Petrochemicals
Amec awarded Shell global downstream framework agreement
Amec Foster Wheeler announced the award of a five-year global Enterprise Framework Agreement (EFA) with Shell Global Solutions International, B.V. to provide engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for its downstream projects worldwide.
Exxon to invest $20 B on US Gulf Coast refining projects
HOUSTON (Reuters) -- ExxonMobil Corp, the world's largest publicly traded oil producer, said on Monday it would invest $20 billion through 2022 to expand its chemical and oil refining plants on the US Gulf Coast.
CERAWeek ’17: IEA expects global oil demand to rise, outpace supply after 2020
HOUSTON -- Global oil demand will continue to rise in the next five years, dominated by India and Asia, the International Energy Agency said Monday, March 6, during the first day of CERAWeek in Houston.
Avantium to raise at least 90 million euros in IPO
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -- Avantium, a Dutch company that has developed technology for making plastic from sugars rather than petrochemicals, said on Monday it hopes to raise at least 90 million euros in an initial public offering, giving it a market capitalization of $279.95 million.
SNC-Lavalin awarded ammonia plant EPC contract by Salalah
MONTREAL -- SNC-Lavalin announced it has been awarded a contract by Salalah Methanol Company LLC for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of an anhydrous liquid ammonia plant, including its utilities and off-site infrastructure, in the city of Salalah, located in the Sultanate of Oman.
Imperial continues restart after fire, flaring expected
Imperial Sarnia continues to restart units following last week’s operational issue. As a result, visible flaring is expected to continue over the next several days.
Athlon, Evonik partner up to boost petchem capabilities
An agreement with Evonik Industries inked last fall complements Athlon Solutions’ water and process treating capabilities with a globally-proven product line and technical support network.
Global Project Data
According to <i>Hydrocarbon Processing’s</i> Construction Boxscore Database, more than $400 B is being invested in active petrochemical projects around the world.
Industry Metrics
The European market saw stronger domestic demand amid gasoline export opportunities to West Africa and higher volumes of naphtha and fuel oil to Asia, fed by continued strong demand in that region. After recovery from the impact of the Colonial Pipeline outage, US refinery runs have risen, mainly in the USGC, taking advantage of stronger export opportunities and ahead of the spring maintenance season.
Business Trends: Africa—Will increasing demand spark downstream capacity builds?
Over the past decade, Africa’s oil demand has increased by more than 1 MMbpd, to nearly 3.9 MMbpd. Africa’s oil production is more than double the amount it consumes, but lack of investment, failing infrastructure and inadequate refining capacity force the continent to rely on imports to satisfy increasing fuel demand.

- Wood to design upgrades at Ecopetrol refinery for cleaner fuels production 6/24
- Saudi Arabia's CMDC (BCI group) awards thyssenkrupp nucera key contract for chlor-alkali plant expansion in Jubail 6/24
- EU imposes measures to curb ethanol imports from Pakistan 6/24
- China doubles 2025 naphtha import quotas 6/24
- BEL Valves supplies six-figure order for Europe’s largest processing plant 6/24
- INEOS responds to UK Government's industrial strategy 6/24