Petrochemicals
IEA sees increasing natgas use, warns of high oil prices curbing demand
Annual growth in oil demand could average 1.2 million barrels per day (mb/d) between now and 2016, while natural gas demand could grow by around 500 billion cubic meters – around 2.5 times Russia’s current gas exports – during the same time, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) medium-term oil and gas market outlook.
US law firm to investigate Dow Chemical over alleged pension changes
US class-action law firm Hagens Berman says it will investigate potential claims against Dow Chemical after the company allegedly made substantive changes to its employee pension plan, actions which may violate US federal law.
SABIC plans new carbon fiber plant in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) announced on Wednesday that it signed a technology agreement with Montefibre S.p.A (Montefibre) granting SABIC and its affiliates an extensive international licence on carbon fiber technology developed by Montefibre. SABIC said it will first use the technology for a new carbon fiber plant to be built in Saudi Arabia.
Tessenderlo to sell Europe PVC, chlor-alkali units to INEOS for €110mn
Tessenderlo will sell its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlor-alkali businesses to INEOS subsidiary Kerling for €110mn, the companies said on Tuesday.
JGC expanding electrolysis plant from Indonesia JV
JGC Plant Solutions and JGC Indonesia, both wholly-owned subsidiaries of JGC Group, have been awarded a lump-sum turnkey contract for expansion of the electrolysis facilities at a joint venture plant owned by P.T. Asahimas Chemical.
BASF raises compounding capacity for engineering plastics in Europe
BASF is increasing its compounding capacities for the engineering plastics Ultramid (polyamide) and Ultradur (PBT: polybutylene terephthalate) at its Schwarzheide site in eastern Germany by 10,000 metric tons/year, the company said on Tuesday.
Celanese boosts planned ethanol capacity in China, accelerates production timetable
Celanese will accelerate its original schedule and begin industrial ethanol production in China earlier and with more capacity than previously announced, the US-based specialty chemicals firm said on Tuesday.
Kentucky PVC pipe production facility shuttered
Westlake Chemical Corp.’s North American Pipe Corp. subsidiary has shut down its Springfield, Kentucky, PVC pipe production facility in an effort to reduce costs and optimize production operations as a result of excess capacity in the PVC pipe market.
Dow opens water technology R&D center in Spain
Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of Dow Chemical, celebrated the grand opening of its Global Water Technology Development Center in a ceremony at the Dow facilities in Tarragona, Spain.
Toyo Engineering wins deal from Chandra Asri to build Indonesia's first butadiene plant
A Korean subsidiary of Japan’s Toyo Engineering Corp. has been awarded a contract to build a butadiene plant in Indonesia with a capacity of 100,000 tons/year.
- Allied Biofuels signs PIA with Uzbekistan to advance $6-B biofuels refinery project 4/10
- Nufarm strengthens strategic collaboration to support long term growth in biofuels production 4/10
- Pertamina and CRecTech sign MoU to explore pilot biogas-to-biomethanol facility in SEZ, Indonesia 4/10
- Shell Chemicals and Syensqo partner to deliver low-carbon ethylene oxide solutions 4/10
- HAMR Energy’s nationally significant fuel projects selected for Australian Government’s Investor Front Door Pilot 4/10
- HD Hyundai Heavy Industries builds world's first ammonia-powered vessel 4/10
