Petrochemicals
HP Construction: Asia Pacific
Fluor Corp. has a contract award from PETRONAS Gas Berhad, a subsidiary of PETRONAS, to provide front-end engineering design (FEED) services for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification termin..
ExxonMobil mulls major petrochemicals expansion at Baytown complex
The project would involve building a new ethane cracker and other facilities to ExxonMobil's huge refining and petrochemical complex in Baytown, Texas, and would enable the company to "capitalize on abundant supplies of American natural gas." Start-up would be scheduled for 2016.
Eni rebrands Italy chemicals unit as Versalis, plans €1.6bn of investments
Eni has rebranded its Italy-based chemicals division as Versalis while setting forth a €1.6bn investment plan through 2015. The prior name was Polimeri Europa. The new figure is 60% more than the older plan.
HB Fuller to close five adhesives plants in Europe
HB Fuller will close five manufacturing facilities in Europe and cut about 100 jobs in sales, finance, customer service and research and development (R&D). The facilities scheduled for closure are: Chatteris, UK; Pirmasens, Germany; Vigo, Spain; Borgolavezzaro, Italy; and Wels, Austria.
Formosa shuts top Taiwan naphtha cracker amid weak downstream margins
Taiwan's Formosa Petrochemical, Asia's top naphtha buyer, has shut the biggest of its three naphtha crackers in Mailiao due to low petrochemical margins, a company spokesman said on Thursday.
WR Grace buys Noblestar catalysts unit in China
W. R. Grace & Co. has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of Noblestar Catalysts, a China-based manufacturer of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts. The deal has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies, but is subject to the satisfaction of other closing conditions.
Momentive hikes global urethane additives capacity
Momentive Performance Materials said it recently completed a series of capacity expansions on urethane additives in China, India, Brazil and Belgium. In China, the company said it completed an expansion that enables increased urethane additive finished goods capacity at its Nantong plant facility.
T. Boone Pickens finds flaws in US energy plans of Obama, Romney
The energy titan didn't endorse either presidential candidate, saying Obama's "all of the above" energy plan needed to be more specific and Romney's plan is "not total".
US plastic resin production, sales down from 2011
US production of major plastic resins totaled 6.1 billion pounds during April 2012, a decrease of 3.2% compared to the same month in 2011, according to new statistics released by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) trade group. Sales and captive use were down 8.8% from April 2011.
Jacobs to study Saudi Ma'aden phosphate project
Jacobs was awarded a contract by Saudi Arabian Mining Company to provide a bankable feasibility study and front-end engineering design (FEED) for its Umm Wu'al phosphate project in the Sirhan-Turaif region of Saudi Arabia. The project will add 1.5 million tpy to Ma'aden's planned phosphate capacity.
- U.S. labor board judge rules Exxon's Texas refinery union lockout was legal 11/28
- U.S. crude stocks fall, gasoline and distillate inventories rise 11/28
- Maersk could use 15%–20% alternative fuels for its fleet in 2030 11/28
- Germany's BSW pushes to restore Russian oil to Schwedt refinery, seeks regional legitimacy 11/28
- Asia likely to benefit from cheaper Canadian, Mexican oil if Trump imposes tariffs 11/28
- Singapore distillates stocks tick up for fifth week 11/28
