Braskem taps Terra Circular to form plastic recycling JV

Braskem taps Terra Circular to form plastic recycling JV

Braskem has agreed with Dutch recycler Terra Circular to enter a joint venture for mechanical recycling, said the company.

Financial details were not disclosed. Terra Circular, through its subsidiary ER Plastics, operates the production facilities, with nominal capacity for mechanical recycling of 23,000 tonnes/year.

The plant is to process mixed plastic waste.

"With the agreement’s execution and once its conditions' precedents are fulfilled, Braskem will become the controlling shareholder of the joint venture, with the possibility to expand the technology’s use to other regions. Terra Circular will transfer to the joint venture the shares in its subsidiary ER Plastics," said Braskem.

Netherlands-based Terra Circular will provide the JV all the shares in its subsidiary ER Plastics, which has a capacity to recycle 23,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year.

As per MRC, Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, as well as a market leader and pioneer producer of biopolymers on an industrial scale, announces the release of three new sustainable 3D printing filament product offerings for the additive manufacturing market. These first of their kind products include 3D printing filaments produced from bio-based ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) filament derived from raw sugarcane as well from recycled polyethylene and polypropylene (PE/PP) blended filaments with, or without, carbon fiber.

As per MRC, Lummus Technology announced a partnership with Braskem, the largest biopolymer producer in the world, to license green ethylene technology. Lummus and Braskem will license worldwide technology to produce green ethylene and accelerate the use of bioethanol for chemicals and plastics, supporting the industry's efforts towards a carbon neutral circular economy.

As MRC wrote earlier, in late 2020, Braskem announced its latest sustainability ambitions to significantly expand its efforts to eliminate plastic waste in the environment by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,487,450 tonnes in 2021, up by 13% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased.

Braskem S.A. produces petrochemicals and generates electricity. The Company produces ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, xylenes, butadiene, butene, isoprene, dicyclopentediene, MTBE, caprolactam, ammonium sulfate, cyclohexene, polyethylene theraphtalat, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
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TAZIZ and Reliance partner with UAE Shaheen on USD2 B chemicals project in Ruwais

TAZIZ and Reliance partner with UAE Shaheen on USD2 B chemicals project in Ruwais

TA’ZIZ announced that Shaheen will join the proposed TA’ZIZ and Reliance Industries Limited TA'ZIZ EDC & PVC joint venture, that will construct and operate a world-scale Chlor-Alkali, EDC and PVC facility, at the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone, in Ruwais, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone is a joint venture between ADNOC and ADQ. With an investment of more than USD2 B (AED7.34 B), the project will supply local manufacturers, replacing chemicals currently imported, while also exporting to meet growing demand for these chemicals globally.

TA’ZIZ will provide new opportunities for local manufacturers, supporting growth of their knowledge and capabilities, catalyzing local industrial development. Shaheen brings extensive knowledge of the local market and joins the project with a focus on utilizing production for use in local supply chains.

The agreement marks the first direct investment by a privately-owned UAE company in the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone. It also follows the investment agreements between TA’ZIZ and eight UAE-based investors in ADNOC Classification: Public December 2021, which marked the first domestic PPP in Abu Dhabi’s downstream and petrochemicals sector.

Khaleefa Yousef Al Mheiri, TA’ZIZ Acting Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome Shaheen as a strategic partner in TA’ZIZ. This strategic agreement further consolidates TA’ZIZ’s position as the sought-after partner for local and international investment in the UAE’s chemicals industry. The partnership supports our national strategy to drive the growth and diversification of the country’s industrial base, strengthen domestic supply chains and enable the private sector to “Make it in the Emirates”, in line with the leadership’s wise directives."

The chemicals to be produced by the TA’ZIZ EDC and PVC project have a wide range of industrial applications and will create opportunities for export, as well as providing local industry with a source of critical raw materials manufactured in the UAE for the first time.

Walid Azhari, Managing Director of Shaheen, said: “We are honored to partner with TA’ZIZ and Reliance in this world class industrial plant which will include the largest Chlor Alkali plant in the world. We are looking forward to working with our partners during the development, construction and operation stages of the project. This project will be the cornerstone for many exciting downstream opportunities which will create a whole new industrial cluster in the UAE, in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030”.

Investment in the production of chemicals is a priority for the UAE’s industrial growth strategy, championed by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, which aims to raise the UAE’s industrial sector’s contribution of national GDP to AED300 B by 2031.

Chemicals are an attractive sector given projected demand growth globally and the opportunity local production creates to grow the UAE’s industrial base. Chlor-Alkali enables the production of caustic soda, crucial to the production of aluminum, and EDC is used in the production of PVC for a wide range of industrial and consumer products including pipes, windows, cables, films and flooring.

TA’ZIZ comprises three zones, the first of which is an Industrial Chemicals Zone that will host chemicals production, with seven world-scale projects already in the design phase. The second is a Light Industrial Zone, which will be home to downstream conversion industries that will convert the outputs of the Chemicals Zone into consumable products. The third is an Industrial Services Zone ADNOC Classification: Public that will house a variety of companies providing the services required by the TA’ZIZ industrial zones and the wider Ruwais Industrial Complex. All projects in the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone are subject to customary regulatory approvals.

As per MRC, Reliance Industries reports a 24.8% rise year on year (YOY) in EBITDA for its oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business, to 142.4 billion Indian rupees (USD1.8 billion) in the fiscal fourth quarter ended 31 March. Downstream product margins were negatively impacted by weak naphtha cracking economics and supply overhang in fiber intermediates. Quarterly sales rose 44.2% YOY to Rs1.4 trillion, due primarily to increased crude oil prices.

As MRC informed before, in November 2021, Reliance Industries and Saudi Aramco decided to re-evaluate their agreement for the Middle Eastern producer to buy a stake in the refining and petrochemical business of India's biggest private refiner, and both companies would look at broader areas of cooperation due to the changing energy scenario.

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 2,487,450 tonnes in 2021, up by 13% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market totalled 1,494.280 tonnes, up by 21% year on year. Deliveries of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whreas.shipments of PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

Reliance Industries is one of the world's largest producers of polymers. The company produces polypropylene, polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride and other petrochemical products.
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Aramco and PTT deepen energy cooperation in Thailand

Aramco and PTT deepen energy cooperation in Thailand

Aramco is exploring further collaboration with Thailand’s national oil company PTT, as it expands its downstream presence in Asia, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding at a ceremony in Bangkok on May 11. The companies aim to strengthen cooperation across crude oil sourcing and the marketing of refining and petrochemical products and LNG. Other potential areas of activity include blue and green hydrogen and various clean energy initiatives.

Ibrahim Al-Buainain, Aramco Vice President Sales, Trading and Supply Planning, said: “Today represents an important step forward as we deepen and broaden this relationship to achieve greater cooperation across a wide range of activities, from sourcing crude oil and marketing refining and petrochemical products and LNG, to exploring blue and green hydrogen and progressing other clean energy initiatives."

Auttapol Rerkpiboon, PTT President & Chief Executive Officer, said: “Today marks a significant milestone for PTT and Aramco as we look to the future and extend our collaboration beyond conventional energy. It also reflects our ongoing commitment to security of supply as we embrace the energy transition."

Disathat Panyarachun, PTT Senior Executive Vice President, International Trading Business Unit, said: “PTT and Aramco have built strong ties around the supply and trading of crude oil and other products. Extending our collaboration across the value chain to include emerging decarbonization initiatives is a great opportunity to strengthen our relationship and foster further business growth. This also aligns with our ‘green and clean’ strategy which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

As MRC informed before, in June 2020, Aramco finalized its USD69 billion acquisition of a 70% stake in Saudi Basic Industries Corp., the Middle East's biggest petrochemical maker. SABIC reported more than a fivefold year-on-year increase in its Q3 net profit to USD1.49 billion thanks to higher average sales prices.

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 2,487,450 tonnes in 2021, up by 13% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market totalled 1,494.280 tonnes, up by 21% year on year. Deliveries of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whreas.shipments of PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

Saudi Aramco, officially the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is a Saudi Arabian national oil and natural gas company based in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Aramco's value has been estimated at up to USD10 trillion in the Financial Times, making it the world"s most valuable company. Saudi Aramco has both the largest proven crude oil reserves, at more than 260 billion barrels, and largest daily oil production.
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Shell agrees to sell Russian retail business to Lukoil

Shell agrees to sell Russian retail business to Lukoil

Shell has agreed to sell over 400 retail fuel stations and a lubricants blending plant in Russia to Lukoil, said the company.

Known as Shell Neft, the business operates fuel stations in central and northwest Russia, while the Torzhok blending plant is around 200km northwest of Moscow. Shell has committed to gradually withdrawing from all Russian hydrocarbon activities. Deal terms were not disclosed.

"The acquisition of Shell's high-quality businesses in Russia fits well into Lukoil strategy to develop its priority sales channels, including retail, as well as the lubricants business," said Maxim Donde, Lukoil Vice President for Refined Products Sales.

"Our priority is the well-being of our employees," said Huibert Vigeveno, Shell's Downstream Director. "Under this deal, more than 350 people currently employed by Shell Neft will transfer to the new owner of this business."

Earlier it was reported that Shell said that the executive directors, management and technical staff of Shell left the Russian oil and gas project "Sakhalin-2". Shell is also completely halting the purchase of oil from Russia on the spot market and is working to eliminate Russian oil from supplies. The company will also withdraw oil products, pipeline gas and LNG from the Russian market. That is, in fact, it will curtail the network of gas stations in the country.

In addition, Shell in its reporting for the first quarter of 2022 recognized the cost of leaving Russian assets at USD 3.9 billion after taxes. Earlier, she informed that the losses could amount to USD 4-5 billion.

Lukoil is one of the leading vertically integrated oil companies in Russia. The main activities of the company include exploration and production of oil and gas, production and sale of petroleum products. Lukoil is the second largest private oil company in the world in terms of proven hydrocarbon reserves. The structure of Lukoil includes one of the largest petrochemical enterprises in Russia - Stavrolen.

Shell is a British-Dutch oil and gas concern engaged in the extraction, processing and marketing of hydrocarbons in more than 70 countries.

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BASF and BMW rely on renewable raw materials for automotive coatings

BASF and BMW rely on renewable raw materials for automotive coatings

The BMW Group is the first carmaker to place its trust in more sustainable automotive OEM coatings certified according to BASF’s biomass balance approach, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The BMW Group has chosen to use BASF Coatings’ CathoGuard 800 ReSource e-coat at its plants in Leipzig, Germany, and Rosslyn, South Africa, and the iGloss matt ReSource clearcoat throughout Europe. Using these more sustainable product versions for vehicle coatings enables CO2 avoidance of around 40% per coating layer; this will reduce the amount of CO2 emitted in the plants by more than 15,000 metric tons by 2030.

The BMW Group produces an average of around 250,000 vehicles every year at its plants in Leipzig and Rosslyn. As a corrosion protection technology with optimum protection of edges, the CathoGuard 800 e-coat helps millions of cars live longer. Its biomass-balanced version, CathoGuard 800 ReSource, adds a reduced carbon footprint to the e-coat application’s material efficiency, without changing the product’s formulation.

In BASF’s biomass balance approach, renewable raw materials like bio-based naphtha and biomethane from organic waste are used as raw materials when manufacturing primary chemical products and are fed into the production Verbund. The proportion of bio-based raw materials is then arithmetically assigned to certain sales products according to a certified method. This attribution model is comparable with the principle of green electricity. An independent certification confirms that BASF has replaced the quantities of fossil resources required for the biomass-balanced product sold with renewable raw materials.

As per MRC, BASF and SINOPEC have broken ground for the expansion of their Verbund site operated by BASF-YPC Co., Ltd. (BASF-YPC), a 50-50 joint venture of both companies in Nanjing. The expansion includes new capacities of several downstream chemical plants and a new tert-butyl acrylate plant, to serve the growing demand from various industries in the Chinese market.

As MRC reported earlier, in November 2021, BASF increased its production capacity for advanced additives at its wholly-owned site in Nanjing, China. The new asset with state-of-the-art technologies will allow BASF to produce high molecular weight dispersing agents, slip and leveling agents and other additives locally for Asian markets.

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.
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