KNPCs Clean Fuels project receives first steam

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Fluor Corporation announced that its joint venture team, FDH JV, has successfully generated first steam into Kuwait National Petroleum Company’s (KNPC) Clean Fuels Project in Kuwait, as per Hydrocarbonproceesing.

"This significant milestone marks the completion and turnover of the first utility units by the Fluor-led joint venture and KNPC is advancing these units into operation with our ongoing support,” said Al Collins, president of Fluor’s Energy & Chemicals business in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. “The 12,000-plus craft workers at site have been backed by joint venture project team members across three continents, a global operation for a mega-sized project. Accomplishing this milestone shows we are set to deliver the remaining units in the project to support KNPC’s ambitious Clean Fuels Program."

This project is being executed on the three KNPC-owned and operated refineries in Kuwait. As part of the Clean Fuels Project, KNPC plans the retirement of existing processing facilities at Shuaiba and a major upgrade and expansion of the Mina Al Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries to integrate the refining system into one complex with full conversion operation. The Fluor-led joint venture with Daewoo Engineering & Construction and Hyundai Heavy Industries is responsible for engineering, procurement and construction as well as associated pre-commissioning and testing support for the Mina Abdullah Package 2. After commissioning, both the Mina Abdullah and Mina Al Ahmadi refineries will have a capacity of 800,000 barrels-per-stream day to supply local and international demand for clean fuels meeting the most stringent environmental requirements.

The American Society of Safety Engineers recently recognized the project with its 2018 Gold Award in Health, Safety and Environmental Excellence. The strong safety culture at site was achieved by active engagement at all levels of the organization and a relentless focus on risk identification and mitigation. This engagement has enabled the workforce to achieve 60 million work hours without a lost-time incident.
MRC

Europe gasoline/naphtha-cracks jump as crude prices sink

MOSCOW (MRC) - Benchmark northwest European gasoline refining margins rose sharply on Thursday, buoyed by lower oil prices and inventory drawdowns on both sides of the Atlantic, said Reuters.

U.S. gasoline stocks fell 3.2 million barrels last week, according to the Energy Information Administration. This compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 2.1 million barrels drop.

Stocks independently held in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) refining and storage hub declined slightly to 985,000 tonnes in the week to Thursday, according to data from Dutch consultancy PJK International.

Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC said on Thursday it had signed a crude-for-product deal with BP for the next six months to help meet the country's gasoline needs over the holidays and ahead of its general election early next year.
MRC

PE imports to Kazakhstan up 9% in January-September 2018

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of polyethylene (PE) into Kazakhstan grew in January-September 2018 by 9% year on year, totalling 99,300 tonnes. Only shipments of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) increased, reported MRC analysts.

September PE imports to Kazakhstan rose to about 11,300 tonnes from 10,000 tonnes a month earlier, local companies increased their purchasing of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) in Russia and Asia. Overall PE imports into the country were 99,300 tonnes in the first nine months of the year, compared to 91,400 tonnes a year earlier. HDPE and LLDPE shipments increased, whereas demand for LDPE subsided.

The structure of PE imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.

September HDPE imports to Kazakhstan grew to 8,500 tonnes from 7,400 a month earlier. Local companies managed to raise their PE purchasing in Russia and Uzbekistan. Thus, overall HDPE imports exceeded 78,100 tonnes in the first nine months of 2018, up by 12% year on year.

September imports of LDPE by local companies decreased to 1,400 tonnes against 1,600 tonnes, on a limited supply from Russian producers. Total imports of LDPE into Kazakhstan were about 13,700 tonnes in January-September, down 17% year on year.

Purchasing of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) by local companies was 7,500 tonnes in the first nine months of 2018, compared to 5,200 tonnes a month earlier.


MRC

PP imports to Kazakhstan up 2% in January-September 2018

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polypropylene (PP) into Kazakhstan exceeded 25,400 tonnes in first nine months of this year, up 2% compared to the same period of 2017. Export volumes remained unchanged, according to MRC analysts.

September PP imports into Kazakhstan decreased to 3,300 tonnes against 3,900 tonnes a month earlier, local converters reduced their purchases of PP in Russia. Overall PP imports into the country exceeded 25,400 tonnes in the first nine months of the year, compared to 24,800 tonnes a year earlier. Export sales of Kazakh polypropylene remained at the level of 2017.

The structure of PP imports by grades looked the following way over the stated period.
September imports of homopolymer PP into the country were about 2,000 tonnes compared with 2,700 tonnes in August. Local companies had faced with restrictions in the supply of homopolymer PP from Russian producers. Total PP imports into Kazakhstan exceeded 18,000 tonnes in the first nine months of 2018, up 19% year on year.

September imports of propylene copolymers remained at the level of 1,300 tonnes, which corresponds to the August figure. Total propylene copolymers imports into Kazakhstan were 7,400 tonnes in the first nine months of the year, down by 3% year on year.

Total PP exports from the country were about 18,400 tonnes in the first nine months of this year, the same figures as in 2017. Russian producers accounted for about 90% of the total imports.


MRC

PVC imports into Kazakhstan decreased by 19% in January-September

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into Kazakhstan dropped to about 33,700 tonnes in January-September 2018, down 19% compared with the same time a year earlier, according to MRC analysts.

There was a significant decrease in demand for PVC in September from local companies. September imports of unmixed PVC amounted to 1,400 tonnes against 2,400 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, overall imports of PVC to Kazakhstan totalled 33,700 tonnes in January-September 2018, compared to 41,700 tonnes a year earlier.

Such a high decline in imports was partly a result of the fall in the volume of PVC re-import to Russia. Re-imports of acetylene PVC into Russia were 4,400 tonnes in 2017, while in January-September it did not exceed 1,000 tonnes.

Due to the geographical position, the main suppliers of PVC to Kazakhstan were Chinese producers, with the share of about 77% of the local market over the stated period.

The second largest supplier of PVC is Russia, during the period under review, Russian PVC supplies reached 6,500 tonnes.
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