Keppel, ExxonMobil to explore low-carbon ammonia solutions for Singapore

Keppel, ExxonMobil to explore low-carbon ammonia solutions for Singapore

Keppel Infrastructure and ExxonMobil Asia Pacific have signed an agreement to develop access to low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia for scalable commercial and industrial applications in Singapore, said Reuters.

Keppel Infrastructure (KI) is the infrastructure arm of Singapore-based global asset manager and operator Keppel Corp. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two companies follows the Singapore government’s launch of its national hydrogen strategy in October last year, which expects hydrogen to meet up to half of Singapore’s power needs by 2050.

"As part of this hydrogen strategy, the Energy Market Authority and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore issued an expression of interest in December for proposals to build, own and operate low- or zero-carbon power generation and bunkering facilities on Jurong Island," KI said in a statement.

In addition to being a hydrogen carrier and storage medium, ammonia can be used directly as a carbon-free fuel or broken down into carbon-free hydrogen for use in power generation, as well as feedstock for refinery and petrochemical operations.

Currently, natural gas meets most of Singapore’s power generation demand.

We remind, ExxonMobil Corp has started up its long-planned project to expand light crude oil processing capacity by 250,000 b/d at ExxonMobil Product Solutions Co's integrated refining and petrochemicals complex along the US Gulf Coast in Beaumont, TX, US.

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Saudi Aramco offers more vacuum gasoil supplies for May

Saudi  Aramco offers more vacuum gasoil supplies for May

Saudi Aramco offered more vacuum gasoil (VGO) supplies to be exported from its Jizan refinery in May, according to traders and shipping data, in a sign that the refinery is yet to ramp up to full output, said Reuters.

The Jizan refinery, Aramco's newest facility, had been expected to ramp up output for 10-ppm gasoil and cut VGO exports this quarter when it hits full capacity.

However, Aramco recently offered three cargoes of 525,000 barrels of VGO each for loading out of Jizan in May, shipping records showed, up from two cargoes in April. Saudi Aramco was not immediately available for comment.

The cargoes are slated for loading between May 1-3, May 11-13, and May 21-23. Aramco usually offers up to two VGO cargoes per month, according to trade sources and past tender records. VGO, a residual oil left over from petroleum distillation, is typically used as a refinery feedstock to produce diesel.

The rise in Aramco's VGO exports also comes at a time when diesel refining margins have weakened globally. Asian refiners' diesel margins have collapsed by more than 50% to USD14.46 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with the start of the year, Refinitiv data showed.

Meanwhile, benchmark Northwest European diesel refining margins fell below USD16 a barrel this week, their lowest since Feb. 25, 2022, as imports into the region remained high.

We remind, Saudi Aramco has signed 59 corporate procurement agreements (CPAs) worth a potential total of USD11 billion with up to 51 domestic and international manufacturers, as a part of its coveted in-kingdom total value add (IKTVA) localisation programme.

mrc.ru

Maire Tecnimont Group awarded new technology and high-value engineering contracts

Maire Tecnimont Group awarded new technology and high-value engineering contracts

Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announces that some of its Sustainable Technology Solutions subsidiaries, which are directly controlled by NextChem Holding, have been awarded several new contracts for technology licensing and engineering services for an overall value of approximately USD 90 million, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

These contracts have been granted by international clients mainly in Europe and the Far East.

In particular, Stamicarbon, NextChem Holding innovation and licensing company engaged in nitrogen technologies, has been awarded licensing, process design package and equipment supply contracts for an Ultra-Low Energy grassroots urea plant in the Jiangxi province, China.

This will be the largest Ultra-Low Energy plant with a design capacity of 3,850 metric tons per day and the seventh one globally based on Stamicarbon’s proprietary innovative design, which allows steam consumption to be reduced by about 35% and cooling water consumption by about 16% compared to traditional processes.

We remind, Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announces that, through its subsidiary NextChem Holding S.p.A., it is expanding into the high-value derivates and biodegradable plastic by-products licensing markets with the acquisition of an 83,5% stake of Conser, a technology licensor and process engineering design company based in Rome, Italy.

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Aggreko launches industry’s largest heat exchanger and exclusive Hastelloy-c Crossflow Exchanger

Aggreko launches industry’s largest heat exchanger and exclusive Hastelloy-c Crossflow Exchanger

MOSOCW (MRC) -- Aggreko, the world’s leading provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy solutions, today announced the launch of two new rental heat exchanger fleets, the Large Node Heat Exchanger and the Hastelloy-C Crossflow Heat Exchanger, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The readily available equipment provides customers in petrochemical and refinery operations with the industry’s largest heat exchanger, as well as the only exchanger made from Hastelloy. Both products are designed to ensure seamless operations for petrochemical plants, refineries, and complex chemical contexts by maintaining customer production rates and enhancing the equipment processes.

The Large Node Heat Exchanger is, at 5,700 square feet, the largest on the market and enables petrochemical and refinery customers to reduce their carbon footprint by replacing several smaller heat exchangers with a single Large Node Heat Exchanger. This makes them ideal for plants and refineries where space is at a premium, while their ready deployment means Aggreko can quickly install the exchangers with limited production disruption.

Made from a unique corrosion-resistant nickel alloy, the Hastelloy-C Crossflow Heat Exchanger is designed for particular applications in petrochemical plants, refineries, and complex chemical contexts. Unlike other heat exchangers on the market, this material allows for higher resistance to a wide range of corrosive chemicals and gasses. The composition of the Hastelloy-C Crossflow Heat Exchanger enables it to meet unique PCR applications beyond the capabilities of typical exchangers. With the launch of the Hastelloy-C Crossflow Heat Exchanger, Aggreko is the only solutions provider to offer a heat exchanger with this metallurgical composition for PCR customers.

“We’re excited to position ourselves as the only temperature control provider that offers a Hastelloy heat exchanger, along with the industry’s largest exchanger,” says Yvonne McAnally, Product Leader at Aggreko North America. “We’ve long been known as a reliable provider of high-quality heat exchangers that ensure petrochemical and refining facilities can maintain production during maintenance periods and emergency repairs – and we’re pleased to now offer those same services for even more unique applications."

The launch of these two exchanger fleets is the latest step in Aggreko’s ongoing mission to provide temporary solutions to customers that rely on mobile power solutions without compromising reliability or negatively impacting budgets.

As per MRC, Saudi Aramco said it plans to invest in a USD7 B project to produce petrochemicals from crude oil at its South Korean affiliate S-Oil Corp's refining complex in the port city of Ulsan. The project, named Shaheen, is the Saudi company's biggest investment in South Korea and will mark the first commercial use of Aramco and Lummus technology to produce chemicals from crude, Aramco said in a statement.


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AkzoNobel launches new generation fillers to accelerate bodyshop performance

Bodyshops can now take advantage of a new generation of fillers from AkzoNobel’s Sikkens and Lesonal vehicle refinishes brands, which help to significantly improve productivity while lowering energy costs, said the company.

Known as Sikkens Autosurfacer Optima and Lesonal 2K Ultimate Filler, the one-stop, fast-drying filler systems have been developed to help save time and money, without compromising on quality.

“Spiraling costs are among the biggest threats to bodyshops in the current economic climate,” explains Patrick Bourguignon, Director of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings business. “The new fillers have been developed to help our customers accelerate repair performance while tackling some of the major challenges they face.”

Fast-drying at ambient temperatures, infrared and 60°C curing, the new products speed up cycle times, which frees up space in the spray booth to ultimately lower energy costs by up to 85%*. In combination with the one-stop application method, it can also result in up to 80%* shorter process times when drying with infrared, allowing bodyshops to fit more jobs into a standard work day.

Continues Rob Lagendijk, Product Management Director for the Automotive and Specialty Coatings business: “In addition to the time and energy savings, less paint is needed for each repair – and there’s less waste from not having to sand off as much material – so it makes for much more sustainable repairs.”

Other benefits include enhanced corrosion protection – eliminating the need for time-consuming pre-treatment – which means technicians can start the job immediately, reducing the overall cost of repair. AkzoNobel’s Sikkens and Lesonal brands have a long and proud heritage and are trusted by bodyshops around the world. For more details, visit the Sikkens and Lesonal websites.

We remind, AkzoNobel has reached an agreement with US-based Sherwin-Williams to acquire its Chinese decorative paints business for an undisclosed fee. The deal is expected to be completed in the second half of 2023 and includes the Huarun brand, it said in a statement.

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