QP signs butadiene extraction deal

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Zeon Corporation and Mitsui & Company, both Japan-based, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the development of an integrated butadiene extraction and elastomer complex in Ras Laffan, reported GV.

Under the agreement, the partners will be undertaking a detailed feasibility study to evaluate the technical, commercial and economic aspects of the integrated world-scale butadiene and synthetic rubber/elastomer project.

The feedstock will come from the planned Al-Sejeel Petrochemicals Complex and the Al-Karaana Petrochemicals Complex, both of which are currently under development, as well as from the existing plant of Ras Laffan Olefins Company (RLOC).

Butadiene will be extracted from feedstock and then converted into high-value elastomers like styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and polybutadiene rubber (PBR) using Zeon’s state-of-the-art technology.

As MRC wrote before, Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO) have recently signed the FEED contract with Tecnimont SpA for the Al Sejeel Petrochemical Complex, to be built in Ras Laffan Industrial City. The signing of the FEED contract for the project, in which QP and QAPCO own respectively 80% and 20% equity interest, marks a strategic milestone for the progress of the mega-petrochemical complex.

The complex's construction scheduled for completion in 2018. It will comprise the worlds largest mixed-feed steam crackers, and is designed to produce 2.2 million tpa of polymers, including polyethylene (PE) - high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) - and polypropylene (PP) resins.

Qatar Petroleum is a state owned petroleum company in Qatar.
MRC

MOSCPW (MRC) -- BASF announced it is inaugurating a new plant in Yeosu, Korea to strengthen the supply of Ultrason polyarylsulfone, one of the company’s high performance thermoplastics, said the producer in its press release.

The new plant, with an annual production capacity of 6,000 metric tons, will better serve the growing market in Asia Pacific. The new plant is the first of its kind to be built outside of Germany and brings the company’s global capacity of Ultrason polyarylsulfone to 18,000 metric tons per year.

Ultrason is widely applied in the electronics, automotive and aerospace industries for the production of heat-resistant, lightweight components. Other popular Ultrason applications include membranes for water treatment, fittings for drinking water pipelines or food contact parts as in espresso machines, or microwave-proof dishes. Ultrason is also used in the production of carbon fiber composite materials.

As one of the top three electrical and electronic goods manufacturing countries in the world, Korea is well positioned to benefit from local availability and production of Ultrason. By locating the site in Yeosu, BASF will also be able to serve other major markets for Ultrason such as China and Japan.

Ultrason is the trade name for the BASF product range of polyethersulfone (Ultrason E), polysulfone (Ultrason S), and polyphenylsulfone (Ultrason P). The product can withstand temperatures up to 220 degrees centigrade without altering its properties, and possesses outstanding chemical stability.

As MRC informed before, SIBUR and BASF signed a long-term cooperation memorandum to supply additives used for polymer production and processing at SIBUR’s production facilities. The deal provides for supplies of additives used to produce polypropylene, polyethylene, synthetic rubbers, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), and ABS plastics at SIBUR's production facilities, with BASF ensuring also technical support.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. BASF had sales of EUR72.1 billion in 2012 and more than 110,000 employees as of the end of the year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Pavel Lyakhovich was appointed Managing Director and Head of SIBUR’s Plastics and Organic Synthesis Products Division, effective from 15 January 2014, reported the company on its site.

Prior to this appointment, he served as Director of SIBUR's Plastics and Organic Synthesis Products Division in charge of the ethylene and styrene business.

Mr Lyakhovich succeeded Sergey Merzlyakov, who had decided to pursue his career outside the company. Mr Lyakhovich was also elected to OOO SIBUR's Management Board, while Mr Merzlyakov resigned from the Board.

Lead by Mr Merzlyakov, the company's Plastics and Organic Synthesis Products division has carried out substantial work to strengthen SIBUR's market position and increase production efficiency. Under his leadership, the Division made several successful acquisitions, constructed two expandable polystyrene production lines in Perm, and launched a new BOPP-film production facility in Tomsk. Currently, SIBUR continues to execute several major investment projects in an effort to further modernize production and enhance competitiveness of this business segment.

As MRC wrote previously, in late December 2013, SIBUR sold its 100% stake in OJSC Plastik (Uzlovaya, Tula Region, Russia) to the group of private investors. The deal value totalled RUB 575 million. Production of geosynthetics (geogrids and nonwoven geotextiles), spinned off as OOO Plastik-Geosintetika (a joint venture between SIBUR and Leader Innovations Closed-End Venture Capital Fund) in 2010, was not included in the transaction and continues to operate as part of SIBUR Group.

SIBUR is a uniquely positioned vertically integrated gas processing and petrochemicals company. SIBUR owns and operates Russia’s largest gas processing business in terms of associated petroleum gas processing volumes, and is a leader in the Russian petrochemicals industry. As well as thermoplastic elastomers for the road construction sector, SIBUR also produces polymer-modified geosynthetics.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- INEOS Technologies has licensed its Innovene PP process for the manufacture of homopolymers, random copolymers and impact copolymers to Vung Ro Petroleum Ltd. at its refinery complex located in Hoa Tam Commune, Dong Hoa District of Phu Yen Province, Vietnam, said the producer in its press release.

"INEOS Technologies is proud to have been selected by Vung Ro Petroleum as its technology partner for the development of its polypropylene business," said Peter Williams, CEO of INEOS Technologies. "Vung Ro’s refinery project will contribute to the continuing growth of the economy of Vietnam and neighbouring countries."

The 900,000 Innovene PP plant will produce a wide range of polypropylene grades to serve the growing demand in the Asian market.

"We are pleased to have selected INEOS Technologies' Innovene PP process as an integral part of our refinery project," said Kirill Korolev, CEO of Vung Ro Petroleum.

"The Innovene PP process will provide Vung Ro Petroleum with an advanced polypropylene process with advantaged economics and broad product reach," he added.

As MRC informed before, INEOS Enterprises announced that it has agreed to purchase Sasol Solvents Germany GmbH, one of European leading solvent manufacturers. The acquisition which is conditional on approval by the relevant competition authorities comprises production facilities in Germany, based at Herne and Moers, employing around 520 people.

INEOS Enterprises is a standalone business, a part of INEOS AG. INEOS Enterprises is a portfolio of ten businesses manufacturing chemical products in Northern Europe, with sales of these products to customers around the world. The Company is focused on the developing needs of customers and rapid growth through investment in new products and manufacturing facilities or by acquisition. INEOS Enterprises now employs some 800 people across sites in the UK, France, Germany.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) to Russia decreased by 30% in 2013 on the back of the increased by 38% domestic production and weaker demand growth, according to MRC DataScope.

Total imports of HDPE to Russia in 2013 was 286,200 tonnes, from 408,500 tonnes in 2012. Structure of HDPE imports in 2013 was as follows.

The growth in imports occurred only for HDPE for extrusion coating for large diameter steel pipes (up by 12% to 73,800 tonnes) and injection moulding (up by 3% to 48,900 tonnes).

Imports of high-density polyethylene for pipe production declined almost twofold in 2013 to about 68,300 tonnes, from 129,600 tonnes in 2012.
Weaker demand for plastic pipes in the domestic market and significantly higher prices in foreign markets forced Russian converters noticeably to reduce purchases of imported HDPE.

Imports of film HDPE decreased more than twofold last year and reached 44,800 tonnes, compared with about 100,000 tonnes in 2012. The main reason for such a serious fall in imports was the growth of domestic production.

Import of blow moulding and cable HDPE in 2013 decreased by 30% and 10%, respectively, and totalled about 34,200 tonnes and 13,600 tonnes.
MRC