Petrochemicals
SK Energy to invest $1.4bn on paraxylene plant at Incheon refining complex
SK Energy will build a paraxylene plant with a capacity of 1.3 million tons a year and will build a condensate splitter and a reformer, SK Innovation said in a statement. Commercial production is slated to begin in the second half of 2014, and SK Energy will target sales to the growing Chinese market.
CPChem picks Sweeny site for new US PE plants, awards engineering to Jacobs
The two new polyethylene facilities on the Texas Gulf coast will each have a capacity of 500,000 tpy and use Chevron Phillips Chemical’s proprietary loop slurry technology. A front-end engineering and design (FEED) agreement was reached with Jacobs to design the polyethylene facilities.
Foster Wheeler lands project management deal for Abu Dhabi aromatics facility
Foster Wheeler has been awarded a contract by Abu Dhabi National Chemicals Co. (ChemaWEyaat) for project management consultancy (PMC) services on an aromatics complex and supporting infrastructure. The PMC services are for the front-end design (FEED) phase of the ChemaWEyatt project.
BASF chief executive expects no drop in oil prices
German chemical company BASF doesn't expect oil prices to fall in the foreseeable future, CEO Kurt Bock said Friday at the firm's annual general meeting. Whether the company can pass on higher costs to customers will depend on how the economy develops, he said.
UOP licenses propane dehydrogenation technology for major China project
The new unit from Zhangjiagang Yangzi River Petrochemical Co., expected to start up in 2014, will produce 600,000 tpy of propylene at the site in China's Jiangsu province.
Axens wins top France safety award for Salindres catalyst, adsorbent site
Axens is receiving a top annual safety award in the category of responsible care from the Union of the French Chemical Industries (UIC) for its Salindres plant in the Gard region. Axens will be presented with the award in Paris on Thursday, April 26, at the UIC general meeting.
UOP lands technology deal on integrated propylene, isobutylene plant in China
The UOP C3 and C4 Oleflex processes have been selected to produce propylene and isobutylene at a new China project from Shandong Chambroad Petrochemicals. UOP will provide engineering design, technology licensing, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, staff training and technical service.
Methanex inks offtake deal with OCI for restarted Texas methanol plant
Canada-based Methanex has entered into a long-term offtake agreement with Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) for a significant portion of the production from the OCI methanol plant in Beaumont, Texas. OCI has said the Beaumont plant will produce 750,000 tpy of methanol.
Conoco refining spinoff Phillips 66 to join S&P 500
Phillips 66, the refining company splitting from ConocoPhillips, will replace Supervalu in Standard & Poor's 500-stock index at the end of the month. The index includes 500 leading large-cap US companies. Once complete, Phillips 66 plans to expand its chemical and midstream operations.
Mitsubishi, Notore form joint venture for ammonia, urea complex in Nigeria
Notore Chemical Industries has signed a joint venture agreement with Japan-based Mitsubishi to develop an ammonia, urea and other petrochemicals plant at its existing facility at Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria. The new plant, built on a brownfield site, is expected to come on-stream in 2016.
- 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