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Petrochemicals

Surveying customer satisfaction among European polypropylene buyers

Beginning in March, more than 3,000 European polypropylene (PP) processors will have the opportunity to provide extensive feedback to their resin suppliers regarding product and service offerings via the global market research firm, Townsend Solutions.

Contract issued for Saudi polyamide 6.6 plant

Jacobs Engineering Group announced today that it signed a contract in December 2010 with the Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) and Arabian Chevron Phillips Petrochemical Co. (ACP) to provide engineering, procurement and construction management services for a polyamide 6.6 manufacturing plant and a number of polymer conversion projects.

Total sells stake in Spanish company to Abu Dhabi entity

Total and IPIC have signed an agreement whereby Total will sell its 48.83% share in the capital of CEPSA. IPIC, a wholly owned entity of the Abu Dhabi government, is currently a shareholder of CEPSA with a stake of 47.06%.

Lupotech T process selected for 300 KT LDPE plant in Mexico

Braskem Idesa S.A.P.I., a joint venture of Braskem S.A. and Grupo Idesa S.A. de C.V., has selected LyondellBasell’s Lupotech T process technology for a new 300 KT per year low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant.

BP proceeding with PTA debottlenecking in Guangdong

BP confirmed that it is proceeding with its project for a major increase in purified terephthalic acid (PTA) production capacity at the BP Zhuhai Chemical Co. Ltd. site in Guangdong Province, China. BP is also planning to build a new world-scale PTA plant at the same site.

Association says CFATS should be made permanent

In written testimony before a US congressional panel, the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) said existing Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) are effective and should be made permanent. The association’s statement was given to the US House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies.

Shaw pegged for ethylene plant expansion

The Shaw Group Inc. has been awarded a contract by Qatar Petrochemical Co. Ltd. QSC (QAPCO) to provide basic engineering services for the expansion of a 720 ktpy ethylene plant in Mesaieed, Qatar. The project will provide the design needed for expanding the plant's capacity by up to 25%.

Celanese expands EVA capacity

Celanese Corp. says that due to strong growth in strategic, high-value segments, the company will expand capacity at its Edmonton, Canada, manufacturing facility (specifically for ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) polymers).

Brenntag opens chemical distribution facility in Indonesia

Brenntag recently unveiled its new distribution facility in Jakarta, Indonesia, built to meet growing market demand. The facility will provide a bigger storage capacity than the current warehouse in Jakarta, and allow Brenntag to improve and expand value-added customer support throughout the supply chain, from purchase and formulation through to packaging and logistics.

Update on major fire at Enterprise Products plant in Mont Belvieu

At approximately 12:30 PM CST yesterday, a major fire was reported at the Enterprise Products plant in Mont Bellvieu, Texas. According to eyewitness reports, the intensity of the fire was so great that trucks in adjacent parking lots were melting.