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Released on 23/11/12
Environment Secretary orders assessment after more reports on the dangers to insects emergeThe Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is examining the possibility of banning the controversial nerve-agent pesticides increasingly implicated in the decline of bees and other pollinating insects.Mr Paterson has asked officials of his Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to examine the practical consequences of restricting the use of neonicotinoids, which are now widely deployed across British agriculture, The Independent has learnt.He wants to know about the likely effects on farming of a ban, and what alternatives might be available.This is the first sign that the Government may shift its stance on neonicotinoids, which, it was disclosed yesterday, have been implicated in problems with bee health in more than 30 scientific research papers in the last three years alone.Mr Paterson's action will send shockwaves through the immensely profitable agro-chemical industry. Any ban on neonicotinoids would mean many millions of pounds in lost profits for the multinational companies which manufacture them, such as Bayer and Syngenta, and would be vigorously resisted by the industry, and possibly by farmers as well.But Defra is coming under increasing criticism for not adopting a precautionary approach towards the chemicals in the face of the rapidly mounting body of research implicating them in environmental problems, especially the widespread declines of honey bees and bumble bees.So far, Government advisers have insisted there is no "unequivocal evidence" that they are harmful and have refused to recommend a ban, although they have been banned in other countries, including France and Germany.Mr Paterson said yesterday: "The health of our bees is a real concern and we have always been open-minded about the results of any new science that links bee decline with the use of certain pesticides."There has been a lot of research into the effect of neonicotinoids on bees in laboratories but.crucially we still don't really know what impact they are having in the wild. That is why I have asked the Food and Environment Research Agency to speed up the field studies they are doing. Once we have the full picture in the New Year I will be asking independent experts to give us an up to date view on the safety of neonicotinoids."Mr Paterson's independent experts will be the members of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, who have twice stated recently that evidence against neonicotinoids does not justify banning them.
Source Factiva News
Environment Secretary orders assessment after more reports on the dangers to insects emergeThe Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is examining the possibility of banning the controversial nerve-agent pesticides increasingly implicated in the decline of bees and other pollinating insects.Mr Paterson has asked officials of his Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to examine the practical consequences of restricting the use of neonicotinoids, which are now widely deployed across British agriculture, The Independent has learnt.He wants to know about the likely effects on farming of a ban, and what alternatives might be available.This is the first sign that the Government may shift its stance on neonicotinoids, which, it was disclosed yesterday, have been implicated in problems with bee health in more than 30 scientific research papers in the last three years alone.Mr Paterson's action will send shockwaves through the immensely profitable agro-chemical industry. Any ban on neonicotinoids would mean many millions of pounds in lost profits for the multinational companies which manufacture them, such as Bayer and Syngenta, and would be vigorously resisted by the industry, and possibly by farmers as well.But Defra is coming under increasing criticism for not adopting a precautionary approach towards the chemicals in the face of the rapidly mounting body of research implicating them in environmental problems, especially the widespread declines of honey bees and bumble bees.So far, Government advisers have insisted there is no "unequivocal evidence" that they are harmful and have refused to recommend a ban, although they have been banned in other countries, including France and Germany.Mr Paterson said yesterday: "The health of our bees is a real concern and we have always been open-minded about the results of any new science that links bee decline with the use of certain pesticides."There has been a lot of research into the effect of neonicotinoids on bees in laboratories but.crucially we still don't really know what impact they are having in the wild. That is why I have asked the Food and Environment Research Agency to speed up the field studies they are doing. Once we have the full picture in the New Year I will be asking independent experts to give us an up to date view on the safety of neonicotinoids."Mr Paterson's independent experts will be the members of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, who have twice stated recently that evidence against neonicotinoids does not justify banning them.
Source Factiva News
Released on 10/12/12
The South African fuels and chemicals maker Sasol will proceed with engineering and design for building gas-to-liquids and ethylene plants at its Lake Charles, La., complex. The project, which may cost as much $21 billion to complete over a five- to seven-year period, is being billed as the largest manufacturing investment ever for the state of Louisiana and one of the largest-ever direct foreign investments in the U.S.The gas-to-liquids facility will reform natural gas extracted from shale into a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. It will then use a Fischer-Tropsch process, which converts the mixture into hydrocarbons, to make fuels and chemicals such as diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, paraffin, and base oils. Expected to cost between $11 billion and $14 billion, the gas-to-liquids plant will open in phases. The first phase will start up in 2018 with 48,000 barrels per day of capacity. The second phase will double the plant’s size the following year.The ethylene cracker will use shale-based ethane as its feedstock. Downstream from the 1.5 million-metric-ton cracker, Sasol plans to build polyethylene, ethylene oxide, synthetic alcohols, 1-octene, and ethoxylation facilities. The complex will cost between $5 billion and $7 billion and is slated for completion in 2017.The project is predicated on North American natural gas remaining a much cheaper raw material than oil, Sasol Senior Group Executive André M. de Ruyter told reporters on a conference call. Recent price ratios of a barrel of oil to a million Btu of natural gas have been about 30 to 1, he noted, and the project would still be viable at a ratio of 15 to 1. “Gas-to-liquids would make an enormous amount of sense if we could have the plant up and running today,” he said. Sasol has delayed plans for a gas-to-liquids project in Canada until it completes the Lake Charles plant.
Source Chemical & Engineering News
The South African fuels and chemicals maker Sasol will proceed with engineering and design for building gas-to-liquids and ethylene plants at its Lake Charles, La., complex. The project, which may cost as much $21 billion to complete over a five- to seven-year period, is being billed as the largest manufacturing investment ever for the state of Louisiana and one of the largest-ever direct foreign investments in the U.S.The gas-to-liquids facility will reform natural gas extracted from shale into a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. It will then use a Fischer-Tropsch process, which converts the mixture into hydrocarbons, to make fuels and chemicals such as diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, paraffin, and base oils. Expected to cost between $11 billion and $14 billion, the gas-to-liquids plant will open in phases. The first phase will start up in 2018 with 48,000 barrels per day of capacity. The second phase will double the plant’s size the following year.The ethylene cracker will use shale-based ethane as its feedstock. Downstream from the 1.5 million-metric-ton cracker, Sasol plans to build polyethylene, ethylene oxide, synthetic alcohols, 1-octene, and ethoxylation facilities. The complex will cost between $5 billion and $7 billion and is slated for completion in 2017.The project is predicated on North American natural gas remaining a much cheaper raw material than oil, Sasol Senior Group Executive André M. de Ruyter told reporters on a conference call. Recent price ratios of a barrel of oil to a million Btu of natural gas have been about 30 to 1, he noted, and the project would still be viable at a ratio of 15 to 1. “Gas-to-liquids would make an enormous amount of sense if we could have the plant up and running today,” he said. Sasol has delayed plans for a gas-to-liquids project in Canada until it completes the Lake Charles plant.
Source Chemical & Engineering News
Released on 23/11/12
Science-based products and services company DuPont’s Knowledge Centre in Hyderabad will soon become its largest R&D facility outside of the US. The $38-billion company currently conducts research across 150 locations around the world. It provides products and services to a diverse set of industries, ranging from food, agriculture and textile to energy, automotive and protection.It has finalized plans to expand the four-year-old Hyderabad facility to develop products and services in diverse fields to provide a platform for its global products.The company spends $2 billion on R&D annually, a significant slice of which will be utilized by the Hyderabad facility and its other laboratories in South Asia.Rajeev Vaidya, President (South Asia), said the expansion would support the company’s global seed trait discovery research. It will undertake research on developing new traits on a variety of crops such as corn and maize that enhance yields and are more resistant to pests.It will also work on new molecules for developing fungicides, insecticides and pesticides.Most of the crop research programs are long-term and will take a few years before some of these hit the market,” Homi C. Bhedwar, Technical Director, (South Asia), said.
Source
Science-based products and services company DuPont’s Knowledge Centre in Hyderabad will soon become its largest R&D facility outside of the US. The $38-billion company currently conducts research across 150 locations around the world. It provides products and services to a diverse set of industries, ranging from food, agriculture and textile to energy, automotive and protection.It has finalized plans to expand the four-year-old Hyderabad facility to develop products and services in diverse fields to provide a platform for its global products.The company spends $2 billion on R&D annually, a significant slice of which will be utilized by the Hyderabad facility and its other laboratories in South Asia.Rajeev Vaidya, President (South Asia), said the expansion would support the company’s global seed trait discovery research. It will undertake research on developing new traits on a variety of crops such as corn and maize that enhance yields and are more resistant to pests.It will also work on new molecules for developing fungicides, insecticides and pesticides.Most of the crop research programs are long-term and will take a few years before some of these hit the market,” Homi C. Bhedwar, Technical Director, (South Asia), said.
Source
Released on 04/12/12
INEOS is to invest in the construction of a new ethane tank at its Rafnes site in Norway. The company has signed a Letter Of Intent with TGE Gas Engineering to build a new tank and expanded infrastructure, to be commissioned in 2015. The new facility will complement the existing storage at Rafnes. It will expand the company’s ability to access ethane from world markets and secure long-term competitiveness and jobs at the site. The investment in the tank and infrastructure at Rafnes quickly follows the recent completion of supply and infrastructure agreements by INEOS, to access ethane feedstock from the US for use in its European cracker complexes. The additional ethane will supplement existing supplies and provide the opportunity to replace more expensive Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). as a consequence, secure the long term future of its sites in Norway. “This is extremely good news for Rafnes and for the petrochemical industry in Grenland. The investment is a real vote of confidence in the Rafnes site by INEOS, that helps secure our long term future and profitability of the site,” said Magnar Bakke Site manager INEOS Olefins & Polymers Norway. “The building of the tank will provide construction jobs over the next two years, but it helps to secure jobs here for much longer. The investment in a new storage tank and infrastructure gives the site important long term options, in addition to our current supply arrangements, to access raw materials from around the world. We are a
Source Official press release
INEOS is to invest in the construction of a new ethane tank at its Rafnes site in Norway. The company has signed a Letter Of Intent with TGE Gas Engineering to build a new tank and expanded infrastructure, to be commissioned in 2015. The new facility will complement the existing storage at Rafnes. It will expand the company’s ability to access ethane from world markets and secure long-term competitiveness and jobs at the site. The investment in the tank and infrastructure at Rafnes quickly follows the recent completion of supply and infrastructure agreements by INEOS, to access ethane feedstock from the US for use in its European cracker complexes. The additional ethane will supplement existing supplies and provide the opportunity to replace more expensive Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). as a consequence, secure the long term future of its sites in Norway. “This is extremely good news for Rafnes and for the petrochemical industry in Grenland. The investment is a real vote of confidence in the Rafnes site by INEOS, that helps secure our long term future and profitability of the site,” said Magnar Bakke Site manager INEOS Olefins & Polymers Norway. “The building of the tank will provide construction jobs over the next two years, but it helps to secure jobs here for much longer. The investment in a new storage tank and infrastructure gives the site important long term options, in addition to our current supply arrangements, to access raw materials from around the world. We are a
Source Official press release
Released 11/12/12
Brazilian petrochemical company Braskem will invest less in 2013 than in 2012, not including its Etileno XXI polyethylene joint venture [...]*.
*Complete article not accessible yet
Source www.bnamericas.com
Brazilian petrochemical company Braskem will invest less in 2013 than in 2012, not including its Etileno XXI polyethylene joint venture [...]*.
*Complete article not accessible yet
Source www.bnamericas.com
Released on 10/12/12
PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC; Bangkok) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned Pertamina (Jakarta) to invest jointly $5 billion in an integrated refinery and petrochemical complex on the island of Java, Indonesia. “We are confident that a partnership between PTTGC and Pertamina in a petrochemical complex will be mutually beneficial as it reflects the shared strategic intent of both companies,” says Anon Sirisaengtaksin, CEO of PTTGC. PTTGC plans to diversify its portfolio to include downstream specialties and green chemicals, he says. Further details were not disclosed but a formal agreement is due to be signed in April 2013.
“Petrochemicals are one of Pertamina’s core growth pillars to achieve its 2025 vision as a world-class energy and Asian energy champion,” says Karen Agustiawan, Pertamina CEO. Pertamina is serious about this partnership and the Indonesian authorities are showing strong support toward Pertamina, she says. Pertamina plans to integrate five refineries with petrochemicals. PTTGC recently submitted a prefeasibility study to build a joint-venture refinery and aromatics complex in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Chandra Asri (Jakarta), Indonesia’s largest petrochemicals producer, has signed a separate agreement with Pertamina to establish a joint-venture polypropylene (PP) manufacturing plant. The facility will cost about $200 million and will be built at Balongan, West Java. It will be designed to produce 250,000 m.t./year of PP. Pertamina is expected to supply refinery propylene to the unit and own a 51% stake in it. Chandra Asri will have the rest. Completion is expected in 2015. Pertamina signed a contract earlier this year with Foster Wheeler to build a residue fluid catalytic cracker and a propylene recovery unit at its Java refinery. Chandra Asri also this year started construction of a 100,000-m.t./year butadiene extraction plant at its Cilegon, West Java complex, where it operates a Lummus-process steam cracker designed to produce 600,000 m.t./year of ethylene; 320,000 m.t./year of propylene; and 220,000 m.t./year of C4 fraction. The butadiene plant will be operated by the company's PT Petrokimia Butadiene Indonesia subsidiary.
Chandra Asri's downstream units are designed to produce a combined 320,000 m.t/year of polyethylene (PE) and 360,000 m.t./year of PP. All of the polyolefin units, with the exception of one, are based on Unipol technology. Showa Denko provided its bimodal PE technology to the other facility. Chandra Asri plans to expand the cracker to 1 million m.t./year of ethylene and raise capacity of the PE complex to 540,000 m.t./year. PP capacity at Cilegon is expected to be hiked to 480,000 m.t/year. Separately, the company's Styrindo Mono Indonesia subsidiary operates a 340,000-m.t./year styrene plant, which is located at Puloampel, not far from Cilegon.
The new and existing PP capacity is expected to help Chandra Asri meet Indonesia’s growing demand. The country’s plastics consumption reached 2.8 million m.t. last year. PP and PE accounted for 70% of the total, and polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate accounted for 30%. Chandra Asri is owned 59.35% by PT Barito Pacific (Jakarta), controlled by businessman Prajogo Pangestu; 30.03% by SCG Chemicals (Bangkok); and 5.52% by Marigold Resources. The remaining stake is owned by the public.
Source Chemical Week
PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC; Bangkok) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned Pertamina (Jakarta) to invest jointly $5 billion in an integrated refinery and petrochemical complex on the island of Java, Indonesia. “We are confident that a partnership between PTTGC and Pertamina in a petrochemical complex will be mutually beneficial as it reflects the shared strategic intent of both companies,” says Anon Sirisaengtaksin, CEO of PTTGC. PTTGC plans to diversify its portfolio to include downstream specialties and green chemicals, he says. Further details were not disclosed but a formal agreement is due to be signed in April 2013.
“Petrochemicals are one of Pertamina’s core growth pillars to achieve its 2025 vision as a world-class energy and Asian energy champion,” says Karen Agustiawan, Pertamina CEO. Pertamina is serious about this partnership and the Indonesian authorities are showing strong support toward Pertamina, she says. Pertamina plans to integrate five refineries with petrochemicals. PTTGC recently submitted a prefeasibility study to build a joint-venture refinery and aromatics complex in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Chandra Asri (Jakarta), Indonesia’s largest petrochemicals producer, has signed a separate agreement with Pertamina to establish a joint-venture polypropylene (PP) manufacturing plant. The facility will cost about $200 million and will be built at Balongan, West Java. It will be designed to produce 250,000 m.t./year of PP. Pertamina is expected to supply refinery propylene to the unit and own a 51% stake in it. Chandra Asri will have the rest. Completion is expected in 2015. Pertamina signed a contract earlier this year with Foster Wheeler to build a residue fluid catalytic cracker and a propylene recovery unit at its Java refinery. Chandra Asri also this year started construction of a 100,000-m.t./year butadiene extraction plant at its Cilegon, West Java complex, where it operates a Lummus-process steam cracker designed to produce 600,000 m.t./year of ethylene; 320,000 m.t./year of propylene; and 220,000 m.t./year of C4 fraction. The butadiene plant will be operated by the company's PT Petrokimia Butadiene Indonesia subsidiary.
Chandra Asri's downstream units are designed to produce a combined 320,000 m.t/year of polyethylene (PE) and 360,000 m.t./year of PP. All of the polyolefin units, with the exception of one, are based on Unipol technology. Showa Denko provided its bimodal PE technology to the other facility. Chandra Asri plans to expand the cracker to 1 million m.t./year of ethylene and raise capacity of the PE complex to 540,000 m.t./year. PP capacity at Cilegon is expected to be hiked to 480,000 m.t/year. Separately, the company's Styrindo Mono Indonesia subsidiary operates a 340,000-m.t./year styrene plant, which is located at Puloampel, not far from Cilegon.
The new and existing PP capacity is expected to help Chandra Asri meet Indonesia’s growing demand. The country’s plastics consumption reached 2.8 million m.t. last year. PP and PE accounted for 70% of the total, and polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate accounted for 30%. Chandra Asri is owned 59.35% by PT Barito Pacific (Jakarta), controlled by businessman Prajogo Pangestu; 30.03% by SCG Chemicals (Bangkok); and 5.52% by Marigold Resources. The remaining stake is owned by the public.
Source Chemical Week
Released on 05/12/12
OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim and INEOS Technologies are pleased to announce that Innovene G and Innovene S polyethylene technologies have been licensed for OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim’s new petrochemical project. The 300 KTA Innovene G and 300 KTA Innovene S plants will be part of a larger expansion at the petrochemical complex in Nizhnekamsk, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. The planned commissioning for the complex is in the 2015 - 2016 timeframe.
The combination of Innovene G gas phase fluid bed and Innovene S slurry phase HDPE provides OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim with a complete product portfolio. INEOS Technologies HPLL metallocene LLDPE film products will be featured in the product slate along with state of the art PE-100 pipe grades, premium bimodal HMW HDPE film, bimodal blow molding and HDPE commodity molding grades. INEOS Technologies’ Carbon Black compounding technology will ensure ISO PE-100 qualification of the pipe grades.
Vladimir Busygin, General Director of OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim, notes “By signing the license agreement for INEOS technology, we will be able to produce various grades of polyethylene and be competitive not only in Russia and CIS, but also in other foreign countries.”
Peter Williams, CEO of INEOS Technologies, commented: "INEOS Technologies is very proud of the fact that OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim has chosen Innovene G and Innovene S to supply their full range of PE needs for the new petrochemical project in Nizhnekamsk. Our Polyethylene technology has been recognised as a world wide leader and we are confident that it will serve OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim’s long term marketing needs domestically and in export markets.”
Source Official Press Release
OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim and INEOS Technologies are pleased to announce that Innovene G and Innovene S polyethylene technologies have been licensed for OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim’s new petrochemical project. The 300 KTA Innovene G and 300 KTA Innovene S plants will be part of a larger expansion at the petrochemical complex in Nizhnekamsk, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. The planned commissioning for the complex is in the 2015 - 2016 timeframe.
The combination of Innovene G gas phase fluid bed and Innovene S slurry phase HDPE provides OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim with a complete product portfolio. INEOS Technologies HPLL metallocene LLDPE film products will be featured in the product slate along with state of the art PE-100 pipe grades, premium bimodal HMW HDPE film, bimodal blow molding and HDPE commodity molding grades. INEOS Technologies’ Carbon Black compounding technology will ensure ISO PE-100 qualification of the pipe grades.
Vladimir Busygin, General Director of OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim, notes “By signing the license agreement for INEOS technology, we will be able to produce various grades of polyethylene and be competitive not only in Russia and CIS, but also in other foreign countries.”
Peter Williams, CEO of INEOS Technologies, commented: "INEOS Technologies is very proud of the fact that OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim has chosen Innovene G and Innovene S to supply their full range of PE needs for the new petrochemical project in Nizhnekamsk. Our Polyethylene technology has been recognised as a world wide leader and we are confident that it will serve OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim’s long term marketing needs domestically and in export markets.”
Source Official Press Release
Released 10/12/12
Styron has announced that its acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) train, at its 35,000 tonne/year Terneuzen plant in the Netherlands, has restarted following an outage in October, a company source said on Monday.
The outage, which was announced on 19 October, commenced on 26 October and was attributed to technical issues and the necessity to carry out maintenance on the train.
Styron was able to manage supply to its customers during the outage, helped by softening demand for ABS in November and December.
The majority of ABS buyers have been carefully managing their stock levels throughout the fourth quarter to ensure they are not holding large inventories at year-end.
Despite other European ABS suppliers lowering production rates because of reduced demand, Styron’s outage did not have an impact on the supply of ABS in Europe, and consumers were able to purchase product as and when needed.
ABS is used in a wide range of goods and industries, including the automotive and appliances sectors.
Source ICIS News
Styron has announced that its acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) train, at its 35,000 tonne/year Terneuzen plant in the Netherlands, has restarted following an outage in October, a company source said on Monday.
The outage, which was announced on 19 October, commenced on 26 October and was attributed to technical issues and the necessity to carry out maintenance on the train.
Styron was able to manage supply to its customers during the outage, helped by softening demand for ABS in November and December.
The majority of ABS buyers have been carefully managing their stock levels throughout the fourth quarter to ensure they are not holding large inventories at year-end.
Despite other European ABS suppliers lowering production rates because of reduced demand, Styron’s outage did not have an impact on the supply of ABS in Europe, and consumers were able to purchase product as and when needed.
ABS is used in a wide range of goods and industries, including the automotive and appliances sectors.
Source ICIS News
Released on 06/12/12
Petrofac has received two engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts from Saudi Aramco to work on the Jazan Refinery and Terminal project in Saudi Arabia.The two contracts are worth about $1.4bn and will be executed from Petrofac's Saudi Arabian office.The scope of the contracts includes delivery of tank farms in the north and south areas of the project."The two contracts are worth about $1.4bn and will be executed from Petrofac's Saudi Arabian office."Petrofac Engineering, Construction, Operations and Maintenance division chief executive Marwan Chedid said the contracts will reinforce the relationships and experience the company has developed through its recent involvement on the Karan project, as well as the ongoing Petro Rabigh projects for Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical.''As this project progresses, we look forward to working closely with Saudi Aramco and our contractors to further deepen our engineering and project management capability in the Kingdom," Chedid added.On completion of the project, the refinery will produce nearly 400,000bpd of oil and have associated terminal facilities on the Red Sea, near Jazan in south-west Saudi Arabia.The contracts, which are scheduled to begin within three years, form the first major awards granted by Saudi Aramco as part of its In-Kingdom EPC programme.
Source www.chemicals-technology.com
Petrofac has received two engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts from Saudi Aramco to work on the Jazan Refinery and Terminal project in Saudi Arabia.The two contracts are worth about $1.4bn and will be executed from Petrofac's Saudi Arabian office.The scope of the contracts includes delivery of tank farms in the north and south areas of the project."The two contracts are worth about $1.4bn and will be executed from Petrofac's Saudi Arabian office."Petrofac Engineering, Construction, Operations and Maintenance division chief executive Marwan Chedid said the contracts will reinforce the relationships and experience the company has developed through its recent involvement on the Karan project, as well as the ongoing Petro Rabigh projects for Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical.''As this project progresses, we look forward to working closely with Saudi Aramco and our contractors to further deepen our engineering and project management capability in the Kingdom," Chedid added.On completion of the project, the refinery will produce nearly 400,000bpd of oil and have associated terminal facilities on the Red Sea, near Jazan in south-west Saudi Arabia.The contracts, which are scheduled to begin within three years, form the first major awards granted by Saudi Aramco as part of its In-Kingdom EPC programme.
Source www.chemicals-technology.com
Released 10/12/12
Companies in the EU are increasing their investment in R&D, despite the difficult economic conditions, according to a report from the European Commission that looked at the global top 1500 R&D investors.
Investment rose by 8.9% in 2011, compared with a rise of 6.1% in 2010, putting the EU above the global average of 7.6% growth, but just below the US figure of 9% growth.
In absolute terms, the global pharma industry invested the most in R&D, over €90 billion (£72 billion) in 2011. But it was in second place within the EU, behind the automotive industry. Three drug makers nevertheless made it into the top ten EU investors in R&D: Sanofi at four, GlaxoSmithKline at five and AstraZeneca at eight.
But the Commission found the largest increases in investment in the banking, industrial engineering and automotive industries.
According to the report, the EU remains a highly attractive place for investment in R&D, thanks to: ‘developed markets with a sophisticated demand [so-called lead markets]; the quality and quantity of its pool of skilled labour; public support [of] R&D and the quality of its scientific and technological base’.
Source RSC (Chemistry World)
Companies in the EU are increasing their investment in R&D, despite the difficult economic conditions, according to a report from the European Commission that looked at the global top 1500 R&D investors.
Investment rose by 8.9% in 2011, compared with a rise of 6.1% in 2010, putting the EU above the global average of 7.6% growth, but just below the US figure of 9% growth.
In absolute terms, the global pharma industry invested the most in R&D, over €90 billion (£72 billion) in 2011. But it was in second place within the EU, behind the automotive industry. Three drug makers nevertheless made it into the top ten EU investors in R&D: Sanofi at four, GlaxoSmithKline at five and AstraZeneca at eight.
But the Commission found the largest increases in investment in the banking, industrial engineering and automotive industries.
According to the report, the EU remains a highly attractive place for investment in R&D, thanks to: ‘developed markets with a sophisticated demand [so-called lead markets]; the quality and quantity of its pool of skilled labour; public support [of] R&D and the quality of its scientific and technological base’.
Source RSC (Chemistry World)
Released on 04/12/12
American Vanguard Corporation (AVD) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Amvac Chemical Corporation (“AMVAC”), has formed a new joint venture with natural life science company, TyraTech, Inc. (LON:TYR and TYRU). The joint venture will develop and commercialize pesticide products featuring TyraTech’s Nature’s Technology™ which harnesses the synergy of natural ingredients to deliver products with the highest level of efficacy and safety.The joint venture will commercialize these best-in-class pesticide products and technologies in the global consumer household and lawn and garden retail markets. Additionally, it will develop and commercialize products and technologies in global commercial, institutional, professional, crop protection and seed treatment markets. Using TyraTech’s Extend Technology™, the joint venture will also develop new combinations with synthetic compounds to both improve efficacy and environmental impact on a range of crops, which will give AMVAC access to range of new global market opportunities.Under the terms of this agreement, TyraTech will retain all rights to use its technology in the Human and Animal Health markets together with certain other consumer markets. As part of this collaboration, AMVAC will have access to TyraTech’s patented screening platform that is utilized to identify synergistic combinations of natural compounds that display efficacy in controlling insect and parasitic infestation.The venture will be jointly owned by AMVAC and TyraTech, with AMVAC owning majority interest. The new company will be led by TyraTech’s current Vice President of Commercial Operations, Shayne M. Wetherall, who will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the venture. The new company will be headquartered in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina, giving it direct access to TyraTech’s R&D, production, and supply chain teams.Eric Wintemute, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of American Vanguard commented: “This joint venture collaboration represents an exciting growth opportunity for AMVAC. This important addition of technologies, products, and capabilities complements AMVAC’s existing product offering in crop and non-crop sectors. We are excited to work with TyraTech, a company known for its lengthy commitment to R&D which has resulted in several state-of-the-art natural product lines.”Alan Reade, Executive Chairman of TyraTech said, “TyraTech is very excited about the opportunity to partner with AMVAC in this venture, as we believe it will allow both the successful commercialization of current products in addition to developing new opportunities in areas such as Lawn and Garden and Seed Treatment.”Mr. Wintemute continued: “The opportunity to utilize TyraTech’s R&D strength and proprietary screening capabilities to explore and develop new active ingredients and formulations will greatly enhance AMVAC’s ability to explore new product opportunities, expedite the development process, and commercialize new pesticides.”About American VanguardAmerican Vanguard Corporation is a diversified specialty and agricultural products company that develops and markets products for crop protection and management, turf and ornamentals management and public and animal health. American Vanguard is included on the Russell 2000® & Russell 3000® Indexes and the Standard & Poors Small Cap 600 Index. To learn more about American Vanguard, please reference the Company’s web site at www.american-vanguard.com.The Company, from time to time, may discuss forward-looking information. All forward-looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from management’s current expectations. Such factors include weather conditions, changes in regulatory policy and other risks as detailed in the Company’s SEC reports and filings. Any forward-looking statements in this release represent the Company’s best judgment as of the date of this release.
Source Official Press Release
American Vanguard Corporation (AVD) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Amvac Chemical Corporation (“AMVAC”), has formed a new joint venture with natural life science company, TyraTech, Inc. (LON:TYR and TYRU). The joint venture will develop and commercialize pesticide products featuring TyraTech’s Nature’s Technology™ which harnesses the synergy of natural ingredients to deliver products with the highest level of efficacy and safety.The joint venture will commercialize these best-in-class pesticide products and technologies in the global consumer household and lawn and garden retail markets. Additionally, it will develop and commercialize products and technologies in global commercial, institutional, professional, crop protection and seed treatment markets. Using TyraTech’s Extend Technology™, the joint venture will also develop new combinations with synthetic compounds to both improve efficacy and environmental impact on a range of crops, which will give AMVAC access to range of new global market opportunities.Under the terms of this agreement, TyraTech will retain all rights to use its technology in the Human and Animal Health markets together with certain other consumer markets. As part of this collaboration, AMVAC will have access to TyraTech’s patented screening platform that is utilized to identify synergistic combinations of natural compounds that display efficacy in controlling insect and parasitic infestation.The venture will be jointly owned by AMVAC and TyraTech, with AMVAC owning majority interest. The new company will be led by TyraTech’s current Vice President of Commercial Operations, Shayne M. Wetherall, who will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the venture. The new company will be headquartered in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina, giving it direct access to TyraTech’s R&D, production, and supply chain teams.Eric Wintemute, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of American Vanguard commented: “This joint venture collaboration represents an exciting growth opportunity for AMVAC. This important addition of technologies, products, and capabilities complements AMVAC’s existing product offering in crop and non-crop sectors. We are excited to work with TyraTech, a company known for its lengthy commitment to R&D which has resulted in several state-of-the-art natural product lines.”Alan Reade, Executive Chairman of TyraTech said, “TyraTech is very excited about the opportunity to partner with AMVAC in this venture, as we believe it will allow both the successful commercialization of current products in addition to developing new opportunities in areas such as Lawn and Garden and Seed Treatment.”Mr. Wintemute continued: “The opportunity to utilize TyraTech’s R&D strength and proprietary screening capabilities to explore and develop new active ingredients and formulations will greatly enhance AMVAC’s ability to explore new product opportunities, expedite the development process, and commercialize new pesticides.”About American VanguardAmerican Vanguard Corporation is a diversified specialty and agricultural products company that develops and markets products for crop protection and management, turf and ornamentals management and public and animal health. American Vanguard is included on the Russell 2000® & Russell 3000® Indexes and the Standard & Poors Small Cap 600 Index. To learn more about American Vanguard, please reference the Company’s web site at www.american-vanguard.com.The Company, from time to time, may discuss forward-looking information. All forward-looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from management’s current expectations. Such factors include weather conditions, changes in regulatory policy and other risks as detailed in the Company’s SEC reports and filings. Any forward-looking statements in this release represent the Company’s best judgment as of the date of this release.
Source Official Press Release
Released on 03/12/12
South African chemicals and energy company Sasol Ltd. said it could spend up to $21 billion to build a complex in Louisiana to turn natural gas into diesel, other fuels and chemicals.The company said Monday that it will begin initial engineering work on a long-discussed complex in Westlake, that will use domestic natural gas, which is among the cheapest in the world, to make higher-value chemicals and fuels.The company plans to first spend $5 billion to $7 billion on a chemical plant and later add an $11 billion to $14 billion gas-to-liquids plant that will turn natural gas into diesel.The complex, if built, will employ 7,000 construction workers during peak construction and 1,200 permanent workers, the company said.
South African chemicals and energy company Sasol Ltd. said it could spend up to $21 billion to build a complex in Louisiana to turn natural gas into diesel, other fuels and chemicals.The company said Monday that it will begin initial engineering work on a long-discussed complex in Westlake, that will use domestic natural gas, which is among the cheapest in the world, to make higher-value chemicals and fuels.The company plans to first spend $5 billion to $7 billion on a chemical plant and later add an $11 billion to $14 billion gas-to-liquids plant that will turn natural gas into diesel.The complex, if built, will employ 7,000 construction workers during peak construction and 1,200 permanent workers, the company said.
Released on 27/11/12
Taiwanese company Dairen Chemical is studying the feasibility of producing some products, probably including vinyl acetate monomer and VAM derivatives, the Chang Chun group company's main products, in the US starting as early as in 2016. The scale of VAM production is likely to be 350,000 t/y.The company is pondering the effective utilization of raw materials and utilities derived from shale gas, whose development has been active in the US, to secure competitiveness. The US will be the next bridgehead for Dairen's global strategy following China and Southeast Asia.The company is currently working on the construction of a new plant in Singapore with a 350,000-t/y VAM facility that is expected to start production in May and a 200,000-t/y facility for allyl alcohol that is expected to start production in May-June. The new VAM output is initially destined for supply to Yizheng, China, for the local production of VAM derivatives by the Chang Chun group. Moreover, a project to build a 350,000-t/y VAM plant in Yizheng has been approved, including the project's environmental-impact assessment. The Yizheng project will be advanced depending on the operating status of the Singapore plant and on market conditions.Dairen is also considering a 350,000-t/y VAM plant as part of Petronas' Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development, or RAPID, project, which is being developed in Johor, Malaysia, and plans to take part in a number of other large-scale overseas projects as well.
Source Japan Chemical Web
Taiwanese company Dairen Chemical is studying the feasibility of producing some products, probably including vinyl acetate monomer and VAM derivatives, the Chang Chun group company's main products, in the US starting as early as in 2016. The scale of VAM production is likely to be 350,000 t/y.The company is pondering the effective utilization of raw materials and utilities derived from shale gas, whose development has been active in the US, to secure competitiveness. The US will be the next bridgehead for Dairen's global strategy following China and Southeast Asia.The company is currently working on the construction of a new plant in Singapore with a 350,000-t/y VAM facility that is expected to start production in May and a 200,000-t/y facility for allyl alcohol that is expected to start production in May-June. The new VAM output is initially destined for supply to Yizheng, China, for the local production of VAM derivatives by the Chang Chun group. Moreover, a project to build a 350,000-t/y VAM plant in Yizheng has been approved, including the project's environmental-impact assessment. The Yizheng project will be advanced depending on the operating status of the Singapore plant and on market conditions.Dairen is also considering a 350,000-t/y VAM plant as part of Petronas' Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development, or RAPID, project, which is being developed in Johor, Malaysia, and plans to take part in a number of other large-scale overseas projects as well.
Source Japan Chemical Web
Released on 03/12/12
US-based Dow Chemical will not seek ownership partners for its 1.5m tonne/year world-scale ethane cracker on the US Gulf coast but expects to have off-take agreements that will reduce capital outlays, its chief executive said on Monday.“We are not into condo crackers,” said CEO Andrew Liveris, referring to the term for a joint venture cracker project. “We think you need a clear manager and integrator for the facility.”“However, we can secure large contracts for ethylene and derivatives - whether it involves PE [polyethylene] or not - to defer capital,” he added at a media event at Dow’s annual investor day meeting.The large off-take agreements could involve a capital contribution up front from the buyers of the product.“We have a number of solicitations on this,” noted Liveris.Dow’s cracker is estimated to cost around $2bn (€1.5bn), according to Deutsche Bank analyst David Begleiter.The cracker, code-named “Texas 9” by Dow and to be built in Freeport, Texas, is on track for completion in 2017, the CEO said.“We are in the permitting process, and I believe we will be the second cracker to receive a permit,” said Liveris.“We are in the middle of the FEED [front-end engineering and design] on the cracker, as well as for the PDH [propane dehydrogenation] unit,” he added.The PDH plant, also to be built in Freeport with start-up by mid-2015, would bring on 750,000 tonnes/year of propylene capacity.US-based engineering and construction firm Fluor is the contractor for both the cracker and the PDH project.Also on the US Gulf Coast, Dow is on track to restart its St Charles, Louisiana, cracker by the end of 2012.The restart of the 390,000 tonne/year cracker is expected to add $150m in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in 2013.At its Plaquemine, Louisiana, cracker, Dow continues to work on increasing ethane cracking capability by 2015.Dow expects its US Gulf coast expansions will bring in $2bn/year in additional EBITDA by 2017.
Source ICIS News
US-based Dow Chemical will not seek ownership partners for its 1.5m tonne/year world-scale ethane cracker on the US Gulf coast but expects to have off-take agreements that will reduce capital outlays, its chief executive said on Monday.“We are not into condo crackers,” said CEO Andrew Liveris, referring to the term for a joint venture cracker project. “We think you need a clear manager and integrator for the facility.”“However, we can secure large contracts for ethylene and derivatives - whether it involves PE [polyethylene] or not - to defer capital,” he added at a media event at Dow’s annual investor day meeting.The large off-take agreements could involve a capital contribution up front from the buyers of the product.“We have a number of solicitations on this,” noted Liveris.Dow’s cracker is estimated to cost around $2bn (€1.5bn), according to Deutsche Bank analyst David Begleiter.The cracker, code-named “Texas 9” by Dow and to be built in Freeport, Texas, is on track for completion in 2017, the CEO said.“We are in the permitting process, and I believe we will be the second cracker to receive a permit,” said Liveris.“We are in the middle of the FEED [front-end engineering and design] on the cracker, as well as for the PDH [propane dehydrogenation] unit,” he added.The PDH plant, also to be built in Freeport with start-up by mid-2015, would bring on 750,000 tonnes/year of propylene capacity.US-based engineering and construction firm Fluor is the contractor for both the cracker and the PDH project.Also on the US Gulf Coast, Dow is on track to restart its St Charles, Louisiana, cracker by the end of 2012.The restart of the 390,000 tonne/year cracker is expected to add $150m in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in 2013.At its Plaquemine, Louisiana, cracker, Dow continues to work on increasing ethane cracking capability by 2015.Dow expects its US Gulf coast expansions will bring in $2bn/year in additional EBITDA by 2017.
Source ICIS News
Released on 05/12/12
Asahi Kasei Chemicals has completed building its Kawasaki Innovation Center, a new integrated R&D facility at its Kawasaki Works in Kanagawa, Japan."The ¥2bn ($24m) R&D centre will house many research and development organisations."The 7,770 square metre facility will employ 140 personnel to conduct research and development activities for catalyst and polymer design, surface control and environmental systems.The ¥2bn ($24m) R&D centre will house many research and development organisations for monomers and performance chemicals in it to enable greater interaction among researchers in diverse fields.Asahi Kasei Chemicals is creating new businesses in the field of the environment and energy by focusing on R&D in technology for catalyst and polymer design, surface control and membrane systems as part of the Asahi Kasei Group's mid-term management initiative, "For Tomorrow 2015".Under the initiative, the company is also expanding its global operations, which include acrylonitrile (AN) and solution-polymerised styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR).The company will also use the facility to integrate and enhance technology, in order to expand its businesses and establish new ones.The centre, which includes open laboratories, instruments and an exhibition space to display R&D results, is expected to commence operations from 17 December 2012.
Source www.chemicals-technology.com
Asahi Kasei Chemicals has completed building its Kawasaki Innovation Center, a new integrated R&D facility at its Kawasaki Works in Kanagawa, Japan."The ¥2bn ($24m) R&D centre will house many research and development organisations."The 7,770 square metre facility will employ 140 personnel to conduct research and development activities for catalyst and polymer design, surface control and environmental systems.The ¥2bn ($24m) R&D centre will house many research and development organisations for monomers and performance chemicals in it to enable greater interaction among researchers in diverse fields.Asahi Kasei Chemicals is creating new businesses in the field of the environment and energy by focusing on R&D in technology for catalyst and polymer design, surface control and membrane systems as part of the Asahi Kasei Group's mid-term management initiative, "For Tomorrow 2015".Under the initiative, the company is also expanding its global operations, which include acrylonitrile (AN) and solution-polymerised styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR).The company will also use the facility to integrate and enhance technology, in order to expand its businesses and establish new ones.The centre, which includes open laboratories, instruments and an exhibition space to display R&D results, is expected to commence operations from 17 December 2012.
Source www.chemicals-technology.com