Petrochemicals
US chemical activity index rises sharply as outlook for business improves
The Chemical Activity Barometer has four primary components, each consisting of a variety of indicators: 1) production; 2) equity prices; 3) product prices; and 4) inventories and other indicators. Inventories, product prices, and equity prices all improved over the prior month.
EPA, Citgo strike deal to resolve Corpus refinery emissions violations
The agreement follows an unannounced inspection by EPA enforcement staff in June 2012, who acted on a tip from the Chemical Safety Board. The inspectors found violations in a range of areas, including equipment and controls, operation and auditing procedures, and initial and ongoing training.
Borealis, Agrifos to develop world-scale ammonia project on Texas Gulf
The brownfield, hydrogen-based project is scheduled for mechanical completion and start-up in early 2019. The site will benefit from existing infrastructure and excellent logistics capabilities, which will allow product supply to a variety of long-term off-takers and customers.
Sasol expands German catalyst carrier capacity
Due to physical and chemical properties, the shaped carriers produced by the division are sought-after in fast-growing markets, such as the refinery catalyst market.
IPP solicits offers to buy, relocate methanol plant
IPP officials say the plant is in excellent operating condition and was only shut down due to high feedstock (natural gas) costs in its current location. Major modifications through 2009 have increased both the flexibility of the plant's operation and reliability.
Grace, Chevron venture ART to build world-scale US Gulf catalysts plant
An ever-increasing global push for bottom-of-the-barrel upgrading is leading to a significant increase in investment by refiners for fixed bed resid hydrotreating and ebullating bed resid hydrocracking process technologies.
Rinchem opens Arizona chemical logistics facility
The new facility includes warehousing areas for regulated and non-regulated chemicals and gases. Services that will be offered at this site include customized, temperature-controlled storage and handling of high-purity chemicals and gases primarily for the semiconductor industry.
UOP technology to run world-scale Nigeria refinery
Dangote Oil Refining Company selected UOP technology for a world-scale integrated refinery and petrochemical plant to be built in Lekki, near the capital of Lagos in southwestern Nigeria.
Study: US plastics jobs to rise 20% within decade
"The Rising Competitive Advantage of US Plastics" study found that the shale gas production surge has reversed the fortunes of the plastics industry, shifting the competitive advantage to the US, where producers mostly use raw materials derived from natural gas.
Mexichem opens new India pressure pipes plant
The location of the Hyderabad plant in South India allows Mexichem to position itself for exports to Southeast Asia, to serve customers in South India and to capture new business opportunities.
- China's first coal-to-chemicals project with green hydrogen starts commercial operations 11/20
- Norsk e-Fuel and Braskem partner to turn captured carbon into long-lasting products 11/20
- Nigeria's Dangote refinery delays CDU maintenance to end of January 2026 11/20
- Technimont attends ground-breaking ceremony of Tengiz Gas separation Complex in Kazakhstan 11/20
- 42% of U.S. energy/critical infrastructure providers exposed to weaponized AI and email attacks 11/20
- EIA: U.S. crude stocks fall on higher demand, fuel inventories rise 11/20
