BASF expands portfolio of climate friendly products

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, the world's petrochemical major, expands the portfolio of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and introduces with Lupranat ZERO (Zero Emission, Renewable Origin) the first greenhouse gas neutral aromatic isocyanate, as per the company's pres release.

Lupranat ZERO has an accounting Cradle-to-Gate1 Product Carbon Footprint2 (PCF) of zero; this means that on its way until it leaves the BASF factory gate for the customer - all product-related greenhouse gas emissions and the biobased carbon bound in the product taken together - it does not carry a CO2 backpack. Zero emissions up to the factory gate are achieved without offset certificates. Instead, renewable raw materials are used at the beginning of the chemical production chain and allocated via a mass balance process. In addition, renewable energies are used for the manufacturing process with green energy certificates (e.g. Renewable Energy Certificates).

The verification of the PCF calculation of Lupranat ZERO by TUV Nord has been successfully completed. “We have checked the calculation of the PCF of Lupranat ZERO M 70 R in detail and are now pleased to be able to confirm it for the first time," says Delia Carls, auditor at TUV NORD. Lupranat ZERO will be available in the second quarter of 2022.

"Climate protection is becoming increasingly important for our customers. With reliable data on the CO2 footprint of our products, we can support our customers in achieving their climate targets. By using Lupranat ZERO, our customers can quantifiably reduce their CO2 footprint while maintaining the same high product quality and thus make an active contribution to climate protection," says Dr. Ramkumar Dhruva, President Monomers BASF.

Lupranat ZERO will be available in the first for Lupranat M 70 R. The application is for the production of MDI polyisocyanurate panels (also known as PIR or polyiso) and rigid polyurethane foam in the construction industry. The rigid foam boards are extremely durable and are used for thermal insulation. BASF is initially introducing ZERO for Lupranat M 70 R, with other Lupranat product variants to follow.

As MRC reported before, BASF shut down an unspecified unit at its 420,000-metric ton/year steam cracker site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, due to a technical defect. Unscheduled flaring started on 13 January, 2021, at the northern part of the Ludwigshafen site and was expected to last until 17 January, 2021.

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 2,265,290 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2021, up by 14% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

BASF is the leading chemical company. It produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Petronas has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leading global shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) to jointly explore opportunities in liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2) transportation for the carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) value chain in Asia Pacific and Oceania regions, said the company.

The MoU was signed in a virtual ceremony on 7 February by Petronas Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Upstream, Adif Zulkifli and MOL President and Chief Executive Officer Takeshi Hashimoto.

Adif said, "Petronas continuously explores opportunities to reduce carbon emissions in our operations. This collaboration is important as long haul liquefied CO2 transportation plays an essential role in the CCUS value chain. We are confident that MOL’s strong track record, coupled with its recent acquisition of Larvik Shipping AS which has safely transported CO2 for over 30 years, will position both Petronas and MOL as leaders in the region for long haul transportation of liquefied CO2."

Petronas is taking deliberate steps to build a resilient and sustainable portfolio aligned to its growth strategy, delivering effective solutions with a lower carbon footprint through commercial and operational excellence, renewable energy generation and technology innovations. Petronas supports the transition towards lower carbon energy sources by applying technology that lowers emissions across the value chain, which includes carbon capture, transport and storage.

MOL, together with Larvik Shipping AS, which is one of the few companies in the world qualified to operate liquefied CO2 vessels for food-grade CO2, will contribute its expertise in safe transportation of liquefied CO2. Liquefied CO2 transportation safely and efficiently connects CCUS sites over long distances where pipelines are not economically viable.

As per MRC, Petronas Chemicals Aromatics, the Malaysian state-owned petrochemical company, plans to shut down its paraxylene production facility at Kerteh, Malaysia next week for scheduled maintenance. This production facility with a capacity of 550,000 tonnes of paraxylene per year will be under repair for about 50 days.

Petronas is a Malaysian government-owned oil and gas and petrochemicals company and a Global Fortune 500 company. It currently operates and operates in markets in more than 60 countries.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PetroChina has started a 33.9 B yuan (USD5.33 B) program to expand the petrochemical capacity at a subsidiary plant in northeast China and cut refined fuel production, according to a company post and state media report, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The state oil and gas major's move is in line with a trend within the Chinese industry to reduce fossil fuel output as demand is set to peak, while raising production of higher-value petrochemicals that are imported by the Asian country.

Under the revamp, PetroChina's Jilin Petrochemical Corp plans to add 21 more facilities - including a 1.2-MMtpy ethylene unit - and mothball seven units, parent company CNPC said on Wednesday, without providing further details.

The new facilities will also include a 600,000-tpy unit to manufacture acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, an impact-resistant plastic, local state newspaper Jilin Daily reported, without citing details on project completion.

After the revamp, the Jilin province-based subsidiary will produce 2.63 MM tons less of refined fuel a year but 2.8 MM tons more of petrochemicals.

As MRC informed previously, PetroChina, Asia's largest oil and gas producer,aims to have oil, gas and green energies to each account for a third of its portfolio by 2035, as the Chinese oil major shifts toward a lower-carbon future.

We remind that in August, 2021, PetroChina Liaoyang Petrochemical Co Ltd , part of the Chinese petrochemical major - PetroChina,successfully started up its new polypropylene (PP) plant last week. Based in Liaoning City, Liaoyang Province, China, the new PP plant has a production capacity of 300,000 tonnes per year.

PetroChina Company Limited, is a Chinese oil and gas company and is the listed arm of state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation, headquartered in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is China's biggest oil producer.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Invista, a Koch company and affiliate of Flint Hills Resources, has recently acquired the Flint Hills Resources propylene business, as per Invista's press release.

This includes chemical facilities in Houston and Longview, Texas, as well as support employees. Ownership of the pipelines that supply these facilities also transferred to Invista, and they will continue to be operated by Flint Hills Resources under contract.

“This addition of the propylene business to INVISTA’s existing portfolio provides a strong chemical platform in which to grow,” said Jeff Gentry, Invista chairman and CEO. “We look forward to applying our combined knowledge and capabilities to accelerate future innovation and growth opportunities.”

As MRC reported earlier, in February, 2021, Stepan Company (Northfield, Illinois) acquired Invista’s aromatic polyols business, which has annual sales of about USD100 million.

We remind that in September, 2020, Invista Textiles (U.K.) Limited’s technology and licensing business, Invista Performance Technologies (IPT), and Jiangsu Jiatong Energy Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Tongkun Group (Tongkun), reached agreement to license Invista’s latest P8 PTA technology for two PTA lines. These two lines will be installed in Rudong, Nantong City, Jiangsu province, China. Both lines deploy INVISTA’s largest twin stream design respectively, utilising INVISTA’s latest P8++ PTA technology.

PTA is the main feedstock for the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, the estimated PET consumption in Russia remained steady year on year in December 2021. December estimate PET consumption was 67,880 tonnes (67,710 tonnes in December 2020).
Russia's overall estimated PET consumption totalled 805,470 tonnes in 2021, up by 13% year on year (714,760 tonnes in 2020).

Invista is a global manufacturer of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers. From parts for the automotive industry to medical equipment, air bags, food packaging, carpet and clothing, our ingredients in the nylon 6,6 and polypropylene value chains help bring many of life’s essential products to market. A subsidiary of Koch Industries since 2004, Invista is committed to innovation and responsibly creating more value for its customers and society while consuming fewer resources to make these products.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lummus Technology is collaborating with Polish chemicals producer Synthos to produce bio-based butadiene (BD) technology, said the company.

Synthos has increased capacity of its proposed bio-BD plant to 40,000 tonnes/year from 20,000 tonnes/year, following the success of the feasibility study conducted by the partnership last year. The location of the plant has not been disclosed.

The technology is now ready for implementation and the project will move into the engineering and design phase. As well as the plant capacity, Synthos will license BASF’s BD extraction technology from Lummus through its subsidiary Green Circle, with the processing firm providing digitalisation capabilities to increase efficiency in the project.

Earlier it was reported that Synthos closed the production of polybutadiene rubber (PBK) in Kralupy nad Vltavou (Kralupy, Czech Republic) for scheduled repairs. This plant with a capacity of 100 thousand tons of PBK per year will be closed for one month.

As per MRC, Synthos announced the final investment decision for the construction of a new Butadiene Extraction Unit with associated logistic infrastructure to be built in Plock, Poland. Air Liquide Engineering and Construction licenses the BASF NMP Butadiene Extraction technology and has been awarded with the overall engineering, procurement and Construction services and supplies for the project. The commissioning of the Butadiene Extraction Unit and first production are scheduled for 2024. The Butadiene extraction Unit will have a BD capacity of 120 kt/y.

Synthos produces synthetic rubber for applications in tyre and technical rubber goods. Green Circle is involved in end-of-life plastics recycling, production of bio-based sustainable chemicals and decarbonisation solutions for new and existing assets.
MRC