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Petrochemicals

S.Korea's Lotte Chemical to invest $215 MM to add ethylene capacity

SEOUL (Reuters) -- South Korea's Lotte Chemical Corp said on Monday it will invest $215.82 million to increase the ethylene production capacity at its southwestern Yeosu plant by 2018.

Kuwait's KNPC mandates banks for ECA-backed club loan

DUBAI (Reuters) -- Kuwait National Petroleum Co (KNPC) has selected 10 international banks to provide a loan facility of more than $4 billion to back its Clean Fuels project, banking sources said.

Technip, Chemetry sign cooperation agreement for EDC technology

Technip and Chemetry have signed an exclusive cooperation agreement for the licensing and engineering of Chemetry’s eShuttle technology for the production of ethylene dichloride (EDC). EDC is a commodity chemical produced worldwide and used primarily for PVC plastic production.

ACC: US chemical industry continues to outpace industrial output

WASHINGTON – The business of American chemistry is strong, and getting stronger, according to the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) “Year End 2016 Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook,” released today. Despite a contraction this year, US chemical production (excluding pharmaceuticals) is expected to realize overall growth of 1.6% in 2016, followed by 3.6% growth next year, and 4.8% in 2018.

Saudi's Sipchem affiliate signs $144.6 MM methanol plant efficiency contract

DUBAI (Reuters) -- An affiliate of Saudi International Petrochemical Co (Sipchem) signed a contract with South Korea's eTEC E&C for work costing $144.6 million to raise the efficiency of operations at its methanol plant in Jubail.

Indonesia: Cut gas prices for petrochemical, fertilizer industries in 2017

JAKARTA (Reuters) -- Indonesia on Tuesday told energy companies to cut natural gas prices for fertilizer, steel and petrochemical industries starting Jan. 1, 2017, in a renewed effort to bring down domestic gas prices.

Alberta petrochemical projects get $378 MM royalty credits

CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) -- The Canadian oil-producing province of Alberta will offer $377.84 million in royalty credits to Pembina Pipeline Corp and Inter Pipeline Ltd for their petrochemical projects, the government said on Monday as it seeks to diversify its ailing economy.

Brazil's Braskem close to leniency deal in US, Brazil

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -- Brazil's petrochemical company Braskem SA said in a securities filing on Friday it was "in advanced talks" with authorities in Brazil and the United States related to a corruption investigation known as "Operation Carwash."

Industry Perspectives: New downstream project announcements drop 35% in 2016

According to <i>Hydrocarbon Processing’s</i> Construction Boxscore Database, nearly 470 new projects have been announced in the downstream hydrocarbon processing industry over the past two years. New project announcements have fallen from 285 in 2015 to 185 in 2016. This trend analysis represents a year-over-year decrease of approximately 35%.

Viewpoint: A new value proposition for a licensor and EPC contractor

Maire Tecnimont: Folgiero, P.

The drop in oil prices has changed the overall dynamics of the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI), as well as reduced prices for petrochemical products. Approximately $150 B of oil and gas projects have been canceled or put on hold.