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Petrochemicals

Eni forms partnership with Genomatica, Novamont on bio-based butadiene

The partnership, on the basis of which a joint venture will be established, will develop a comprehensive end-to-end process for production of polymer-grade butadiene from biomass, Versalis said. The agreement aims to bring together the core competencies of all three companies.

Evonik, BioAmber agree to develop catalysts from bio-succinic acid

Germany-based Evonik Industries signed an agreement with US renewable company BioAmber to develop and manufacture catalysts for the production of BDO, THF and GBL from bio-based succinic acid. In parallel, BioAmber and Evonik have started to develop a new generation of BDO catalysts.

Technip wins engineering deal on Saudi elastomers project of SABIC, ExxonMobil

The project is part of the elastomers program undertaken by the joint venture to set up a world-scale specialty elastomers facility to serve local markets, the Middle East and Asia. The new facility will produce 110,000 tpy of rubber using ExxonMobil-licensed technology.

Williams to explore building Canada's first propane dehydrogenation plant

A new PDH facility, which would be the first in Canada, would allow Williams to significantly increase its production of polymer-grade propylene (PGP) from Canadian operations. Williams is the only company in Canada producing PGP, a petrochemical feedstock used in plastics manufacturing.

Eni, Petronas to develop Malaysia elastomer plants

The proposed joint venture will produce and market synthetic rubbers using Versalis’ technology license and technical know-how. The agreement signed with Versalis is the fourth-such arrangement secured by Petronas for RAPID, and engineering activities will commence immediately.

PPG, Georgia Gulf merge commodity chemical units

Following completion of the deal, which is expected to occur in late 2012 or early 2013, the combined company is expected to have annual revenues of approximately $5 billion and be the third-largest chlor-alkali producer and second-largest vinyl chloride monomer producer in North America.

Vinachem to sell stake in $4.5 billion petrochemical project in Vietnam

Vietnamese media said earlier that the plant in Ba Ria Vung Tau province is scheduled to start commercial production in 2017. It will produce 1.4 million tpy of products, most of which will be sold in Vietnam.

Aker Solutions to supply MEG reclamation plant for Australia LNG project

The scope of work includes system engineering and supply of key equipment for the MEG plant and may include some further options. MEG is used to prevent hydrate formation in subsea pipelines.

PPG, Asian Paints to expand India coatings venture

PPG and APL will expand their current 50-50 joint venture, Mumbai-based Asian PPG Industries, to serve India’s industrial liquid, marine, consumer packaging and transportation coatings customers.

Solvay commissions new methane recovery facility at US trona mine

The methane recovery system (MaRS) captures methane liberated during the mining process that would otherwise be vented directly into the atmosphere and instead directs it to either be incinerated, or piped to the trona processing facility to recover the thermal energy via combustion.