Celanese completes acquisition of synthesis gas production unit from Linde

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global chemical and specialty materials company, has announced it has completed the acquisition of a 365 kilo tons per annum synthesis gas production unit from Linde AG, as per the company's press release.

The production unit is located at the Celanese Clear Lake acetyl intermediates manufacturing facility located in Pasadena, Texas.

"With on-site production capability of synthesis gas - a crucial intermediate raw material for the production of acetic acid, hydrogen and methanol - Celanese is able to manage future productivity and growth configuration options for the world's largest acetyl intermediates production facility, as well as the production network of Celanese acetyls plants globally," said Todd Elliott, Celanese Senior Vice President, Acetyls.

Synthesis gas, or syngas, is a mixture of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Syngas can be produced from many sources, including natural gas, coal, biomass, or virtually any hydrocarbon feedstock, by reaction with steam or oxygen.

Celanese announced its intent to acquire Linde's CO production unit on January 15, 2019.

As MRC wrote before, Celanese Corporation has raised its February list and off-list selling prices for Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) sold in Asia Outside China (AOC) by USD50/mt.

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Celanese employs approximately 7,600 employees worldwide and had 2017 net sales of USD6.1 billion.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement to supply Pakistan with crude oil and petroleum products to secure its fuel needs, reported Reuters with reference to Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih's statement on Twitter.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Pakistan on Sunday and said Saudi Arabia has signed investment agreements worth USD20 billion during his visit to the country.

As MRC informed previously, Saudi Arabia plans to set up a USD10 billion oil refinery in Pakistan’s deepwater port of Gwadar, the Saudi energy minister said on 12 January 2019, speaking at the Indian Ocean port that is being developed with the help of China. He said then Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman would visit Pakistan in February to sign the agreement. The minister added that Saudi Arabia would also invest in other sectors.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF’s Master Builders Solutions experts will be presenting their innovative solutions in the concrete admixtures segment at this year’s BetonTage exhibition, held from 19 through 21 February 2019 in Neu-Ulm. At the exhibition booth 54/55, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about products such as MasterEase, MasterFiber, Master X-Seed and MasterFinish and their benefits for use in concrete production, said BASF.

"Concrete admixtures can make a substantial contribution toward meeting the challenges currently faced by the construction sector: From a commitment to sustainable construction, to tighter time schedules, to an increasing cost pressure", says Herwig Heegewaldt, responsible for the concrete admixtures business of Master Builders Solutions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. “Using the right concrete admixtures helps concrete producers as well as building owners to reduce expenses and emissions, save time, preserve their machinery and reduce the manpower required at construction sites."

BASF’ s construction branch provides custom-tailored solutions for all construction-site requirements and, with its global team of researchers, is constantly working on the development of innovative products. One of the results of this was Master Builders Solutions’ 2018 launch of the innovative MasterFinish CLN 689 formwork cleaner, ensuring the production of spotless fairfaced concrete.

"MasterFinish CLN 689 leaves a permanent micro-layer on the surface. On steel formwork, this layer provides high-level rust protection while simultaneously forming an excellent base for the subsequent application of the release agent”, explains Cengizhan Zor, application engineer for form release agents in Germany, Austria and Switzerland at BASF. Combined with release-agent emulsions from Master Builders Solutions, MasterFinish provides major advantages in terms of environmental protection and applicator safety: Based on renewable raw materials, the cleaner is exempt from labeling and virtually odorless. In addition to formwork cleaners, the MasterFinish range also comprises novel release agents and products for machine care and protection. At precast-concrete plants, MasterFinish facilitates easy formwork removal and prevents rust formation on formwork surfaces. Ready-mixed concrete manufacturers benefit from MasterFinish products for the cleaning, care and preservation of concrete vehicles, jobsite machinery and mixing equipment.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Board of Directors of Burckhardt Compression Holding AG has appointed Rainer Dubi to be the new President of the Services Division and a member of the Executive Board, said Hydrocarbopnprocessing.

The Board of Directors of Burckhardt Compression Holding AG has appointed Rainer Dubi (50) to be the new President of the Services Division and a member of the Executive Board. He will succeed Martin Wendel, who has held this position since September 2016.

Rainer Dubi has been with Burckhardt Compression since 2003 and is highly familiar with the company's reciprocating compressor manufacturing and services business. Rainer Dubi has served as the Head of Design and Manufacturing since 2012 and is a member of the Systems Division management team. Prior to this position, he was a market segment manager for compressor sales and a manager in the Sizing department at Burckhardt Compression.

Rainer Dubi has a mechanical engineering degree from the Winterthur School of Engineering and subsequently obtained a Master Degree in Advanced Studies of Business Administration (MASBA) from the ZHAW School of Management in Winterthur.

Martin Wendel will leave the company at the end of August 2019. He was instrumental in establishing the Services business as a stand-alone division and extending the international reach of our company, for what the Board of Directors and the Executive Board thank him.

Marcel Pawlicek, CEO of Burckhardt Compression Group: “Rainer Dubi has held various management roles during his more than 15 years with Burckhardt Compression. The Services Division will benefit from his broad industry knowledge."
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chevron USA., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron Corp., has signed a new sales and purchase agreement with GS Caltex Corp. for the delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to South Korea from Chevron's global supply portfolio, according to Apic-online.

GS Caltex, a petrochemicals joint venture of Chevron and GS Energy, will begin receiving LNG in October 2019. Chevron has an existing LNG sales and purchase agreement with GS Caltex, which was executed in 2009.

"We're proud of our partnership with GS Caltex and we welcome this opportunity to build on that relationship by supplying LNG to South Korea's growing market," noted Hugh Connett, president of global gas at Chevron.

As MRC reported earlier, South Korean GS Caltex is planning to invest approximately USD1.8-billion to build a new olefins production plant in Yeosu, South Korea.The project involves construction of the company's first mixed feed cracker, which will have the capacity to produce 700,000 t/y of ethylene and 500,000 t/y of polyethylene. Construction is expected to start this year with operations anticipated to begin in 2022.

GS Caltex is an equally-owned joint venture of GS Holdings and Chevron.
MRC