyx to invest in second Cyclyx Circularity Center 11/27
