Europe
Chemicals group Clariant opens German R&D hub
The new center will house the departments for intellectual property management and new business development. As the corporation’s global hub, the CIC will ensure the coordination of Clariant’s world-wide R&D network, which includes centers across Europe, North America, Brazil, Japan, India and China.
Osaka Gas Chemicals to acquire Jacobi Carbons
Jacobi is the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of coconut shell activated carbon. The transaction, which has an enterprise value of $400 million, is expected to close in January 2014.
Shell selects Wood Group for engineering services on Scotland gas, NGL plants
Wood Group employs around 500 people under this contract and provides project management, engineering, construction, commissioning, maintenance support and supply chain management services. Wood Group will also be providing fabric maintenance services, as part of the new contract.
INEOS inks deal to save Grangemouth refinery
INEOS will imminently restart its Grangemouth refining and petrochemical complex in Scotland after local trade union Unite agreed to the company's survival plan.
Methanex to sell 10% stake in Egypt methanol JV
The methanol facility started commercial operations in 2011. The plant is located in Damietta, Egypt, on the Mediterranean Sea and is among the most energy efficient methanol plants in the world. The plant, which can produce 1.3 million tpy of methanol, supplies both local and global methanol markets.
Global HPI spending likely to jump 15% in 2014
Newfound optimism stems from rising availability of gas supplies in several nations, rich shale reserves in North America, and a new expansion wave for petrochemicals.
Gazprom licenses UOP, ExxonMobil technology to upgrade Moscow refinery
The new technology will enable Gazprom Neft to improve its production of refined distillates at its Moscow oil refinery. The refiner will combine UOP Distillate Unionfining hydroprocessing solutions with EMRE's distillate de-waxing technology to produce low-sulfur diesel.
INEOS talks with UK union as Grangemouth refinery strike looms
The union intends to hold a 48-hour strike at the site from Oct. 20 until Oct. 22. INEOS has begun the process of taking down petrochemical plants at the refinery in anticipation.
Oiltanking agrees to store LyondellBasell’s acetyls at Antwerp terminal
The companies signed a 10-year agreement for the storage and handling of Glacial Acetic Acid (GAA) and Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) in Antwerp. As part of the agreement, Oiltanking Stolthaven will invest in new stainless steel storage capacity and rail loading infrastructure at Antwerp.
Essar Energy to sell Kenya refinery to government
Essar acquired a 50% stake in the company in July 2009 for $7 million from BP, Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell, according to the statement. At the time, Essar agreed to help modernize and expand the facility, the government said. The work had been initially slated for completion in 2015-16.
- Eberhard Bau signs long-term solar diesel offtake agreement with Synhelion 2/3
- Abundia Global Impact Group appoints Burns & McDonnell as front-end engineer for waste plastics-to-fuels facility 2/3
- Rutgers University researchers develop catalyst that can convert nitrate pollution in water directly into ammonia 2/3
- Italy's Eni teams up with Q8 to build biorefinery in Sicily 2/3
- French ethanol use jumps 15% in 2025, driven by gasoline demand 2/3
- Indian refiners await government advice on Russian oil import halt 2/3
