TomTom, BP partner to ‘help BP customers boost fleet efficiency’

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BP FleetMove combines fuel transaction information from BP fuel cards with driver behavior data from the TomTom Telematics Service Platform in one, easy-to-use interface, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This new collaboration uses the "plug and play" TomTom CURFER connected car product, an app working in conjunction with the TomTom LINK 100 dongle, which plugs into the vehicle’s OBD port to wirelessly connect car and smartphone. It is designed to bring together insights into driver, fuel and vehicle data, allowing easier identification of areas for improvement. An app provides drivers with feedback on their performance behind the wheel and with helpful information, such as the location of fuel stations.

"This is the first time BP and TomTom Telematics have created a partnership to combine different streams of data in this way—the fuel card will register fuel transactions and the telematics device will monitor the vehicle data. Combining these two elements allows BP fuel card customers to save time and reduce operating costs. The new app and fleet manager portal is just the start of what we will be launching in the coming months,” said Koeno Siemons, European Card Marketing & Operations Manager at BP.

The app and online portal are available now in The Netherlands and Germany. Other regions in Europe where BP fuel cards are available are due to be rolled out later in the year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Iran has inaugurated a new 300,000 t/y low-density polyethylene (LDPE) facility in Kordestan, Iran, according to GV with reference to Shana News Agency.

The LDPE plant, being fed by the West Ethylene Pipeline, is the "biggest" industrial project in the province's history, said the report.

Construction on the project began in 2005, but was then put on hold due to sanctions. Construction resumed in 2011.

As MRC informed earlier, in June 2016, a senior official said in a report that Kordestan Petrochemical Plant would produce 300,000 tpa of light polyethylene (PE) once it comes on stream.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Iran's crude oil exports are set to hit a 14-mos low in May, suggesting that the country is struggling to raise exports after clearing out stocks stored on tankers, reported Reuters.

Part of the drop may also be attributable to a decline in demand, as loadings bound for India are set to slump to a 1-yr low after a dispute over the award of a contract for a gas field, and Japan's orders fall by more than half from April.

Iran is also putting approximately 3 MMbbl back into storage in May, underlining how much oil remains available in the market despite an agreement between the OPEC and non-OPEC producers to cut output and boost prices.

Crude oil loadings from Iran are expected to total nearly 1.7 MMbpd in May, with almost 100 Mbpd being put into storage on tankers, according to sources.

In April, the country is expected to export 1.8 MMbpd of crude, and more than 370 Mbpd of condensate, down sharply from a 6-yr high of nearly 2.9 MMbpd in February for both forms of oil. In March, Iran loaded some 2.6 MMbpd of both crude and condensate, mostly the former. It is reported that no barrels of either crude or condensate were put into storage in March and April.

The final figures for February exports were significantly higher than preliminary numbers reported earlier by Reuters, and show that Iran took full advantage of its exemption from the production cuts by OPEC and non-OPEC producers, including Russia.

Still, Indian buyers are cutting purchases after state-owned refiners agreed to cut their annual imports deal with Iran by one-fifth to put pressure on Tehran to award the Farzad B gas field to an Indian consortium.

Crude liftings for India in May are expected to reach approximately 370 Mbpd. In April, Indian customers are lifting nearly 470 Mbpd of both crude and condensate. Japan is scheduled to lift nearly 40 Mbpd in May, the lowest since March.

Loadings of crude and condensate for China this month will hit a 4-mos low of a little more than 500 Mbpd.

We remind that, as MRC wrote before, after eight months of a break, shipments of Iranian polycarbonate (PC) were resumed to the Russian market, an Iranian trader told MRC. He said he intends to focus on PC sales to Turkey and Russia in the coming months.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Metso will supply 400 Neles emergency shutdown (ESD) valves for an ethylene cracker as part of the new Liwa Plastics Industrial Complex (LPIC) Project in Sohar, Oman, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The new complex will process light ends produced in Orpic's (Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company) Sohar Refinery and its Aromatics plant as well as optimize Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) extracted from currently available natural gas supplies.

"We are pleased that Orpic trusted Metso's knowledge in demanding valve solutions for their new petrochemical complex. Metso's ESD valves are widely used in refineries, petrochemical sites and LNG plants around the world. Top-level safety and field-proven reliability are the strengths of Metso's valve solutions," said Heikki Voutilainen, Global Project Sales Manager, Flow Control, Metso.

The delivery includes Neles ESD valves ranging in size from 6 in.–40 in. The valves are equipped with Neles ValvGuardTM intelligent safety solenoid valves, which can monitor valve condition, perform on-line testing and automatic reporting and enable need-based maintenance. Furthermore, the contract also includes optional customer site training and maintenance services for the new plant.

The order is included in the first-quarter 2017 orders received by Metso. The value of the order will not be disclosed. Metso's valves will be delivered in the beginning of 2018.

Earlier, Metso had been selected to supply ESD and control valves to Orpic's Sohar Refinery Improvement Project (SRIP) in Oman in 2015.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- ChemChina has reconfirmed that all regulatory approvals and conditions required for the closing of its offers to acquire Syngenta have been obtained or satisfied, said Reuters.

In response to speculation in the market, ChemChina today reconfirmed on behalf of the Offeror that all regulatory approvals and conditions required for the closing of the offers have been obtained or satisfied. Subject to at least 67% of Syngenta’s issued shares and ADSs being validly tendered into the offers and not withdrawn as of May 4, 2017, the Offeror will purchase and pay for all such shares and ADSs at the first settlement on May 18, 2017.

As MRC informed earlier,C hina National Chemical (ChemChina) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rosneft to acquire a majority stake in Far-East Petrochemical Company (FEPCO) project in Nakhodka, Russia.

Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities.

ChemChina produces special chemical materials, basic chemicals, oil refining, agricultural chemistry, rubber products, and chemical equipment.
MRC