Americas
Global PVC growth to continue, but new China capacity will limit op rates - report
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) demand growth is forecast to continue in 2011, but the start-up of additional capacity in China will lead to global operating rates remaining low, according to a new report from US-based consultancy ChemSystems.
Ontario government chooses Rentech renewable jet fuel project for biomass supply
Rentech said its proposed renewable energy center (Olympiad project) in White River, Ontario, has been selected by the Canadian province for a proposed supply of up to 1.1mn cubic metres/year (1.3mn US tons/year) of Crown timber.
Consultancy KBC predicts global refining margins under pressure through 2015
Energy consultancy KBC Advanced Technologies foresees global refining margins continuing under pressure as recovering global demand is met by a wave of new refining capacity construction, keeping global refining utilisation rates at around 85% of nameplate capacity at least through 2015.
IHS acquires chemical consultancy CMAI
US-based information and analysis provider IHS announced this week that it has acquired consultancy Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI), a leading provider of market & business advisory services for the global petrochemical, specialty chemicals, fertilizer, plastics, fibers and chlor-alkali industries.
Fluor reports record backlog of orders, sees new Q1 projects nearly double from 2010
Fluor reported a record backlog of orders on Friday, saying that new project awards in the company’s first quarter nearly doubled year-earlier levels. The US-based contractor noted the growth in orders as part of its first-quarter earnings, which saw profit climb 2.3% to $140mn amid strength in the company’s industrial and infrastructure business.
Total completes deep conversion at Port Arthur refinery, new units on-stream
Total on Thursday announced the completion of a three-year, $2.2 billion expansion of its Port Arthur refinery, with all new units successfully started and on-stream.
Kinder Morgan buys $920mn in US shale assets, will build $220mn crude/condensate pipeline
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP) has agreed to pay approximately $855mn to Petrohawk Energy and assume approximately $65 million in debt for Petrohawk’s 50% interest in KinderHawk Field Services (the natural gas gathering and treating services provider in the Haynesville Shale) and a 25% interest in Petrohawk’s natural gas gathering and treating business in the Eagle Ford Shale.
New NGL fractionation facility to be built in Mont Belvieu, Texas
Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) and Regency Energy Partners will construct a 100,000 bpd natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionation facility at Mont Belvieu, Texas, through their Lone Star NGL joint venture.
El Paso Corp. to expand natural gas system
El Paso Corp. said that its subsidiary, El Paso Natural Gas Company (EPNG), has successfully closed companion open seasons and signed long-term agreements to expand its system.
PPG to acquire Danish coatings firm Dyrup
PPG Industries said it signed a share purchase agreement to acquire Dyrup A/S, a European coatings company based in Copenhagen, Denmark, from public holding company Monberg & Thorsen. The total transaction value, including assumed debt, is around €135mn ($200mn).
- EU warns of prolonged energy shock, forced cuts if Iran war continues 4/15
- Europe's summer flights at risk as Iran war exposes refining decline 4/15
- Slovak refiner says no deal yet on Adria pipeline tests 4/15
- Japan's weekly gasoline prices largely flat as subsidies offset price spikes 4/15
- Botswana has not requested stake in Lobito refinery, Angola's Sonangol says 4/15
- Tasnee announced delay to SEPC's ethylene/polyethylene plant expansion project 4/15
