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Petrochemicals

Yara, Apache take control of Burrup ammonia plant in Australia

Apache has acquired 49% interest in Burrup Holdings, owner of an ammonia fertilizer plant in the Burrup Peninsula region of Western Australia. Meanwhile, Yara paid $143 million to increase its ownership in the 850,000 tpy plant to 51% from 35%.

Georgia Gulf rejects revised takeover bid from Westlake Chemical

Georgia Gulf on Wednesday rejected the revised takeover bid from US-based Westlake Chemical, which bumped its offer to $35/share from an earlier $30/share. The company said the offer was far from compelling and did not represent an appropriate price to discuss the sale.

Eastman to buy US specialty chemicals firm Solutia in $4.7 billion deal

Eastman Chemical has agreed to acquire US-based specialty chemicals and performance materials firm Solutia, a global leader in performance materials and specialty chemicals, in a deal valued at about $4.7 billion (including debt). The deal is expected to close in mid-2012.

Samsung, Total plan $1.8 billon expansion on South Korea petrochemical venture

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

Construction at the Daesan complex will include a second aromatics1 unit and an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer unit.

US business lobby likes Obama plan on China

A US business lobby group voiced support for President Barack Obama's proposal for export financing for US companies competing against Chinese rivals in third-country markets, seeking a more "level playing field" with Chinese companies.

NPRA finalizes name change, becomes American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers

The long-standing US refining and petrochemical trade group National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) on Wednesday officially changed its name to the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). The name change is the fourth in its history.

Albemarle expands US polyolefin catalysts capacity

Albemarle says it successfully completed the latest expansion of its process development center (PDC) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by installing a new production train for finished polyolefin catalysts and a number of supporting auxiliaries. The company did not disclose specific capacity figures on the expansion.

Toyo lands engineering, construction deal on China caprolactam venture

Toyo Engineering Corp. has been awarded a contract for a caprolactam plant for DSM Nanjing Chemical (DNCC), a joint venture company between Royal DSM and Sinopec. After the completion of the new project, DNCC will become the largest caprolactam producer in the world with 400,000 tpy of capacity.

Global oil, gas leaders see higher 2012 spending as industry confidence rises - poll

Oil and gas industry leaders have forecast improved performance and higher levels of capital expenditure in 2012 despite concerns over global economic instability, according to a new report on the future of the sector. North America is emerging as the area with the greatest opportunities in 2012, the poll shows.

Keyera acquires Canadian iso-octane plant from Neste Oil, ChevronTexaco

Competition authorities in the US and Canada have approved the sale of Neste Oil's 50% holding in an iso-octane production plant in Edmonton, Canada, to Canadian-based Keyera. The announcement was first made on December 8, 2011.