Phillips 66 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from its operation by 2030

MOSCOW (MRC) -- US Refiner Phillips 66 said on Thursday it would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from its operations by 2030, amid mounting pressure on the industry to join the fight against climate change and cut carbon emissions by mid-century, reported Reuters.

Since the 2015 Paris climate accord set a goal to keep global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F), there has been pressure on refiners to announce ambitious targets and operate more cleanly.

"We support the ambitions of the Paris Agreement, and Phillips 66 will do its part by improving energy efficiency and developing lower-carbon technologies," Chief Executive Greg Garland said in a statement.

The refiner expects to achieve the target through investments in lower-carbon business platforms including renewable fuels, lithium-ion batteries, carbon capture and hydrogen.

It plans to reduce so called Scope 3 emissions intensity of its energy products by 15% from 2019 levels. Scope 3 emissions take into account greenhouse gas emissions from products the company sells, such as jet fuel and gasoline.

Phillips 66 currently is in the process of converting its Rodeo, California refinery, using cooking oil and food wastes, into what would be the largest renewable diesel facility in the world.

As MRC informed earlier, Phillips 66's 255,600-barrel-per-day (bpd) Alliance, Louisiana, refinery faces a monthslong shutdown for repairs following flooding from Hurricane Ida. Phillips 66 said it was still assessing the refinery and a timeline for operational restarts was not available. The sources said the company plans to complete its damage in late September next week when floodwaters fully recede. So far, the company still plans to restart the refinery, which in August it announced was up for sale.

We remind that US-based Phillips 66 remains open to developing another ethane cracker for its Chevron Phillips Chemical (CP Chem) joint venture, the refiner's CEO said in March 2018.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,396,960 tonnes in January-July 2021, up by 7% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 841,990 tonnes in the first seven months of 2021, up by 29% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally. Phillips 66 Partners, the company’s master limited partnership, is integral to the portfolio. Headquartered in Houston, the company has 14,300 employees committed to safety and operating excellence. Phillips 66 had USD55 billion of assets as of Dec. 31, 2020.
MRC

New Geely selected LANXESS as a supplier of innovative lightweight structural component

New Geely selected LANXESS as a supplier of innovative lightweight structural component

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chinese car manufacturer Geely has selected specialty chemicals company LANXESS as supplier of choice for an innovative front end carrier (FE) structural component, which will be used in a coming passenger car model, said the company.

The component’s design concept is a state-of-the-art hybrid design solution going beyond the traditional square/rectangular form FE structure. While the lower cooler mounting is in sheet metal, the complex upper member was developed using the highly filled and heat stabilized Durethan BKV50H2.0 EF, a material well suited for structural components that require high stiffness and strength. The full plastic design for the upper section caters to a wide range of requirements of this multi component assembly. The concept not only demonstrates LANXESS’ competence of hybrid solution application in automotive lightweight structures and the advantage of using high modulus thermoplastic material such as Durethan BKV50H2.0 EF, but also provides a cost effective solution to achieve multiple saving targets.

LANXESS was chosen by Geely as material supplier based on its expertise in handling the part design as well as the suitability of its Durethan polyamide material. “Yet designing a plastic structural component and providing the right material is not enough. Considering the overall market background, customer expectations, understanding the tasks on hand and preparing different potential design proposals for the FE structure was also key in developing this project,” Add Tsui, project manager at the High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit, said.

LANXESS engineering plastics are designed to support customers in achieving maximum component performance and efficient processing. To meet these objectives, the company established the Pocan and Durethan EF and XF product lines, a broad range of easy-flow polybutylene terephthalates (PBT) and polyamide 6 and 66 grades. “EF” stands for “EasyFlow,” “XF” for “XtremeFlow.” In addition, LANXESS has developed high-modulus thermoplastics with glass fiber contents of 50% and more. These products display unusually high stiffness and strength and, despite their high filler content, can still be processed as easily and efficiently as comparable standard materials. “Smart materials offer attractive advantages for design and manufacturing provide designers with entirely new options”, said Wei Lin, LANXESS key account manager.

Apart from high-tech thermoplastics, LANXESS offers extensive know-how and experience, as well as state-of-the-art design and simulation methods, and part evaluation & testing. Its experts actively contribute their engineering know-how to customer projects. HiAnt, the integrated service package for lightweight solutions, aims to help our customers achieve maximum performance while minimizing weight. To pursue optimized design, mathematical simulation methods are outstanding instruments for the design and optimization of parts and they deliver fairly accurate statements on part behavior. When it comes to making a definitive statement on the functional capability of parts, however, it is generally still necessary to conduct practice-oriented tests on prototypes. For this reason, most OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) prescribe stringent corresponding acceptance tests and specifications. LANXESS has a state-of-the-art test laboratory and the corresponding specialist employees, and can offer an extensive range of testing facilities.

Geely Holding Group is a global innovative technology group engaged in the design, R&D, production, sales, and service of vehicles, powertrains, and key components, as well as mobility services and digital technologies. The cutting-edge technologies comprise new energy, shared mobility, vehicle networks, autonomous driving, vehicle microchips, low orbit satellites, and laser communication as it lays the foundation for a future multi-dimensional mobility ecology.

Headquartered in Hangzhou, China, Geely Holding today has more than 120,000 global employees. It owns a number of brands including Geely Auto, Volvo Cars, Polestar, Proton Cars, Lotus, London Electric Vehicle Company. It is also the largest shareholder in Daimler AG and the second largest shareholder in Volvo AB.

As per MRC, LANXESS is continuing the systematic expansion of its production for synthetic iron oxide pigments. The company is the only supplier worldwide to produce these pigments using the Laux process. Specialty chemicals company LANXESS has expanded its capacity for black synthetic iron oxide pigments at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site by more than 5,000 metric tons per year.

According to ICIS-MRC Price report, the deficit for PET remained in the Russian domestic and foreign markets. Spot PET prices have been increasing since the beginning of the month, and spot buyers of the material have to pay a much higher price for PET chips at the end of the third quarter than contractual ones.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 6.1 billion in 2020. The company currently has about 14,800 employees in 33 countries. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World and Europe) and FTSE4Good.
MRC

Orbis launches new reusable plastic pallet offerings in Latin America

Orbis launches new reusable plastic pallet offerings in Latin America

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Orbis Corporation, an international leader in reusable packaging, adds the new Universal Container Pallet (UCP) to its suite of reusable plastic pallet offerings in Latin America, said the company.

Engineered to protect and transport foodservice products with ease, the 44-inch x 56-inch two-piece snap-designed injection foam UCP optimizes daily operations in the food and beverage industry. The pallet’s plastic construction and flow-through rib design, which allows for easy cleaning and drying, makes the UCP a comprehensive solution for hygienic product distribution. This same plastic construction also makes the UCP 100% recyclable at the end of its useful life, thus supporting a sustainable supply chain.

The UCP is compatible with palletizers, depalletizers, automatic strapping/banding systems, conveyors and pallet washing systems, solidifying its place in Orbis product lineup as a complete solution. The UCP also offers superior load stability and has central banding compatibilities with optional anti-slip grommets to help keep products secure. Highly impact resistant, the UCP’s 12-block design, thick deck ribbing and widened stringers all contribute to the pallet’s durability.

“The new UCP, designed with durability and sustainability in mind, will bring efficiency to food and beverage distribution throughout Latin America,” said Jose Ramon Ramirez, director de ventas, Orbis Corporation Latin America. “We’re proud to offer companies complete food and beverage systems to optimize their supply chain for sustainability, while protecting and transporting their products. The introduction of the UCP further solidifies our leadership in reusable packaging as we grow our footprint in the LATAM region."

Highly compatible with other packaging, this new, versatile pallet can be optimized with divider sheets, top frames and stretch wrap to maximize product safety. Easily accessible, the pallet’s open base with chamfered base runners allows for improved full fork or low-profile hand truck access. With the additional option of adding advanced RFID or bar code configurations, this product can help provide visibility into where products are located, preventing loss and increasing productivity.

As per MRC, AkzoNobel is to further expand its long-term position in South and Central America after reaching an agreement to acquire Colombia-based paints and coatings company Grupo Orbis. Financial details were not disclosed. Present in ten countries in South America, Central America and the Antilles, Grupo Orbis has consolidated revenue of around COP USD1,200 billion (EUR260 million). The transaction includes the Pintuco paints and coatings business, Andercol and Poliquim (resins) and Mundial (distribution and services).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PET consumption totalled 411,200 tonnes in the first six month of 2021, up by 12% year on year. Russian companies processed 62,910 tonnes in June, compared to 85,890 tonnes a month earlier.

Celebrating its 25th year in 2021, Orbis — powered by Menasha — is built on more than 170 years of material handling expertise. Orbis helps world-class customers move their product faster, safer and more cost-effectively with reusable totes, pallets, containers, dunnage and racks. Headquartered in Oconomowoc, ORBIS has more than 2,500 employees and 55 locations throughout North America and Europe.

Carbios starts up PET enzymatic recycling plant

Carbios starts up PET enzymatic recycling plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Green chemistry company Carbios has opened a new industrial demonstration plant with enzymatic recycling technology at its Cataroux site in Clermont-Ferrand, France, said the company.

The demonstration plant will also help validate the technical, environmental, and economic performance of the enzymatic PET recycling process, in addition to designing future industrial units. Carbios stated that the demonstration plant marks the completion of C-ZYME technology development.

C-ZYME, an enzymatic recycling technology, uses an enzyme that helps to depolymerise polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The PET is used in different plastic and textile items. The depolymerised monomers are said to be purified before being repolymerised into PET of comparable quality to virgin PET derived from petrochemicals.

Contrast to traditional methods, Carbios’ technology facilitates unlimited recycling of all sorts of PET waste, including clear, coloured, opaque, complex plastics and polyester textiles. The enzymatic recycling technology will help produce 100% recycled and 100% recyclable PET goods, which maintain their virgin quality throughout the process.

Carbios CEO Jean-Claude Lumaret said: “For more than 10 years, we have been creating innovative solutions to rethink the end of life of plastics and textiles.

When the project was first announced in 2020, Carbios said capacities could be between 50,000-100,000 tonnes/year and it would be starting up in the second quarter of 2021.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PET consumption totalled 411,200 tonnes in the first six month of 2021, up by 12% year on year. Russian companies processed 62,910 tonnes in June, compared to 85,890 tonnes a month earlier.
MRC

ExxonMobil offers new proposal to locked-out Beaumont refinery workers

ExxonMobil offers new proposal to locked-out Beaumont refinery workers

MOSCOW (MRC) -- ExxonMobil, an American petrochemical major, offered its first concession in a new contract proposal to locked-out workers at its Beaumont, Texas, refinery and lube oil plant to include some seniority protection, reported Reuters.

Exxon on May 1 locked some 650 workers out at the 369,000-barrel-per-day refinery, replacing them with temporary workers and saying the company was afraid a strike might lead to disruptions to production.

"The amended offer, which comes after months of good-faith bargaining meetings, provides further support to our represented employees’ concerns about security and seniority," spokesperson Julie King said in an email.

The leaders of United Steelworkers union (USW) local 13-243, which represents the locked-out workers, said Exxon's new offer fell short.

"Although these changes are recognized as movement by the company, the overall 40-page comprehensive offer still leaves much to be desired," the leaders said in a statement issued Wednesday night.

Exxon has not withdrawn proposals that would eliminate lead operator positions, give it the right to right to move operators among different units regardless of job seniority and to eliminate the practice of workers bidding for jobs that come open, the leaders said.

"These three proposals alone are still a direct attack on the core values of the union’s safety, seniority and security," they said.

The new proposal includes seniority protection for job transfers between the lubricants and refinery portions of the complex. The USW 13-243 leaders said this was not a change, but clarified what Exxon had previously said. It also includes layoff protection for certain jobs and warehouse operator promotions in lubricants, Exxon said. The USW leaders said this proposal could result in the elimination of a department and the cutting jobs in another department.

The refinery and lube plant has continued to produce motor fuels and Mobil 1 oil with managers and supervisors.

If the new proposal is ratified before Nov. 1, the workers will receive a USD500 bonus, Exxon said.

As MRC informed before, ExxonMobil rejected three proposals in August made by the union representing 650 locked-out workers at the company’s Beaumont, Texas, refinery.

We remind that in mid-summer, 2021, ExxonMobil's Beaumont, Texas refinery was operating at about 60% of its 369,024-bpd capacity because of the lockout of union workers.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,396,960 tonnes in January-July 2021, up by 7% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 841,990 tonnes in the first seven months of 2021, up by 29% year on year. Supply of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

ExxonMobil is the largest non-government owned company in the energy industry and produces about 3% of the world's oil and about 2% of the world's energy.
MRC