Petrochemicals
Saudi's Sipchem affiliate signs $144.6 MM methanol plant efficiency contract
DUBAI (Reuters) -- An affiliate of Saudi International Petrochemical Co (Sipchem) signed a contract with South Korea's eTEC E&C for work costing $144.6 million to raise the efficiency of operations at its methanol plant in Jubail.
Indonesia: Cut gas prices for petrochemical, fertilizer industries in 2017
JAKARTA (Reuters) -- Indonesia on Tuesday told energy companies to cut natural gas prices for fertilizer, steel and petrochemical industries starting Jan. 1, 2017, in a renewed effort to bring down domestic gas prices.
Alberta petrochemical projects get $378 MM royalty credits
CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) -- The Canadian oil-producing province of Alberta will offer $377.84 million in royalty credits to Pembina Pipeline Corp and Inter Pipeline Ltd for their petrochemical projects, the government said on Monday as it seeks to diversify its ailing economy.
Brazil's Braskem close to leniency deal in US, Brazil
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -- Brazil's petrochemical company Braskem SA said in a securities filing on Friday it was "in advanced talks" with authorities in Brazil and the United States related to a corruption investigation known as "Operation Carwash."
Industry Perspectives: New downstream project announcements drop 35% in 2016
According to <i>Hydrocarbon Processing’s</i> Construction Boxscore Database, nearly 470 new projects have been announced in the downstream hydrocarbon processing industry over the past two years. New project announcements have fallen from 285 in 2015 to 185 in 2016. This trend analysis represents a year-over-year decrease of approximately 35%.
Viewpoint: A new value proposition for a licensor and EPC contractor
The drop in oil prices has changed the overall dynamics of the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI), as well as reduced prices for petrochemical products. Approximately $150 B of oil and gas projects have been canceled or put on hold.
Editorial Comment: Hydrocarbon Processing forecasts $321 B in total HPI spending in 2017
What is the state of the global hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI)? Which regions and sectors are seeing growth, and which are stagnant, or possibly shrinking? These were some of the questions that <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> editors tackled at the 43rd Annual <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> Forecast Breakfast.
BASF to increase price for diols and derivatives in North America
FLORHAM PARK, NJ, – Effective Jan. 1, 2017 or as existing contracts permit, BASF will increase prices on its list and off-list prices in North America for 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) and derivatives.
Innovations
Power generation and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) specialty rental company, Aggreko Plc., and sulfuric acid alkylation technology licensor, DuPont, have collaborated to provide Aggreko temperature control, including chiller systems, to STRATCO sulfuric acid alkylation customers.
Industry Metrics
Stronger demand and falling inventories allowed US gasoil cracking spreads to recover, while gasoline was supported by outages.

- 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