HELM AG to market propylene for Rosneft Deutschland GmbH

MOSCOW (MRC) -- From January 1st, 2019 HELM will market a major share of propylene produced at the German refineries PCK Schwedt, MiRO Karlsruhe and Bayern Oil Vohburg, as per the company's press release.

Rosneft Deutschland, a Rosneft subsidiary, has a significant shareholding in these companies, which are among the most modern refineries in Europe.

Propylene is used in the chemicals industry in various products including polypropylene, oxo-alcohols and acrylic acid.

Rosneft Deutschland Managing Director Brian Chesterman said: “We look forward to the cooperation with HELM in our marketing and sales business. Arranging distribution of petrochemical products from PCK, Bayernoil and MiRO refineries is another step in the development of the Company’s business activities in Germany."

HELM AG Executive Manager Feedstocks Fried Hansen commented: “I am very pleased with this collaboration. Thanks to our extensive network of customers and suppliers as well as our highly efficient logistics we are able to off-take and market propylene reliably."

Rosneft Deutschland GmbH manages feedstock supplies to Rosneft shares in PCK, MiRO and Bayernoil refineries as well as sales of refined products. Rosneft is the third largest crude oil refiner in the German market with a total refining throughput of approximately 12.5 million tons per year, representing more than 12% of the processing capacity in Germany. The three German refineries that Rosneft has a share in are amongst the most advanced refinery facilities in Western Europe. The average conversion rate of Rosneft‘s capacities in Germany is 93%, average Nelson complexity index is 9.1.Rosneft maintains the competitive position of its refineries by enhancing product yields and continually investing to increase reliability and efficiency. The company is developing its activities in order to be a reliable and competitive supplier of quality fuels in the German market.

HELM AG is a Hamburg, Germany based family company established in 1900. HELM is one of the world’s largest chemicals marketing companies. The Company secures access to the world’s key markets through its specific regional knowledge and over 100 branches, sales offices and participations in over 30 countries. As a multifunctional marketing organization HELM is active in the chemicals industry (Feedstocks and Derivatives), in the crop protection industry, in active pharmaceutical ingredients, pharmaceuticals and in the fertilizer industry. HELM AG has a total of 1,521 employees.

MRC

Evonik launches new membrane for efficient natural gas processing

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik has launched new membrane for efficient natural gas processing - SEPURAN NG is an especially robust, hollow-fiber membrane, which is based on a high-performance plastic that can withstand extreme pressure and temperatures, as per the company's press release.

This enables particularly selective separation of the sour gases from the natural gas, high tolerance of the higher hydrocarbons contained in the natural gas, and consistently high performance of the membrane throughout its lifetime. Overall, Evonik’s innovative separation technology features significantly increased recovery of methane, which has a corresponding effect on the profitability of natural gas processing plants.

The modular structure of SEPURAN NG has been designed for conventional, membrane-based natural gas processing plants so that, during the membrane exchange, no further adaptations are required to the existing equipment. For this purpose, Evonik is working together with established, world-leading gas separation companies that support plant operators in process implementation in order to make the most of the advantages of the new membranes.

The membrane is designed for the challenging process conditions of natural gas processing with complex gas compositions and typical pressure and temperature conditions up to 70 C. It can be used particularly effectively in natural gas sources with a high concentration of carbon dioxide because, under these conditions, the separating properties of the membrane remain intact.

Evonik’s SEPURAN product family includes innovative membranes for biogas upgrading, nitrogen generation, and helium and hydrogen processing. They are produced at the Evonik site in Schorfling (Austria). The basic material - the high performance plastic - is manufactured in the neighboring Evonik site in Lenzing. The new SEPURAN NG membrane for natural gas processing rounds off the product portfolio.

As MRC informed before, in late June 2018, the technology company The Linde Group and the specialty chemicals company Evonik Industries concluded an exclusive cooperation agreement on the use of membranes for natural gas processing. The two companies will jointly promote membrane technology - Evonik on the membrane and polymer side and Linde’s Engineering Division as the system integrator for the complete membrane package units. Evonik’s established membrane technology will serve as the basis. The joint product will be marketed by Linde as the "HISELECT powered by Evonik" high-performance membrane package unit.

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world.
MRC

Dushan Energy to use BP technology for new PTA plant being built in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BP and Xin Feng Ming Group (Xinfengming) have entered into an agreement to license BP's latest generation purified terephthalic acid (PTA) technology to Dushan Energy, a subsidiary of Xinfengming, for a new PTA plant to be built in Pinghu, Zhejiang Province, China, as per Apic-online.

Dushan plans to set up a 2.2-million-t/y PTA unit at Dushan Port Economic Development Zone. Basic design of the unit has been completed and construction on the site has started. Production is expected to begin in the third quarter of next year.

In addition, BP and Xinfengming have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen strategic cooperation along the polyester raw materials value chain and Xinfengming intends to deploy BP technologies for all of its future PTA and related investments.

Xinfengming Group Co.,Ltd. manufactures and sells polyester yarns in the People’s Republic of China. It offers FDY, POY, DTY, DT color, and polyester chips. The company provides moisture absorption and sweat discharging fiber; warm hollow fiber; fire proof fiber; bamboo charcoal fiber; lat fiber; and antibacterial fiber. It also markets its products in Turkey, Egypt, Vietnam, South Korea, Pakistan, Spain, Italy, and internationally. The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Tongxiang, the People’s Republic of China.
MRC

Cielo Waste Solutions commissions renewable diesel refinery in Alberta, Canada

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Сielo Waste Solutions, a Canada-based firm engaged in refining municipal and construction waste into a renewable diesel fuel, has commissioned renewable diesel refinery at Aldersyde in Alberta, as per Compello.

The commissioning marks the completion of the phase 1 of the refinery, which is said to be the first of its kind in the region. The first phase is estimated to have production capacity of 350 litres/hour of high grade renewable diesel.

Cielo said it now plans to upgrade the refinery by commencing construction of the phase 2 refinery in the fourth quarter of 2018. The phase 2 refinery is expected to have productive capacity of approximately 2,000 litres/hour of renewable fuels.

Cielo president and CEO Don Allan said: “We have kicked off the commissioning of our first continuous flow refinery that converts cellulosic waste into high grade renewable diesel.

“This is a monumental occasion as we have spent years and millions of dollars to move our technology forward, which utilizes our proprietary processes to convert, on an extremely cost-effective basis, multiple different garbage-derived feedstocks, including all plastics, sorted municipal solid waste (garbage), wood and agriculture waste, tires and virtually any other cellulous waste product into high grade renewable diesel.

"The renewable diesel that is going to be produced at the Refinery is forecast to receive approximately a 25% premium over biodiesel. It is expected to be higher grade and lower in sulfur and water, allowing year-round supply and longer shelf life."

Cielo earlier said that the refinery will initially use wood waste as its feedstock, which is planned to be acquired from Mountainview Eco Products under a multi-year feedstock agreement.

In order to reduce start-up risks and expenses, the refinery commissioning process begins to operate and is prepared for optimal performance and production.
MRC

Siemens and Covestro strengthen strategic partnership as part of digitalization

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Siemens AG and Covestro Deutschland AG have concluded a Joint Business Development Plan to provide further strategic reinforcement of their trust-based partnership for many years, particularly in the field of digitalization, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This is based on the corporate ethos of the two companies which is both innovative and geared towards sustainability. The agreement, therefore, helps make life simpler and safer through continuous improvement and future-oriented products.

The variety of topics is exceptionally broad and extends from the continuous development of production technologies to piloting new ideas which contribute to shaping the digital landscape of both companies.

Dr. Klaus Schafer, Chief Technology Officer, Member of the Executive Board, Covestro Deutschland AG: "This collaboration with Siemens generates added value for both companies. We are combining the innovative forces of both companies to extend our lead in this time of rapid development."

One focal point of the collaboration is to increase the availability of all assets in a plant and to give personnel on site quick and meaningful decision-making tools for their work. The objective is to make the plants more reliable through proven products and innovative services and to be able to predict developments in the condition of a plant’s assets more reliably.

New analytical methods are now available using Siemens’ open, cloudbased IoT operating system, MindSphere. Significant data and measured values are collated on this platform, put into a meaningful context, and intelligently linked in data models. Smart data applications provide support for both operation and maintenance. They enable potential asset or component defects to be predicted, as well as helping to minimize plant downtime. New options are available through Siemens’ data analytics and simulation methods. On this basis, the partnership will examine various applications and evaluate, for instance, the benefit to be gained from correlating data for production.

Eckard Eberle, CEO of the Business Unit Process Automation, Siemens AG: "I am very pleased with this new stage of our concerted collaboration with Covestro Deutschland AG. By exchanging expertise, we can support plant operations and maintenance with the right information at the right time, particularly with smart data for production, plant equipment and instrumentation."

Siemens is developing predictive process data models for manufacturing which, among other things, minimize breakdowns; other developments include mobile devices for use in the field, and software solutions which can communicate with process technology and control and management systems. Further to this, Covestro Deutschland AG is introducing its process technology and production expertise to generate joint marketing solutions.

As MRC wrote before, in May 2018, Bayer Group sold 28.81 million shares representing a 14.2 percent interest in Covestro at a price of 75.50 euros per share. The proceeds of this sale totaled 2.2 billion euros. Bayer AG now holds just 6.8 percent of Covestro shares to repay the exchangeable bond that matures in 2020. Bayer AG acquired these shares from Bayer Pension Trust, which now no longer holds any Covestro shares.

We also remind that on 1 September, 2015, Bayer MaterialScience became known as Covestro. The plans for the carve-out of Bayer MaterialScience were announced in September 2014.

Covestro (formerly Bayer MaterialScience) is an independent subgroup within Bayer. It was created as part of the restructuring of Bayer AG from the former business group Bayer Polymers, with certain of its activities being spun off to Lanxess AG. Covestro manufactures and develops materials such as coatings, adhesives and sealants, polycarbonates (CDs, DVDs), polyurethanes (automotive seating, insulation for refrigerating appliances) etc.
MRC