Sabic extends range of high clarity polypropylenes

(sabic) -- To meet the need of converters for materials that deliver better finished products and that can be produced cost-effectively, SABIC has developed two new high clarity SABIC PP Qrystal polypropylenes. These random copolymers, typically for injection moulding, were specially designed with unique flow behavior, providing processors with the flexibility to produce parts faster and with lower energy consumption.

SABIC PP QR674K, with a melt flow rate (MFR) of 40g/10min, was typically developed for more sensitive food contact applications, owing to its improved organoleptic performance low odor. Typical target applications are caps and closures, houseware, kitchenware and food/non-food containers.

SABIC PP QR678K, with its high MFR of 80 g/10 min, is better suited to production of parts with complex shapes and/or long and narrow flow paths. Customer trials have shown around 15% higher flow than a standard PP random at the same MFR level, allowing machines to run at lower processing temperatures and 15% faster cycle times, potentially decreasing production costs.

SABIC has a broad package of PP random copolymers that provide solutions for a wide range of applications, providing a combination of good transparency with lower conversion costs. The SABIC PP Qrystal range, which was launched in 2010, now comprises four grades, with MFRs ranging from 25 to 80 g/10 min.
MRC

(sabic) -- SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business is once again demonstrating how it is powering the long-term commercial success of its customers with the announcement of a capacity investment in India. Specifically, the company will open a state-of-the-art Lexan multiwall sheet production line at its Vadodara, India manufacturing facility to provide customers in the country and the greater Asia with a fast, reliable source of these high-performance materials. This new line will help meet rising customer demand in the region for SABIC’s high performance Lexan Thermoclear multiwall polycarbonate (PC) sheet products used for roofing and glazing in the building & construction and greenhouse sectors.

The new Lexan multiwall sheet production line strengthens SABIC’s already extensive capabilities in the region, which include a local team of expert technologists and a complete supply chain and distribution organization. This investment further demonstrates SABIC’s commitment to creating and supplying tailored solutions to fit its customers’ specific needs to help them effectively compete and grow in their markets with world-leading capabilities.
MRC

(bloomberg) -- Polyplex Corp Ltd. (PPC), Indian manufacturer of polyester film plans to build a USD150 mln plastics plant in Turkey and plans another investment of USD500 mln within 5-8 years to produce 600,000 tpa feedstock polyethylene terephthalate.

The plant will have exports of USD1 billion a year, Kapil Gupta, senior vice president for the company and will start operations within two to three years. Feedstock for PET will be purchased from local suppliers such as Petkim Petrokimya Holding AS (PETKM). Polyplex will start the construction of the plant in the Corlu tax-free zone, to the west of Istanbul, in H2-2012.

Polyplex is considering a joint venture with a Turkish or international partner for the additional investment at the site, Gupta said. "We are focusing first on PET resin investment and then will consider a resin raw material plant in 5 to 8 years with a partner,” he said. Ilker Ayci, head of the investment agency, said Polyplex investment will help Turkey increase its foreign direct investment this year from 2011’s USD16 billion. "We may even break the 2007 record of USD22 billion this year or next," Ayci said.
MRC

(upstreamonline) -- Statoil has finalised the transfer of its stake in Iraq’s West Qurna 2 project to operator Lukoil, but remains in the bidding frame for blocks on offer in the country’s ongoing licensing round.

The Norwegian state oil company decided to sell its 18.75% stake in the giant development scheme as it failed to meet profitability criteria and said in a statement on Wednesday that the Baghdad authorities have now approved the transaction, while keeping financial terms of the deal under wraps.

Lukoil now holds a 75% stake in the project, with state-owned North Oil Company on 25%, and the Russian oil giant is reported to be in talks with new potential partners – including Asian players - for a possible farm-in deal.

The operator is planning to invest USD25 billion in development of the southern Iraq field, where drilling kicked off last month, with the aim of producing 150,000 barrels per day by the end of 2013, rising to 500,000 bpd in 2014.

MRC

(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- The permanent closure of Petroplus’ Coryton refinery in England has become more likely after the plant's administrator said Monday it has been unable to sell or refinance it, but the UK government said any closure was unlikely to result in fuel shortages.

"It hasn't yet been possible to find a solution which sees the refinery continue as a going concern," PricewaterhouseCoopers, the administrator of Petroplus’ UK subsidiaries, said in a statement, as the challenge of raising USD1 billion of funding for the refinery "ultimately proved prohibitive in the face of an over supplied European refinery market for both buyers and investors."

Before Petroplus lost access to all its credit lines and then filed for insolvency in January, Coryton was supplying around 10% of the UK’s fuel market.

Thanks to a tolling deal, the 220,000 bpd facility has been the only one of Petroplus's five refineries that continued operating, but that deal expired in the middle of May.

There has been interest "from the start" in turning the Coryton refinery into a terminal, but it wasn't a priority for the administrator to sell the plant as a terminal, PwC's Pearson said.

The facility is likely to be sold as terminal due to its good location, said Roy Jordan, downstream consultant at Facts Global Energy.

Up to 500 contractors also dependent on refining at Coryton, according to Richard Howitt, the Member of the European Parliament for the East of England.

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change said Monday that the government had received a request from the Coryton administrator to provide financial support, but decided that keeping the facility open with public money isn't the best solution for a long-term sustainable future for the plant.
MRC