Sumitomo Chemical is building a pilot facility to establish a process for producing propylene directly from ethanol. The development of this technology is one of the projects supported by the NEDO Green Innovation (GI) Fund. The company will work to complete the construction of the pilot facility at the Sodegaura site of its Chiba Works in Japan by the first half of... [Read More]

Unipar is modernising its chlor-alkali plant at the Cubatão plant in Brazil. It is doing this by incorporating thyssenkrupp nucera electrolysers. The Brazilian chemical company will replace the existing mercury and diaphragm plants with electrolysers featuring thyssenkrupp nucera's BM2.7 technology. The company will have the largest operation in South America using... [Read More]

BASF has expanded its capacity for ethylene oxide and ethylene oxide derivatives at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium. The will add about 400,000 tpy to BASF's production capacity. “With the new plants we are supporting the continuous growth of our customers and are enhancing our market position in Europe,” said Hartwig Michels, president petrochemicals, BASF.... [Read More]

UPM Biochemicals has selected Dongsung Chemical as sole distributor of its bio-monoethylene glycol (BioMEG) UPM BioPura™ in Korea. This further strengthens the development partnership between the two companies that was announced last year. By adding UPM to its supplier network, Dongsung enhances the sustainability transformation of its portfolio and supports the... [Read More]

Wanner International has received an order for a range of 75 Hydra-Cell chemical process pumps. After intensive testing, the company chose the Hydra-Cell Flow Chemistry and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) pumps over the incumbent traditional metering pumps because of the advanced mechanical and hydraulic design. The pump technology and application knowledge... [Read More]

Desatec from Hamburg, Germany, has revealed a substantial increase by 70,000 mt for sodium methylate at its existing production facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The plant is now the world largest production plant for the chemical with a total output of 150,000 mt per year. Desatec is producing sodium methylate solution and powder at the Dammam facility and exports... [Read More]

TotalEnergies and Borealis celebrate the start-up of their Baystar joint venture’s new 625,000 metric ton-per-year Borstar® polyethylene (PE) unit - which more than doubles the current production capacity at its site in Bayport, Texas. The new $1.4 billion (€1.3 billion) unit completes the partners’ integrated petrochemicals venture, which includes the expanded... [Read More]

Indonesia's Kilang Pertamina Internasional, the refinery unit of state energy firm Pertamina, aims to finish revamping its petrochemical plant Trans-Pacific Petrochemical Indotama in the fourth quarter of this year. TPPI's aromatic refining capacity will increase from 600,000 tonnes to 780,000 metric tons per year after the upgrade, chief executive Taufik Aditiyawarman... [Read More]

ExxonMobil announced the start-up of two new chemical production units at its Baytown, Texas, manufacturing facility. The $2 billion (€1.87 billion) expansion is part of ExxonMobil’s long-term growth plans to deliver higher-value products from its US Gulf Coast refining and chemical facilities. “With startup of these two new lines, ExxonMobil is delivering high-value... [Read More]

Vopak has reached an agreement with Infracapital on the sale of its three chemical terminals in Rotterdam for a total purchase price of €407 million including a conditional deferred payment of €19.5 million. The Total expected cash receipt for Botlek, TTR and Chemiehaven, net of transaction costs and net debt items at closing, is around €368 million. The combined... [Read More]

OMV Schwechat Refinery is fully operational again following a routine inspection. The petrochemicals unit was taken out of operation as scheduled for a regular inspection required by law every six years. The aim is the thorough cleaning, inspection and maintenance of plant components as well as the modernisation of the petrochemicals unit and parts of the refining unit... [Read More]

New ASEAN Energy has been established to acquire an equity interest in a petrochemical complex in Southeast Asia - one of the fastest growing regions in the world. The complex will utilise next generation technology to generate greater efficiencies, lower production costs and low carbon and renewable energy. In recent years, the region has witnessed increasing investments... [Read More]

Neste has entered a cooperation with Suntory, ENEOS and Mitsubishi Corporation to enable the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin made with renewable Neste RE™ on a commercial scale. The introduction of bio-based materials will reduce fossil resource dependence in the PET value chain. Neste RE is a feedstock for polymers production, made 100% from... [Read More]

BASF has commenced construction of its syngas plant at the Verbund site in Zhanjiang, China. This world-scale syngas facility, fully integrated into the Verbund site, is scheduled to start up in 2025. BASF will adopt unique process concepts in the syngas plant to reduce carbon emissions compared to conventional syngas plants, contributing to BASF’s sustainability... [Read More]

Braskem and SCG Chemicals, a leading petrochemical company in Thailand and south east Asia, have signed a joint venture agreement to create Braskem Siam Company Limited. Subject to clearance from the relevant anti-trust authorities and final investment decision by the partners, this joint venture aims to produce bioethylene from bioethanol dehydration. The aim is to... [Read More]

The petrochemicals unit at the OMV Schwechat Refinery is fully operational after being taken out of operation for a regular inspection required by law every six years. The aim was the thorough cleaning, inspection and maintenance of plant components as well as the modernisation of the petrochemicals unit and parts of the refining unit. The units for fuel production... [Read More]