Petrochemicals
Chem Safety Board to investigate third accident at metal powder plant in Tennessee
A four-person investigation team from the US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) was deployed on Friday to the site of a third serious accident at the Hoeganaes Corp. plant in Gallatin, Tennessee. An explosion was reported earlier on Friday at the plant, injuring five, including three who were in critical condition at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center burn unit in Nashville.
BASF to build 300,000 tonne/yr TDI plant in Europe
BASF announced Thursday that it will build the world’s largest single-train TDI (toluene diisocyanate) plant in Europe, with 300,000 tonnes/yr (tpy) of capacity and fully integrated with precursor production.
Huntsman licenses PO/MTBE technology to China’s Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes
US chemicals producer Huntsman said Wednesday that it signed a license agreement with Chinese chemicals manufacturer Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes for the production of propylene oxide (PO) and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) - a co-product of PO.
Honeywell to begin work on new transportation fuels refinery in Iraq
UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, said Wednesday that its technology has been selected for a new transportation fuel refinery to be built in Iraq, with design to begin in the second quarter of 2011.
Dow generates energy from recycled plastic in US
Dow Chemical said on Monday that it had successfully used recycled plastic to generate energy. The successful pilot test measured how plastic that has been reused and recycled to the full extent possible can be used as fuel for an end-of-life option instead of going to a landfill for disposal.
Specialty chemical firm Chemtura to establish bromine JV with India’s Archean Group
US specialty chemical firm Chemtura signed a deal to establish a strategic alliance, including a joint venture, in bromine and brominated derivatives with India-based Archean Group.
China’s Sinopec, Kuwait Petroleum to begin building $9 billion refining complex in Q1 2012
China’s top refiner Sinopec and state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp. (KPC) will begin construction of their $9 billion joint venture refining and petrochemical complex in China during the 2012 first quarter, reports said on Monday.
US chemical production increased in April across all regions - ACC
US chemical production rose in April by 0.3% month on month, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) said, returning to growth after a flat March. Production increased in all regions, with the largest gains in the Northeast, Ohio Valley, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Global chemical M&A activity jumps sharply in Q1
Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the global chemicals industry jumped significantly in the first quarter of 2011 when compared to the same period of 2010, according to a study from advisory firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
US predicts active 2011 hurricane season, may threaten Gulf refiners, petchems
The Atlantic basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued on Thursday from the US National Weather Service, potentially threatening refining and petrochemical operations along the US Gulf coast and eastern seaboard.
- 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

