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Petrochemicals

KBR, Shell to align on hydroprocessing technology

KBR and Shell have formed a new alliance in which KBR will market, sell and provide technology and design packages with Shell for hydroprocessing solutions worldwide.

AkzoNobel plans €140mn expansion, upgrade to German chlorine plant

AkzoNobel will invest €140 million to convert its chlorine plant in Frankfurt, Germany, to state-of-the-art membrane electrolysis technology, the company said on Monday.

Hempel eyes expansion, opens India coatings plant

Industrial and marine paint supplier Hempel is expanding its operations in the India with the opening of a new coatings facility in Nashik, Maharashtra.

IEA sees increasing natgas use, warns of high oil prices curbing demand

Annual growth in oil demand could average 1.2 million barrels per day (mb/d) between now and 2016, while natural gas demand could grow by around 500 billion cubic meters – around 2.5 times Russia’s current gas exports – during the same time, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) medium-term oil and gas market outlook.

US law firm to investigate Dow Chemical over alleged pension changes

US class-action law firm Hagens Berman says it will investigate potential claims against Dow Chemical after the company allegedly made substantive changes to its employee pension plan, actions which may violate US federal law.

SABIC plans new carbon fiber plant in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) announced on Wednesday that it signed a technology agreement with Montefibre S.p.A (Montefibre) granting SABIC and its affiliates an extensive international licence on carbon fiber technology developed by Montefibre. SABIC said it will first use the technology for a new carbon fiber plant to be built in Saudi Arabia.

Tessenderlo to sell Europe PVC, chlor-alkali units to INEOS for €110mn

Tessenderlo will sell its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlor-alkali businesses to INEOS subsidiary Kerling for €110mn, the companies said on Tuesday.

JGC expanding electrolysis plant from Indonesia JV

JGC Plant Solutions and JGC Indonesia, both wholly-owned subsidiaries of JGC Group, have been awarded a lump-sum turnkey contract for expansion of the electrolysis facilities at a joint venture plant owned by P.T. Asahimas Chemical.

BASF raises compounding capacity for engineering plastics in Europe

BASF is increasing its compounding capacities for the engineering plastics Ultramid (polyamide) and Ultradur (PBT: polybutylene terephthalate) at its Schwarzheide site in eastern Germany by 10,000 metric tons/year, the company said on Tuesday.

Celanese boosts planned ethanol capacity in China, accelerates production timetable

Celanese will accelerate its original schedule and begin industrial ethanol production in China earlier and with more capacity than previously announced, the US-based specialty chemicals firm said on Tuesday.