Americas
Praxair lands gas supply deal for Mexico steel plant
Praxair has signed a new contract with Deacero, a leading Mexican steel company, to supply oxygen, argon and nitrogen to a new plant being built in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, a major industrial region in north Mexico. The facilities are expected to start up in the first quarter of 2014.
HB Fuller to close six adhesives sites in US, Canada
HB Fuller will close six manufacturing facilities and eliminate approximately 130 positions across its North America adhesives business segment as part of its integration of the recently-acquired industrial adhesives business of Forbo Group. The closures will occur by mid-2013, the company says.
Ford looks to expand natural gas powered autos, may clash with US chems
The head of Ford says the auto industry is focused on expanding the use of engines powered by compressed natural gas, creating a potential clash with the US chemical sector. Any major use of compressed natural gas in passenger cars could wipe out the cost advantage enjoyed by US chemical firms.
UOP, Ensyn venture wins sustainable biofuel award for conversion technology
Envergent Technologies, a joint venture of UOP and Ensyn, has been given an award in the category of sustainable biofuels for its contributions toward sustainable biopower generation facilities. Envergent’s RTP technology is currently in use in seven commercial biomass processing plants in the US and Canada.
Eastman Chemical finishes Texas 2-EH expansion
Eastman Chemical completed a previously-announced capacity expansion of its 2-ethyl hexanol (2-EH) facility in Longview, Texas. An oxo derivative, 2-EH is used in end products such as plasticizers, like Eastman 168 non-phthalate plasticizer, 2 ethylhexyl acrylate, and additives for fuels and lube oils, the company noted.
CB&I to build storage tanks for Kinder Morgan oil terminal in Canada
CB&I has been awarded a storage tank contract, valued in excess of $55 million, by Trans Mountain Pipeline, operated by a subsidiary of a Canadian subsidiary of Kinder Morgan. The project is scheduled for completion in 2013 and will go in the company’s books as a first quarter 2012 award.
EPA delays new US 'fracking' rules until 2015
Wells where natural gas is captured through the controversial "fracking" technique will have until 2015 to comply with new rules designed to reduce air pollution. The EPA said it is phasing in the rules for "fracked" natural gas wells to "ensure emissions reduction technology is broadly available."
Brazilian miner Vale, oil major Petrobras to unveil joint projects next month
Brazilian mining company Vale and oil and gas company Petrobras will announce joint projects in a month's time. Vale and Petrobras, Brazil's biggest companies by market value, last Friday signed an accord to undertake joint projects in areas including fertilizer raw materials and oil and gas.
Siemens, Shell seal gas chromatography pact
Under the agreement, Siemens will supply gas chromatographs along with related systems such as analysis cabinets and shelters to numerous Shell global energy projects.
Oiltanking to raise crude storage at Texas terminal
Oiltanking announced a $104 million expansion project to construct 3.2 million bbl of new crude oil storage capacity at its Houston terminal facility. All environmental and internal approvals are in place, and the additional capacity is expected to be placed into service in the fourth quarter of 2013.
- IHI, Vopak to launch ammonia terminal project in Japan 7/11
- India's BPCL plans to shut Bina refinery unit for 15-day maintenance in August 7/11
- Soaring electric truck sales deal new blow to diesel use in China 7/11
- Russia`s Tatneft launches new hydrocracking unit on TANECO refinery 7/11
- IEA: Global oil market may be tighter than it looks 7/11
- India must boost its petchem output to counter China's dominance, Reliance says 7/11
