Petrochemicals
BASF to divest its oleochemical surfactants business in Mexico
MEXICO CITY, Mexico — BASF Mexicana, S.A. DE C.V. has entered an agreement to sell a portion of the oleochemical surfactants business in Mexico to the Stepan Company for an undisclosed price. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2017, subject to applicable regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of certain other requirements.
IHS Markit: Methanol demand growth driven by methanol-to-olefins, China demand
HOUSTON — Methanol, a basic chemical used to produce fuels and other traditional chemicals, is increasingly used in China to produce olefins in a process called methanol-to-olefins (MTO). By 2021, nearly one in five tons of global methanol production will be utilized for MTO production to satisfy expanding Chinese chemical demand, according to new analysis from IHS Markit.
CB&I awarded multi-technology contract in Kazakhstan
THE WOODLANDS, Texas — CB&I announced it has been awarded a contract by TOO Hill Resources (HILL) for the license and engineering design of a grassroots Lube Base Oil plant in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
Sasol breaks ground on new alkoxylation production facility in China
NANJING, China — Sasol Limited, an integrated chemicals and energy company, formally began construction of its new alkoxylation plant in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Ushered in by a ground-breaking ceremony on June 8 at the Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park (NCIP), the new plant is expected to be fully operational in early 2019.
Hydrocarbon Processing Awards recognize best in HPI
The downstream industry’s brightest minds gathered Wednesday evening to celebrate the winners of the 2017 Hydrocarbon Processing Awards.
Chevron Phillips completes PAO capacity expansion at Texas plant
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP (Chevron Phillips Chemical) announced today it has successfully completed a low viscosity polyalphaolefins (PAO) capacity expansion at its Cedar Bayou plant in Baytown, Texas.
Linde wins major contract for olefin plant in Russia
MUNICH — Technology company The Linde Group has been awarded a major contract by PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim (NKNK) to supply an olefin plant in the city of Nizhnekamsk, located in the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation. Both partners officially signed the agreement in St. Petersburg, Russia.
IRPC Europe '17: Shell case study demonstrates VDU value maximization
VIENNA—On Day 2 of International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC) Europe, Jock Hughson, Licensing Technology Manager for Shell Global Solutions International BV, discussed how to maximize the value of a vacuum distillation unit (VDU) through a post-fractionation increase of vacuum gasoil (VGO) yield.
Braskem says wins final approval in global leniency deal
BRASILIA (Reuters) — Braskem SA, Latin America's largest petrochemical company, said on Tuesday that it had obtained approval from a Brazilian court for its leniency deal in a corruption case involving political kickbacks at Brazil's Petrobras.
IRPC Europe '17: Scenes from day one
Check out scenes from the first day of IRPC Europe 2017.

- thyssenkrupp Uhde completes pre-FEED for HAMR Energy’s renewable fuels project in Australia 8/21
- Europe distillates-diesel profit margins firm 8/21
- U.S.: Indiana's bp refinery restarts after severe flooding 8/21
- Berlin weighs trusteeship extension for Rosneft's German assets 8/21
- Trump administration to rule on biofuel exemption requests, delay reallocation decision 8/21
- TotalEnergies' Donges refinery fire extinguished 8/21