Petrochemicals
ExxonMobil mulls major petrochemicals expansion at Baytown complex
The project would involve building a new ethane cracker and other facilities to ExxonMobil's huge refining and petrochemical complex in Baytown, Texas, and would enable the company to "capitalize on abundant supplies of American natural gas." Start-up would be scheduled for 2016.
Eni rebrands Italy chemicals unit as Versalis, plans €1.6bn of investments
Eni has rebranded its Italy-based chemicals division as Versalis while setting forth a €1.6bn investment plan through 2015. The prior name was Polimeri Europa. The new figure is 60% more than the older plan.
HB Fuller to close five adhesives plants in Europe
HB Fuller will close five manufacturing facilities in Europe and cut about 100 jobs in sales, finance, customer service and research and development (R&D). The facilities scheduled for closure are: Chatteris, UK; Pirmasens, Germany; Vigo, Spain; Borgolavezzaro, Italy; and Wels, Austria.
Formosa shuts top Taiwan naphtha cracker amid weak downstream margins
Taiwan's Formosa Petrochemical, Asia's top naphtha buyer, has shut the biggest of its three naphtha crackers in Mailiao due to low petrochemical margins, a company spokesman said on Thursday.
WR Grace buys Noblestar catalysts unit in China
W. R. Grace & Co. has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of Noblestar Catalysts, a China-based manufacturer of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts. The deal has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies, but is subject to the satisfaction of other closing conditions.
Momentive hikes global urethane additives capacity
Momentive Performance Materials said it recently completed a series of capacity expansions on urethane additives in China, India, Brazil and Belgium. In China, the company said it completed an expansion that enables increased urethane additive finished goods capacity at its Nantong plant facility.
T. Boone Pickens finds flaws in US energy plans of Obama, Romney
The energy titan didn't endorse either presidential candidate, saying Obama's "all of the above" energy plan needed to be more specific and Romney's plan is "not total".
US plastic resin production, sales down from 2011
US production of major plastic resins totaled 6.1 billion pounds during April 2012, a decrease of 3.2% compared to the same month in 2011, according to new statistics released by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) trade group. Sales and captive use were down 8.8% from April 2011.
Jacobs to study Saudi Ma'aden phosphate project
Jacobs was awarded a contract by Saudi Arabian Mining Company to provide a bankable feasibility study and front-end engineering design (FEED) for its Umm Wu'al phosphate project in the Sirhan-Turaif region of Saudi Arabia. The project will add 1.5 million tpy to Ma'aden's planned phosphate capacity.
Eastman Chemical wins EU approval for Solutia buy
The European Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of Solutia by Eastman Chemical, the competition watchdog group said. The merger is not expected to result in any substantial change in the markets concerned since Solutia is not a customer of Eastman in the EEA.
- ABB Ethernet-APL flowmeters to support digitalization at a large petrochemical complex in China 7/2
- Axens acquires Methanol-to-Propylene technology, expanding its SAF portfolio 7/2
- Lighthouse Green Fuels completes FEED for UK SAF project 7/2
- Höegh Evi and Nord Gas Solutions validate ammonia-to-hydrogen cracking technology for floating hydrogen terminals 7/2
- Metacon develops advanced catalytic testing unit for European research customer 7/2
- Yara to acquire Gulf Coast Ammonia Texas (U.S.) facility for $1.3 B 7/2
