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Petrochemicals

BP awards maintenance, construction deal to KBR for two US chemical plants

KBR has been awarded a three-year contract by BP Amoco Chemical Co. to execute maintenance and small capital construction projects at BP’s plants in Decatur, Ala., and Cooper River, S.C.

NOVA Chemicals to build new polyethylene lines in Canada, expand ethylene output

As a part of a strategy to capitalize on emerging feedstock opportunities and growing North American demand, NOVA Chemicals said it has begun feasibility and engineering work for the construction of two new polyethylene assets to be located at its sites in Alberta and Ontario.

Specialty chem firm Momentive plans regional hub, R&D center for India

Momentive Performance Materials and Momentive Specialty Chemicals will open a new regional business headquarters and state of the art Global Research and Development Centre in Bangalore, India, the company said on Wednesday.

Open season begins for proposed Marcellus ethane pipeline

El Paso Corp. and Spectra Energy Corp. say that the Marcellus ethane pipeline system (MEPS) is holding a 30-day open season. The open season is an effort to secure binding commitments from potential shippers that desire ethane transportation service.

Westlake shuts PVC pipe plant amid excess supply

Westlake Chemical said on Thursday that its subsidiary North American Pipe has shut down its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe production facility in Springfield, Ky., in an effort to reduce costs and optimize production operations amid excess capacity in the PVC pipe market.

Honeywell’s UOP to build propane dehydrogenation unit at Takreer UAE refinery

Honeywell’s UOP said it was selected by the Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Co. (Takreer) to provide key technology for a new petrochemical production unit in the United Arab Emirates.

Eastman to acquire US plasticizer, acetic acid firm Sterling Chemicals for $100mn

Eastman Chemical has agreed to acquire Sterling Chemicals, a single site North American petrochemical producer, for $100 million in cash, subject to modest deductions at closing as provided in the merger agreement.

Celanese doubles capacity of vinyl acetate ethylene unit in China

Celanese has successfully doubled capacity of its vinyl acetate and ethylene (VAE) unit at its integrated chemical complex in Nanjing, China.

Dow Chemical picks Fluor for engineering on Texas propane dehydrogenation expansion

Fluor has been awarded a contract by Dow Chemical to provide basic engineering and design services on its propane dehydrogenation (PDH) expansion project in Freeport, Texas.

Huntsman CEO's brother joins US presidential race

Jon Huntsman, the brother of Huntsman CEO Peter Huntsman, has formally declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination for US president in 2012. The 51-year-old is the son of Jon Huntsman Sr., who founded the US-based chemicals major.