Petrochemicals
Celanese to cut acetate tow capacity by 50% at Belgium chemical plant
Celanese’s Lanaken plant is located in the Belgian province of Limburg and has a current nameplate capacity of 52,000 tpy and employs approximately 240 employees.
US to become top light naphtha exporter by 2020
This capacity expansion and surplus of light naphtha is occurring in large part due to the rapid expansion of tight oil and shale gas production in North America, and in particular, the US, which will surpass the Middle East to become the world’s largest exporter of light naphtha by 2020.
US chemical activity index rises for fourth month
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. All components were up in April, according to the ACC.
SABIC signs deal to import US shale gas for UK petrochemical feedstock
SABIC has signed an agreement to use shale gas imported from the US at its Teesside petrochemical complex in Britain, acting CEO Yousef Abdullah al-Benyan told news agency Reuters.
WR Grace advances FCC catalysts project in UAE
The approximately $150 million facility, located in the Kizad Industrial Zone approximately 70 km outside Abu Dhabi, will serve refineries throughout the Middle East and potentially other regions.
SABIC to shut Yanbu petrochemical complex for 35-day maintenance
The shutdown will include an ethylene glycol plant, which will suspend operations for 60 days.
Celanese, Mitsui mull extra Texas methanol plant
The potential methanol unit at Bishop would have an annual capacity of 1.3 million tons and would leverage the design benefits of the Clear Lake unit that is currently under construction.
EU chemicals industry reports stagnant growth, weakening confidence
“The lack of growth in 2014 was partly due to falling exports," said Cefic director general Hubert Mandery. "Though the price of oil has fallen here in Europe, lowering producer costs, long-term problems persist, especially the challenge of securing affordable energy supplies.”
Mitsubishi unveils $1B Trinidad methanol project
The project, scheduled for completion in June 2018 and to start up by October 2018, would have a capacity of 1 million tpy of methanol and 20,000 tpy of dimethyl ether (DME).
Alfa Laval to supply heat exchangers for ethylene project in Turkmenistan
The Alfa Laval OLMI heat exchangers will be used to increase the yield and recover energy in the production of ethylene at the Turkmenistan project, according to company officials.
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