LUKOIL completes reconstruction of several units at Volgograd refinery

LUKOIL completes reconstruction of several units at Volgograd refinery

MRC) -- A large-scale reconstruction has been completed at the Volgograd refinery, said Hyddrocarbonprocessing.

The project included modernization of the CDU-VDU-5 crude distillation unit with production capacity of 3.5 MMtpy and the solvent extraction unit with production capacity of 300, 000 tpy. Over 230 core equipment items were installed and technologically outdated units were decommissioned. The share of Russia-made equipment installed during the reconstruction exceeded 70%. The construction site spanned the area of 34 thousand square metres; investments into the project exceeded 12 B roubles.

The implementation of the project will increase amount of petroleum feedstock refined by 400 thousand tonnes per year, as well as intensify production of kerosene and diesel fractions. Thanks to introduction of modern technological and digital solutions, energy efficiency of the refinery will increase and its CO2 intensity will decrease.

In 2021, LUKOIL commissioned a high-viscosity index oils production complex at its Volgograd refinery. The investment in the facility amounted to about 10 B roubles.

We remind, PJSC LUKOIL became one of the leaders of ESG-indices of Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP): Responsibility and Transparency and Sustainability Vector. The 2022 index participant list was compiled on the basis of RAEX-600 Top 100 rating of the largest Russian companies and the Moscow Exchange Index companies list. The ESG-indices calculations were based upon public reports of the enterprises. The assessment took into account 44 indices and 73 indicators that reflect economic, environmental, social and governance aspects of sustainable development.
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Amcor sells factories in Russia

Amcor sells factories in Russia

Amcor announced it completed the sale of its three factories in Russia to HS Investments, a Russian-based investor, after receiving all necessary regulatory approvals and cash proceeds, including receipt of closing cash balances, said the company.

The cash and debt free consideration value is EUR370 million. This follows Amcor’s previously announced decision to pursue the orderly sale of its Russian business while continuing to support its people and customers as well as preserving value for shareholders.

The Russian business produces flexible and cartons packaging from one site in St. Petersburg and two sites in Novgorod and employs approximately 900 people. Amcor’s three sites in Russia generated approximately 2% of total Amcor sales in fiscal 2022.

Cash proceeds are expected to be used primarily for debt repayment and share repurchases. The transaction is not expected to have a material impact on the outlook for fiscal 2023.

We remind, Amcor, a global leader in responsible packaging solutions, on 15 Dec 2022 announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Huizhou, China. With an investment of almost USD100 mln, the 590,000-sq-ft plant is the largest flexible packaging plant by production capacity in China, further strengthening Amcor's ability to meet growing customer demand throughout Asia Pacific.
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Neste granted state funding for green hydrogen projects at Porvoo refinery

Neste granted state funding for green hydrogen projects at Porvoo refinery

In order to develop strategies for producing renewable hydrogen, Business Finland has given Neste a public financial award of EUR 27.7 million for green hydrogen projects at Neste’s refinery in Porvoo, Finland, said Energynews.

For its hydrogen projects, Neste became the first Finnish firm to be given IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) designation by the European Commission in July 2022. This gave Neste the opportunity to seek for the currently available public funding. EU IPCEI projects further the strategic goals of the EU and the shared interests of Europeans by funding innovation initiatives throughout the various EU Member States.

The decision to award the money is a part of the first wave of hydrogen IPCEI initiatives in the EU, which aims to advance and hasten the production and use of green hydrogen throughout Europe. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and Business Finland has managed the EU application procedure in Finland. The Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland, which is sponsored by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, includes projects in Finland that deal with the value chain for the hydrogen industry.

Neste began a strategy research in September 2022 on how to transform its Porvoo refinery into a top-tier global facility for sustainable and circular solutions. In the middle of the 2030s, if the transformation path were followed, crude oil would be replaced by recycled and renewable raw resources. The shift that is anticipated and Neste’s objective to reach carbon neutral output by 2035 depend heavily on the renewable hydrogen projects the company is working on.

We remind, Neste, Brightlands Venture Partners, 4 Impact VC and Asahi Kasei announce a combined EUR11 mln investment into Netherlands-based startup Circularise. The goal of the investment is to accelerate the transformation to more sustainable materials within the polymers and chemicals industry by providing new digital solutions to boost traceability and visibility of material flows along value chains.
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NOVA achieves mechanical completion of Canadian cracker

NOVA achieves mechanical completion of Canadian cracker

NOVA Chemicals Corporation announced that its second Advanced SCLAIRTECH technology facility and the third phase of the Corunna Cracker Expansion Project (“Cracker Expansion”) have each reached mechanical completion, said the company.

The world-scale AST2 facility, located at the new Rokeby Site in St. Clair Township, Ontario will have a production capacity of approximately one billion pounds of polyethylene per year. The Cracker Expansion will provide ethylene feedstock to the new AST2 facility, expanding the existing cracker’s current capacity by more than 50 per cent.

Both projects represent a significant investment bringing new technology, jobs and long-term economic viability to the region. Since the growth projects began in late 2017, NOVA Chemicals has added approximately USD2 billion (CAD) to the provincial economy and over 7,000 workers were involved in construction.

NOVA Chemicals is the largest private employer in the Sarnia-Lambton region with three manufacturing facilities and one corporate office currently operating in the area. Once the growth projects are fully commissioned and complete, an estimated 150 permanent full-time jobs will be added between direct hires and contractors at both facilities. Post-construction commissioning activities at the Rokeby Site are fully underway with several onsite unit operations in the startup phase.

NOVA Chemicals’ Corunna Site produces 1.8 billion pounds of ethylene and approximately 700 million pounds of co-products annually. Corunna provides feedstock to NOVA Chemicals’ Moore and St. Clair River Sites where they convert ethylene into up to 1.3 billion pounds of polyethylene per year. Ethane, a component of natural gas, is the primary feedstock for ethylene production at the Corunna Site.

We remind, NOVA Chemicals Corporation, a leading producer of polyethylene resins, announced the launch of its new, mechanically recycled polyethylene resin: EX-PCR-NC4. Incorporating this product allows converters and brand owners to meet their sustainability goals, without compromising package performance in applications such as shrink, e-commerce, heavy-duty sacks, and protective packaging.

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CHIMEI Corporation completes carbon footprint verification for entire plastic and rubber product lines

CHIMEI Corporation completes carbon footprint verification for entire plastic and rubber product lines

CHIMEI Corporation, a world-leading performance material company, recently announced its completion of carbon footprint verification for its entire plastic and rubber product lines, marking a significant step towards its “Net Zero by 2050” goals, said Polymerupdate.

The comprehensive verification process was carried out in accordance with the ISO 14067 “Carbon footprint of products” standards and Plastics in Primary Forms Category Rules under the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from various manufacturing processes were disclosed, including raw material manufacturing, transportation, and processing. Results were validated for accuracy by DNV, a Norway-based third-party validator, as supported by the relevant data and documentation. A product carbon footprint certificate was issued to the company afterwards.

The certification covers the entirety of CHIMEI’s plastic and rubber product lines, including its ABS, AS, PMMA, PC, PS, MS, rubber, LGP, and post-consumer recycled plastic lines. By collecting energy consumption information from its manufacturing and transportation activities, the company is able to make its carbon emissions data more transparent for each production stage. Furthermore, CHIMEI is strengthening its personnel training to improve its analyzation of carbon emissions ratios from its material inputs, consolidate its GHG inventory and the associated environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle, and set carbon reduction goals so as to give way for better production processes, new manufacturing technologies, and fine-tuned procurement strategies. Its ultimate goal is to maximize the benefits of low carbon emissions products.

With an eye to a lower carbon footprint, CHIMEI is actively promoting its Supply Chain Carbon Reduction Initiatives by working with its suppliers and clients to extend their influence. In keeping with the ISO 20400 “Sustainable procurement” standards, CHIMEI is constructing a unique green supply chain to provide clients with high-performance products and solutions that are green, eco-friendly, and low in carbon footprint.

In line with its “Clean & Green” pledge, CHIMEI has always stayed ahead of carbon reduction issues. It has proposed a variety of sustainable materials and solutions that are highly functional while low in carbon emissions thank to its ingenious design product design process. The company is showing the world its determination to reach net zero by 2050 with tangible actions. In the future, CHIMEI will continue to contribute to the making of a sustainable environment through value chain collaborations and exchanges, as well as sustainable benefits of high-performance materials.

We remind, Lummus Technology announced it has been awarded a contract by Zhangzhou CHIMEI Chemical Co. Ltd. for digitalization services at their petrochemical facility in Gulei, Fujian Province, China.

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