Plans are underway for caustic soda and EDC complex at Salalah Free Zone

(plastemart) -- Plans are progressing for a major Caustic Soda and ethylene dichloride (EDC) complex at Salalah Free Zone (SFZ). Promoters are set to break ground on the project before the end of 2012 and commission it by 2014-end. The project is being developed by Saltic FZCO (formerly known as Oswal Oman Caustic FZCO). Total investment in the venture is estimated at USD400-500 mln.

According to officials at Salalah Free Zone, the project has two key components: a 1,000 tons per day (tpd) capacity caustic lye plant alongside a 1,231 tpd ethylene dichloride facility. Significant progress has been made on the engineering design of the grassroots venture. Technology for the caustic soda plant will be provided by Chlorine Engineers Corporation of Japan, while Ineos of Europe will provide the know-how for the EDC facility. SNC Lavalin Engineering India and STX Korea have also been involved in the detailed engineering of the project.

Salalah Free Zone has earmarked around 80 hectares of land for the development of the complex against a 25-year lease (with extension options). Salalah Port Services (SPS) is reported to have signed an MoU with Saltic FZCO for access and use of its port facilities.

Likewise, provisional agreements committing up 150 MW of electrical power for the project have been reached, underlining the keen support extended by Dhofar's authorities towards the early and successful realisation of this important industrial investment.


MRC

A new line of protective coatings for the water transmission pipe industry

(basf) -- A new line of protective coatings for the water transmission pipe industry has been introduced by BASF.

Elastocoat AC line of two-component polyurethane coatings are ideal for transmission pipes used in new installation and infrastructure renovation projects. It is a 100% solid elastomeric coating, which can be utilized as a corrosion-resistant exterior coating or as an interior lining for clean and polluted water transmission pipelines.

The two-component pipe coating is free from volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It offers several benefits, including exceptional cathodic disbondment property and high resistance to abrasion and impact. Elastocoat AC has been developed for the cathodic protection of ductile iron and steel pipes and associated fittings. The material meets the American Water Works Association's AWWA-C222 specification, a polyurethane coatings standard.


MRC

Total inks deal with Kuwait Petroleum Corp to buy stake in Zhanjiang refinery

(Reuters) -- Total has signed an agreement with two units of state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corporation to take a stake in the Zhanjiang refinery and petrochemicals platform in China.

Total, Kuwait Petroleum International and Petrochemicals Industries Company have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to take part in the development of the 300,000 bpd full-conversion refinery integrated with petrochemicals and marketing, in partnership with China's Sinopec. It would be designed to process Kuwaiti crude as feedstock and produce high-quality refined and petrochemicals products.

MRC

Total inks deal with Kuwait Petroleum Corp to buy stake in Zhanjiang refinery

(Reuters) -- Total has signed an agreement with two units of state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corporation to take a stake in the Zhanjiang refinery and petrochemicals platform in China.

Total, Kuwait Petroleum International and Petrochemicals Industries Company have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to take part in the development of the 300,000 bpd full-conversion refinery integrated with petrochemicals and marketing, in partnership with China's Sinopec. It would be designed to process Kuwaiti crude as feedstock and produce high-quality refined and petrochemicals products.

MRC

MAUSER adjusts prices for HDPE and PP components in Europe

(mausergroup) -- Effective as of March 1st , 2012 or as contracts allow, the Mauser Group will increase its prices for Plastic packaging and IBCs by USD 150 / ton for recovering recent raw material price increases for HDPE and PP material. All contractual obligations will be honoured.

MAUSER Group is a worldwide leading producer of industrial packaging with approx. 4,000 employees and consolidated revenue of some EUR 1 billion. Founded in 1896 and headquartered in Bruehl near Cologne (Germany), the company has influenced the international market through innovative packaging technologies.

The portfolio for customers in the chemical, agrochemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical sectors as well as in the food and beverage industries includes plastic packaging, fibre drums, steel drums, Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC), and reconditioning services through the National Container Group (NCG), a MAUSER subsidiary.


MAUSER therefore provides sustainability-oriented full cycle services - from production to recycling (⌠ECO-CYCLE). With 60 MAUSER/NCG sites and multiple Joint Ventures in Europe, the Americas and Asia plus two licensee networks for plastic and steel packaging, the company is a presence around the globe.


MRC