Petrochemicals
Oxea starts construction on China derivatives plant
The Nanjing plant will produce specialty esters, phthalate-free plasticizers and other oxo derivatives for the local market. Oxea expects the new plant to be mechanically complete at the end of 2013.
QP, Shell award FEED to Fluor for Al-Karaana petrochemicals project
The scope being considered includes a world-scale steam cracker, with feedstock coming from natural gas projects in Qatar; a 1.5 million tpy mono-ethylene glycol plant using Shell’s proprietary OMEGA technology; a 300,000 tpy linear alpha olefins unit; and a 250,000 tpy oxo-alcohols unit.
Sinopec, SK to build new formaldehyde, butanediol plants in Southwest China
The BDO plant will have a capacity of 200,000 tpy, according to the report. The project will also include plants for acetylene and formaldehyde. Located in the Changshou Economic-Technological Development Area, the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.
TPC approves engineering design phase for Texas butadiene expansion
This approval follows the successful completion of the project's preliminary engineering study to produce butadiene from a variety of sources. TPC Group said it anticipates that its engineering design optimization will be complete by the end of the third quarter of 2013.
China mandates environmental insurance program for chemical factories
China's Ministry of Environmental Protection said its pilot insurance plan is now mandatory for mining and smelting producers, lead-acid battery manufacturers, leather goods producers and chemical factories. Petrochemical companies are "encouraged to be insured," the ministry said in a statement.
C3 Petrochemicals plans new Texas PDH plant
If the application is approved, C3 Petrochemicals will build a new propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant near Alvin, Texas, to produce polymer- and chemical-grade propylene.
Clariant opens new AMPS polymers plant in Spain
Two separate lines will produce polymers for the industrial and consumer specialties unit and the company's oil and mining services business. These range from emulsifiers and rheology modifiers for use in face creams, to fluid loss control additives for well cements used in oil and gas drilling.
SIBUR to build methanol separating unit in Russia
Low methanol content is a requirement of many consumers. The new unit will be the next step in SIBUR’s ongoing goal to lower the content of methanol in the propane fraction, this time in a range not exceeding 50 parts per million, according to the company. Financial terms were not disclosed.
BASF awards engineering work to Fluor on German toluene diisocyanate plant
The single-train, 300,000 tpy plant will produce TDI and expand additional plants as precursors for polyurethanes at the BASF site in Ludwigshafen. Production is set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2014.
EmberClear finishes technical study on Mississippi gas-to-liquids proposal
If the project proceeds, it will be capable of producing 4,000 tpd of methanol or 14,000 bpd of gasoline. This project's proximity to cheaper sources of gas and the Gulf Coast petrochemical hub creates the potential for attractive pricing, efficient access to markets and multiple modes of transportation.
- OXEA confirms final investment decision for major capacity expansion at plant 7/10
- TotalEnergies ships to Asia the first cargo produced by the ECA LNG plant 7/10
- ADNOC L&S expands LNG fleet with order for four new carriers 7/10
- India's ONGC plans to build 13-MMbbl national strategic oil reserve 7/10
- Russian refineries, oil terminal, tankers hit, Ukraine says 7/10
- Tajikistan says it has 60 days' fuel in reserve amid Russian supply crunch 7/10

