NRL selects Lummus Novolen technology

Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, announced a recent contract award from Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. (NRL), said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The award is for a new 360 KTA polypropylene (PP) unit using Novolen technology at NRL's refinery in Golaghat, Assam, India. Lummus' scope includes the technology license, basic design engineering, training, technical services and catalyst supply.

"We are honored to continue supporting NRL's business and are grateful for their confidence in Lummus' technologies," said Leon de Bruyn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lummus Technology. "Novolen is currently the industry's most-licensed polypropylene technology throughout the world, including in India. This leading position is the result of continuous innovation and our customer commitment to provide technologies and solutions that yield maximum profitability, performance, and product quality and flexibility."

In 2021, NRL licensed Indmax FCC technology from Lummus and LC-FINING technology from Chevron Lummus Global, a joint venture between Chevron and Lummus.

Lummus Novolen Technology GmbH licenses the industry leading Novolen PP technology and provides engineering, technical support and advisory services to the hydrocarbon processing industry. The Novolen portfolio includes NPM advanced process controls system, PPConnect digital data analysis platform and Lummus O3S operator training simulator. Novolen technology includes NEON low volatile extrusion equipment and components, and Novolen ComPPact process reactors, which can be used by implementing the proprietary VRC reactor system, allowing for maximum product range and capacity flexibility. Catalysts are available to licensees to produce high-performance and special PP grades and include Novolen CirPPlus recycled polymers, Novolen Enhance performance polymers, PPure polymers and Novocene metallocene catalysts.

As per MRC, Lummus Technology announced the launch of a major enhancement to its leading ethane feed steam cracker that is capable of achieving zero CO2 emissions from an ethylene plant. Lummus developed this next generation design as part of its comprehensive strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all of its technology offerings.
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MSOCW (MRC) -- Russia's Gazprom has told customers in Europe it cannot guarantee gas supplies because of 'extraordinary' circumstances, according to a letter seen by Reuters, upping the ante in an economic tit-for-tat with the West over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The July 14 letter from the Russian state gas monopoly said it was retroactively declaring force majeure on supplies dating from June 14. The news comes as Nord Stream 1, the key pipeline delivering Russian gas to Germany and beyond, is undergoing annual maintenance meant to conclude on Thursday. The letter added to Europe's fears that Moscow could keep the pipeline mothballed in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Russia over the war in Ukraine, heightening an energy crisis that risks tipping the region into recession.

Known as an 'act of God' clause, force majeure is standard in business contracts and spells out extreme circumstances that excuse a party from their legal obligations. Gazprom did not respond to a request for comment.

Russian gas supplies have been declining via major routes for some months, including via Ukraine and Belarus as well as through Nord Stream 1 under the Baltic Sea. A trading source, asking not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the force majeure concerned supplies through Nord Stream 1.

"This sounds like a first hint that the gas supplies via NS1 will possibly not resume after the 10-day maintenance has ended," said Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist at ABN Amro. “Depending on what ‘extraordinary’ circumstances have in mind in order to declare the force majeure, and whether these issues are technical or more political, it could mean the next step in escalation between Russia and Europe/Germany," he added.

Uniper, Germany's biggest importer of Russian gas, was among the customers who said they had received a letter, and that it had formally rejected the claim as unjustified. RWE, Germany's largest power producer and another importer of Russian gas, also said it has received a force majeure notice.

We remind, Austria is following through on a "use it or lose it" threat to eject Russia's Gazprom from its large Haidach gas storage facility for systematically failing to fill its portion of the capacity there. The country’s industry regulator, E-control, started the process for assuming control over the underground Haidach site using a law which entered into force this month that allows Austria to seize critical storage spaces if operators fail to fill them to at least 10% of capacity.
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The WhiteCycle project, coordinated by French manufacturing company Michelin, was launched July 1, said Recyclingtoday.

It aims to develop a circular economy to convert complex materials containing textiles made of plastic into products with high added value, according to Michelin. Co-financed by the Horizon Europe program of the European Commission, this public/private European partnership includes 17 organizations.

The WhiteCycle ambition by 2030 is to foster the annual recycling of more than 2 million tons of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Michelin says this project should make it possible to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 2 million tons and to avoid the landfilling or incineration of more than 1.8 million tons of plastic each year.

Composite postindustrial materials containing polyester (PET) textiles and other components from tires, hoses and multilayer clothes at the end of the products’ life cycles soon could become recyclable, the company says. That material could go into producing new plastic for tires, hoses and clothes.

As per MRC, Nexus Circular and Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, as well as a market leader and pioneer producer of biopolymers on an industrial scale, announced that they have signed a detailed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to secure the production output from a new advanced recycling facility planned near Chicago, IL.
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Hexpol has reported a 41% year-on-year increase in second quarter sales, to SEK5,654 mln(EUR534 mln) and earnings (EBIT) up 15% to SEK836 mln, said ERG.

The results for the three months to 30 June, left second-half sales 39% higher at SEK10,827 million and EBIT up 13% to SEK1,611 million. Hexpol continued to handle raw material shortages, transport problems and higher raw materials and energy costs, president and CEO Georg Brunstam said of the second quarter showing.

“Once again, we delivered a very strong quarter,” commented Brunstam, noting “good sales in all markets and all product areas." The Americas region, he said, showed “particularly strong development while sales to automotive-related customers remained pending.

Hexpol’s second quarter figures equated to a 3.4-point lower margin of 14.8%, while its first-half EBIT-margin came in at 14.9% compared to the prior-year 18.3%. “Included in the positive sales development are effects from acquisitions, positive currency effects and increased sales prices,” noted Hexpol’s 15 July results statement.

Leader Brunstam went on to reiterate previously made comments about Hexpol’s preparedness for recovery in vehicle production as well as the group’s continued focus on potential acquisitions.

As per MRC, Hexpol has completed the previously announced acquisition of 100% of Union de Industrias C.A., S.A. (Unica) from Espiga Capital, a Spanish based Private Equity firm. Unica is a significant player in Rubber Compounds in Spain, supplying several demanding customers in the automotive, construction and agriculture sectors.
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Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company has appointed Metab Zaid Al Shahrani as the company's CEO, effective 24 July 2022, said Argaam.

Al Shahrani succeeded Omar Ali Al Ruhaily, who occupied another position in the manufacturing sector at Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), according to a press release. The new appointment was based on the recommendation of the remuneration and nominations committee.

Al-Shahrani holds an Executive MBA from London Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. He has diverse experience in the industrial and petrochemical sector and has held many leadership positions in SABIC. Previously, he was the president of Saudi Methanol Co. (Ar-Razi).

As MRC wrote previously, Saudi Kayan conducted a 21-day scheduled maintenance at its ethylene glycol (EG) and ethylene oxide (EO) facilities at Jubail, Saudi Arabia, starting on 1 February, 2020. The company said that some of its other facilities that rely on EG and EO feedstocks would also undergo periodic maintenance and improvements.
EO is one of the main feedstocks for the production of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), which is used to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET). And PET is used in the manufacturing of plastic bottles, films, packaging containers, in the textile and food industries. Saudi Kayan operates a MEG plant in Jubai, Saudi Arabia, which has a production capacity of 566,000 mt/year.

Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company is a manufacturing affiliate of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). Headquartered in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Kayan is a leading chemical maker operating in the Kingdom’s petrochemical sector since 2007.
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