Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest crude oil producer and refiner, is in serious discussions to acquire up to a 25 percent stake in Reliance Industries’ refining and petrochemicals businesses, as stated in local news report. The agreement on valuation could be reached around June, the Indian newspaper reported, citing people with knowledge of the development. … Read more
MOL Group, a Hungarian energy company, has agreed to acquire Aurora, a recycled plastic compounder with production plants in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. The deal is part of the long-term strategy to expand the petrochemicals portfolio, MOL added. The transaction is subject to the relevant approvals for merger control. Aurora is a medium-sized company that mainly produces … Read more
BP, Nouryon and the Port of Rotterdam have partnered to explore the opportunity of making ‘ green hydrogen’ via water electrolysis for BP’s refinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. According to Nouryon, green hydrogen produced from water using renewable energy could potentially lead to a 350,000 tons reduction in CO2 emissions per year. The three partners have signed … Read more
CNPC and the Chinese regional government of Xinjiang performed the ground breaking ceremony for the first ethane cracker project in the region on Thursday. The cracker, which will be built with an investment of 9 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) by China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), China’s leading oil and gas corporation, is the largest investment … Read more
INEOS Styrolution announced that it is planning to set up a new production site for its successful composite StyLight. “The establishment of a new production site reflects growing customer demand. Ever since its introduction at the K in Düsseldorf in 2016, StyLight has caught the attention of designers globally in the automotive, electronics and sports … Read more
Axens to supply several advanced technologies for its state-of-the-art 9 MTPA integrated refinery and petrochemical complex of HPCL to be set in Pachpadra Tehsil of Barmer District of Rajasthan, the engineering firm announced on Monday. As part of the project, Axens will provide the following technologies: – a naphtha hydrotreating unit (NHT) – a semi-regenerative … Read more
Evonik announced on Monday that the company is commissioning a new plant initially for the production of KALCATTM and in the long-term also Metalyst Activated Metal Catalysts at its Catalyst’s manufacturing site in Dombivli, India. This new state of the art production facility allows Evonik to fully utilize its capacities in Dombivli while establishing significant … Read more
EGA (Emirates Global Aluminium), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, announced the start-up of Al Taweelah alumina refinery, a strategic growth project that expands the industrial giant’s business upstream in the aluminium value chain. Alumina is the feedstock for aluminium smelters and is refined from bauxite ore. Once … Read more
BASF will increase the production capacity of Alkylethanolamines (AEOA) by 20 percent at the BASF Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. After the start-up in 2020, BASF’s global annual nameplate capacity of AEOA will be more than 110,000 metric tons per year at its production facilities in Ludwigshafen, Germany; Geismar, USA; and Nanjing, China. “As one … Read more
Dow signed an agreement on Tuesday with PETRONAS Chemicals Glycols to collaborate on a carbon project at PETRONAS’ world-scale ethylene oxide (“EO”) production facility in support of the Official Carbon Partnership between Dow and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Together, Dow and PETRONAS Chemicals Glycols are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the operations … Read more
Praj Industries announced its collaboration with Gevo, Inc, USA to offer technology for production of high energy renewable aviation jet fuels. The company signed a construction license agreement (CLA) with Gevo, Inc, USA dated 4 April 2019, to commercialize technology for the production of Isobutanol using sugar-based feedstocks, such as juice, syrup and molasses. According … Read more
Evonik announced on Monday that it will expand its production capacity of transparent polyamides at the Marl Chemical Park (Germany) which the company sells under the brand TROGAMID CX. Production expansion is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2020. The project will double the specialty chemicals company’s capacity for its transparent, high-performance materials. … Read more
INEOS Styrolution has announced the completion of the first successful test runs to produce virgin polystyrene from recycled monomer. Completed at the company’s Antwerp site in Belgium, these experiments can be viewed as practical proof of polystyrene recyclability and as a game changer for INEOS Styrolution in polystyrene production. The product is the result of … Read more
BASF SE will increase production capacity in Guaratinguetá, Brazil, for its sodium methylate plant. The nameplate capacity will increase by 30 %, from 60,000 metric tons to 80,000 metric tons. By 2020, the new capacity is expected to become operational. Sodium methylate is an effective and reliable catalyst that provides a sustainable solution for biodiesel production … Read more
Celanese Corporation, a global chemical and specialty materials company, announced on Monday that after an extensive search, the Board has selected Lori Ryerkerk to succeed Rohr as CEO. The appointments are effective May 1, 2019, and at that time Ryerkerk will also join Celanese’s Board. Mark Rohr, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will assume … Read more
Merck KGaA won Versum board’s support for a $ 6.5 billion sweetened takeover offer, reversing an agreed merger with rival Entegris. “This proposal constitutes a ‘Superior Proposal’ as defined in Versum’s previously announced merger agreement with Entegris, Inc.,” Versum said in a statement on Monday. After reviewing business data and following meetings between Merck KGaA Chief … Read more
Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals) has started production of a new version of its dibenzoyl peroxide (BPO), Perkadox GB-50, at Los Reyes, Mexico. It is the first dry BPO on the market that does not use the desensitizing agent dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), which the European Union recently reclassified as a category 1B Reproductive Toxin. Perkadox … Read more
Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals) will start construction in May on a project to further increase capacity for chloromethanes at its site in Frankfurt, Germany, supporting growing global customer demand. The expansion is expected to be completed in 2020. The company first increased chloromethanes production in Frankfurt in 2017; the new project will increase annual … Read more
Global private equity firm H.I.G. Capital, LLC announced on WEdnesday that its portfolio company, Vantage Specialty Chemicals Holdings, Inc, a leading, vertically-integrated provider of naturally derived ingredients, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Textron Plimon, S.L.U. Natural Oils Business. As part of the transaction, Textron will spin-off its Spanish distribution business (“Plimon”) which will … Read more
AkzoNobel is set to transform its wood coatings facility in High Point, North Carolina, into a best-in-class manufacturing site – and further strengthen the company’s market position in the US. The transformation will involve reorganizing manufacturing operations at the site and will include the addition of automatic dosing unit technology to produce paint more efficiently. … Read more