Borouge revenue rises 8% in 2022 on higher sales volumes

Borouge revenue rises 8% in 2022 on higher sales volumes

Borouge, the joint venture between Adnoc and Austrian chemicals producer Borealis, said its 2022 revenue rose by 8.% from a year earlier on higher sales volumes, said Msn.

Revenue for the 12-month period ending in December climbed to USD6.72 billion, from USD6.22 billion in 2021, the company said on Thursday in a filing to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.

Total sales volume grew by about 15 per cent as Borouge increased production from its fifth polypropylene unit (PP5), which raised the company’s production capacity by 500,000 tonnes a year.

“We are pleased to report our strong 12-month financial results, which demonstrate the resilience and efficiency of our business and our ability to achieve significant volume and revenue growth in the face of challenging market conditions,” said chief executive Hazeem Al Suwaidi.

A recovery in economic activity in China, the world's manufacturing hub, is expected to tighten the demand for plastics and petrochemicals this year. "It is not a question about sales volumes, we always sell everything that we have been producing. If we don't sell it in China, we sell it elsewhere," Jan-Martin Nufer, company's chief financial officer, told The National in an interview on Thursday.

Borouge, which focuses on premium price end-markets, could benefit from a surge in commodity prices resulting from China's reopening, said Mr Nufer.

We remind, Borouge, a leading petrochemical company that provides innovative and differentiated polyolefin solutions, has secured two new contracts worth a combined value of AED55 mln (USD15 mln to supply polyolefins to its partner customers – leading cable manufacturer Ducab and Abu Dhabi-based Union Pipes Industry (UPI).

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Repsol to invest EUR26m in new production line for recycled plastics in Spain

Repsol to invest EUR26m in new production line for recycled plastics in Spain

Spanish energy and petrochemical company Repsol has announced an investment of EUR26m to start a new production line (Reciclex range) for recycled plastics at its Puertollano Industrial Complex in Spain, said the company.

Expected to start in Q4 2024, the new line will have the capacity to manufacture 25,000 tons of recycled plastic per year, which is almost double the current capacity of 16,000 tons.

According to the firm, the new recycled plastics production line will establish the Puertollano centre as a benchmark for the circular economy in the Iberian Peninsula. Repsol said that the new unit will generate 200 direct, indirect and induced jobs in the different phases of construction, start-up and operation.

The investment will help the firm manufacture plastics used to make rigid and flexible packaging for non-food use like cleaning product containers or product packaging sacks.

In particular, the new unit will process HDPE and LDPE materials with 10% and 80% recycled plastic content.

The investment is in line with current laws from Europe and Spain that aim to meet the recycled content goal for plastic packaging of 30% by 2030.

We remind, Repsol S.A. (Madrid, Spain), Naturgy and Reganosa are joining forces to develop a renewable hydrogen production center in Galicia, Spain. The project involves the installation of an electrolysis plant powered by 100% renewable energy on the grounds of the former Meirama thermal power plant in the municipality of Cerceda (A Coruna). With the promotion of this energy vector, the three companies reinforce their commitment to a fair energy transition.

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PPC Flexible Packaging snaps up Israel-based StePac, MAPfresh Holdings

PPC Flexible Packaging snaps up Israel-based StePac, MAPfresh Holdings

US-based custom flexible packaging provider PPC Flexible Packaging has snapped up Israel-based StePac, MAPfresh Holdings for an undisclosed sum, said Nspackaging.

Established in 1992 as a nylon film extruder providing sterilisable packaging for medical and healthcare markets, StePac now uses new technologies to develop packaging for fresh produce markets. The firm develops packaging for post-harvest shelf-life extension of high-value agricultural produce such as blueberries, cherries, pomegranates, melons, and various speciality vegetables.

Leveraging its material science experience, the firm uses patented technologies to create atmosphere and humidity-controlled packaging via roll goods, lidding and pre-made bags and pouches for bulk and retail applications. According to PPC, these capacities result in environmentally friendly packaging options that save supply chain costs while minimising food waste and product spoilage.

StePac operates through a network serving customers in more than 40 countries from its corporate headquarters and R&D facility in Tefen, Israel. StePac CEO Asaf Shachnai said: “Over the years our team and I have built StePac to be a global leader in vertically integrated sustainable packaging for many speciality fresh produce items.

“Our technologies help deliver produce to customers worldwide through best-in-class, sustainable shelf life extension and preservation. We believe this combination with PPC will provide greater financial and operational resources to support our brand in this rapidly growing market segment.” Based in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, PPC offers printing and converting flexible films, pouches, and other advanced packaging designs, including prototypes. StePac brings the company’s total number of manufacturing plants up to 14.

We remind, PPC Flexible Packaging LLC, a leading provider of custom flexible packaging, announces the acquisition of Kansas City, KS-based Plastic Packaging Technologies, LLC (PPT). PPC, headquartered in Buffalo Grove, IL, is a leader in printing and converting of flexible films, pouches, and other innovative packaging designs, including prototypes. It is a recognized pioneer in cleanroom packaging for healthcare and medical applications, consumer snack and organic brands, specialty produce, pet, nutraceutical, bakery and horticulture markets.

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INEOS Inovyn secures long-term green power supply deal for its Norwegian sites

INEOS Inovyn secures long-term green power supply deal for its Norwegian sites

INEOS Inovyn and Statkraft have today renewed their long-standing partnership in Norway by signing two new long-term power agreements to supply renewable energy for INEOS Inovyn’s Rafnes and Porsgrunn sites, said the company.

The first agreement effectively replaces the site’s existing power contract, which will expire in May 2023. It covers a capacity of 100 MW for an annual renewable energy production of 876 GWh each year. The second agreement will come into effect in 2026: it will cover an additional 30MW (263 GWh per year) and will support INEOS Inovyn’s extensive development plan in process electrification and hydrogen production at Rafnes.

In Norway, INEOS Inovyn produces caustic soda, chlorine, hydrogen, vinyl chloride monomer and PVC - fundamental raw materials for sectors as diverse as automotive, building and construction, paints and adhesives, food, healthcare and medical, personal care, pulp and paper, textiles, and water treatment.

"These long term green energy supply agreements allow us to continue to competitively supply caustic soda and PVC from Norway to our customers in Europe and elsewhere in the world. They also enable us to pursue our ambitious asset development plans which we have put in place to reach our 2030 CO2 reduction targets and to continue the decarbonization of our operations to deliver net zero emissions by 2050,” Geir Tuft, CEO of INEOS Inovyn, commented. “Statkraft’s support is critical for us to carry out this ambition as early movers in Norway and hence achieve our climate goals benefiting the full value chain for our customers.

Statkraft is equally proud of the deal, with Hallvard Granheim, Executive Vice President Markets, Statkraft stating: “The fact that we are contributing to INEOS Inovyn Norway’s extensive manufacturing in Norway and its planned investments in substantial emission reductions is a value added, and perfectly in line with our vision to renew the way the world is powered."

The new agreement is the latest brick in the wall of INEOS Inovyn’s sustainability efforts for its Norwegian sites. It supports the Electra(*) and Aquarius(*) projects - which focus respectively on ground-breaking technology to fully electrify the production of vinyl chloride and the first INEOS Inovyn hydrogen plant based on water electrolysis – leading to an additional 40% reduction of the site’s carbon footprint over the coming years.

We remind, INEOS Enterprises has today signed an agreement to acquire MBCC Group’s Admixture Business from Sika AG. The admixture business is a leading producer of concrete additives essential for the construction industry, with well invested operations across 35 manufacturing sites and sales of around USD1 billion.

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Evonik launches PlasCO2 project for C4 chemicals production

Evonik launches PlasCO2 project for C4 chemicals production

Evonik has launched the PlasCO2 project together with three partners, said the company.

The aim is to use carbon dioxide (CO2) as a raw material in the production of C4 chemicals. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding the project with more than €1.8 million. PlasCO2 stands for 'Plasma-induced generation of carbon monoxide from carbon dioxide and its chemical utilization'.

The researchers are working on extracting synthesis gas from carbon dioxide and hydrogen by means of a plasma reactor using a newly developed process. The synthesis gas obtained in this way can then be used for the production of chemical products.

"If we succeed in generating carbon dioxide as a raw material, we would not only make a significant contribution to reducing our carbon footprint, but we would also open up a completely new world of chemistry," said Professor Dr. Robert Franke, head of hydroformylation research at Evonik Performance Intermediates and coordinator of the PlasCO2 project.

The project consortium, which is coordinated by Evonik, consists of four partners. It thus brings together all competencies, from catalysis and plasma research to plant engineering. In addition to Evonik, the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT), the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research (INP), and Rafflenbeul Anlagen Bau GmbH are also involved.

Sustainability is a key driver of the venture. At the heart of the project is the conversion of carbon dioxide with hydrogen to carbon monoxide. Low-temperature plasmas are to be used as a novel energy source, which require little energy and thus activate the inert carbon particularly efficiently.

To generate these plasmas, the research group wants to develop a new kind of reactor, that can be operated with renewable energy sources. Later, these should be widely deployable and commercializable. The synthesis gas generated in this way can be used to produce organic compounds in C4 chemistry. These can in turn be used to produce plasticizers or petrochemical specialties, for example.

Evonik will begin with basic research, initially carrying out evaluations of eco-efficiency and economic viability as well as quantum chemical calculations. The plasma reactors used have so far been used for the purification of exhaust gas. Evonik is continuing to work on their development so that, probably after about four years, a pilot plant can be built that creates the plasma with renewable resources.

We remind, Evonik is pooling its expertise and integrating its alkoxides business into the Catalysts Business Line. The extensive portfolio of heterogeneous catalysts is thus now complemented by homogeneous catalysts. An international network of production sites and the highly experienced alkoxides team will additionally strengthen the Catalysts Business Line, one of Evonik's growth areas, from January 2023.

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