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Asia/Pacific

Shell, CNPC to collaborate on shale gas in China

Shell has signed the first-ever production-sharing contract to explore, develop and produce shale gas in China, a move that fits in with China's overall strategy to bring technical and operational know-how to the development of its untapped reserves of the unconventional fuel.

Air Products signs R&D pact with China university for 'green' water treatment

Air Products signed a joint R&D agreement with South China University of Technology (SCUT) on water purification technology to accelerate the development of sustainable and efficient water treatment solutions. Air Products also has established a scholarship program at SCUT, it said.

US to exempt EU, Japan on Iran oil sanctions

The US has decided to grant exemptions to Japan and 10 European Union (EU) countries under a new set of Iran oil sanctions, a key lawmaker said. Aimed at shutting down Iran's nuclear program, the sanctions target financial institutions that do business with Iran's Central Bank, a main conduit for Iran's oil sales.

Shaw, Total form global alliance on polystyrene

The Shaw Group said Monday that it formed an exclusive alliance with Total Petrochemicals to jointly market and license Total’s polystyrene technology on a worldwide basis. Shaw has had a similar alliance with Total Petrochemicals for styrene monomer, the primary feedstock for polystyrene, for 15 years.

INEOS licenses polypropylene process technology to new China Shenhua plant

INEOS has licensed the Innovene PP process to China Shenhua for the manufacture of polypropylene resins including homopolymers, random copolymers and impact copolymers. The 300,000 tpy plant, located in Yulin City, Shaanxi province, will serve the rapidly growing Chinese PP market.

Essar commissions diesel hydrotreater unit in India

Essar Energy plc, the India-focused integrated energy company, announced that Essar Oil Ltd. has successfully commissioned diesel hydrotreater unit 1 (DHDT-1) as part of the Phase I expansion at its Vadinar refinery in India.

Sinopec orders advanced water treatment system for Yangzi complex

Siemens Industry Automation Division is providing another Zimpro wet air oxidation (WAO) system to treat wastewater at Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Co., Ltd.'s facility, near the Yangzi River in Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.

Total signs on for new refining project in China

Total signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) and Petrochemicals Industries Co. (PIC) for the planned development of a 300,000 bpd full-conversion refinery integrated with petrochemicals complex with Sinopec.

EIA raises oil price forecast for 2012

In its March "Short-Term Energy Report," the DOE/EIA raised its oil price forecast for 2012 to $106/bbl, up $5/bbl from the previous forecast amid concerns over geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, growth in world demand and supply constraints in non-OPEC countries.

FMC opens biopolymer technical hub in Singapore

FMC Corp. recently opened its new Singapore Technical Center in Singapore Science Park 2, the company said on Wednesday. The state-of-the-art facility will serve the technology and formulation needs of FMC's growing food and beverage customers in Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia.