Sasol opens chem lab in Germany

Sasol opens chem lab in Germany

Sasol Chemicals has opened a new research, development, and analytics laboratory at its production site in Brunsbuttel near Hamburg, Germany, it said.

The EUR35m facility focuses on advanced and sustainable solutions for Sasol’s key markets, including personal care, paper industry, metalworking and lubrication as well as catalysts and catalyst supports, high-performance abrasives and coatings.

It will play a key role in a Sasol consortium to develop new catalysts for the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), the company said.

“The lab greatly enhances our ability to partner with our customers to address their challenges as they transform their portfolios towards more sustainable solutions,” said Silke Hoppe, vice president of Essential Care Chemicals for Sasol Chemicals.

Planning and construction of the 7000-square-metre facility began in 2019.

The facility has capacity for 140 employees, with 33 offices and 82 evaluation stations. Using advanced equipment, the employees will be able to analyse up to 200,0000 samples a year, the company said.
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Ineos Olefins to use 100 % green energy at two pants in Norway

Ineos Olefins to use 100 % green energy at two pants in Norway

Ineos Olefins & Polymer Europe has signed a renewable power agreement with Skagerak Energitjenester to provide 100 % green energy to its Rafnes and Bamble plants in Norway, said the company.

Combined with the recently announced Ineos Inovyn deal in Norway, all of Ineos’ assets in the region are now supplied with 100 % green power generated from hydroelectric production.

The Rafnes cracker produces ethylene for a wide variety of applications, including the production of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at the adjacent Bamble site.

These LDPE grades are used to produce essential products such as beverage cartons, medical bottles and food packaging seals. By using renewable power, Ineos can reduce the product carbon footprint of a typical LDPE grade by up to 30 %.

In March, Ineos completed its previously announced acquisition of Mitsui’s phenol business in Singapore for approximately USD330 mln.

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Borealis completed the construction of its new PDH plant in Kallo

Borealis completed the construction of its new PDH plant in Kallo

The re-tendering process of the construction works that was started after Borealis terminated all contracts with the IREM group of companies, Borealis’ main contractor for the construction of its new PDH plant in Kallo, has now been completed, said the company.

With this, the construction of this mega project is now back on track. Works will again fully ramp up during the summer of 2023.

The re-tendering, re-mobilisation, poor handover and inefficiencies caused by the termination of the IREM contracts results in significant delays. Borealis’ new PDH plant in Kallo is now estimated to start up in the first half of 2025.

The updated project plan provides for a substantial increase in costs.

As a consequence of the increased cost and longer lead-time, Borealis is claiming compensation from the IREM companies.

We remind, Borealis will implement Honeywell’s UniSim Live software as early adopters to build process models for optimizing operations through virtual process simulation. UniSim Live will allow Borealis to extend the utility of process models to near real-time process monitoring and focus on early event detection by using digital twins to improve plant reliability.

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Air Liquide and Holcim to collaborate on a project to decarbonize cement production in Belgium

Air Liquide and Holcim to collaborate on a project to decarbonize cement production in Belgium

Air Liquide and Holcim have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pursue a project to decarbonize Holcim’s new cement production plant under development in Belgium, using Air Liquide proprietary CryocapTM carbon capture innovative technology, said the company.

In that regard, Air Liquide and Holcim have co-applied for the European Innovation Fund supporting framework. This partnership is an important step to accelerate the decarbonization of the industry in Belgium.

The new cement production plant announced will be replacing an existing asset. Thanks to Air Liquide’s unique carbon capture innovative technology, Holcim will be able to reduce emissions by up to 1.1 million tons per year of CO2. This partnership is part of GO4Zero, Holcim's investment program that will enable the company to achieve carbon neutrality in Belgium by the end of the decade.

Air Liquide will support this initiative by leveraging its know-how and unique expertise in CO2 capture technologies. Air Liquide intends to build and operate a unit of its innovative and proprietary CryocapTM Oxy technology to capture and purify up to 95% of the CO2 generated from Holcim’s production unit in Obourg. The captured CO2 will then be handled through Antwerp CO2 Export Hub where it will be transported, liquefied and loaded onto CO2 ships for onward permanent and safe offshore storage.

The implementation of the project will be possible as public funding from European schemes supporting decarbonization becomes available. In this perspective, Air Liquide and Holcim have jointly applied for the European Innovation Fund, one of the world’s largest programs for promoting innovative low-carbon technologies.

We remind, Air Products, a world leading industrial gases company serving Malaysia for nearly 50 years, today announced it will build, own, and operate two nitrogen plants in Penang’s Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone and Batu Kawan Industrial Park.

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Daniel Turnheim appointed Borealis CFO as of 1 June 2023

Daniel Turnheim appointed Borealis CFO as of 1 June 2023

Mark Tonkens to leave Borealis Executive Board by mutual agreement effective 31 May 2023, Daniel Turnheim appointed as Borealis CFO effective 1 June 2023, said the company.

The Supervisory Board of Borealis has appointed Daniel Turnheim (48) as the new Chief Financial Officer with effect from 1 June 2023. The appointment spans a three-year period, with the option to extend by two years, subject to mutual consent. Mark J. S. Tonkens, currently Chief Financial Officer at Borealis, will leave the Borealis Executive Board by mutual agreement effective 31 May 2023.

Daniel Turnheim looks back at a long-standing career in OMV Group. After joining the company in 2002, he held various senior management functions in OMV Finance, including Head of Controlling at OMV UK in London, United Kingdom and a two-year assignment to Petrol Ofisi in Istanbul, Turkey. From 2011 to 2012, Daniel held the role of Chief Financial Officer at OMV Petrom in Bucharest, Romania. He is currently Senior Vice President Finance & Tax at OMV AG.

Daniel Turnheim holds a Master’s degree from the Vienna University of Economics and Business in Vienna, Austria. He is Austrian citizen, married and proud father of four children.

“I am delighted we bring such an extraordinarily experienced Finance expert like Daniel Turnheim onboard of the Borealis Executive Board. I warmly welcome Daniel and look forward to working closely with him on realizing our Borealis Strategy 2030. At the same time, I would like to express my sincere appreciation on behalf of the entire Borealis Executive Board for the outstanding contribution Mark Tonkens has made over the past 8 years as CFO of Borealis. It has been a pleasure working with Mark, I wish him much success for his future,” comments Thomas Gangl, Borealis CEO.

We remind, Borealis launches portfolio of circular plastomers and elastomers based on renewable feedstock. Recent years have seen a steady increase in the demand for high-performance plastomers and elastomers that combine the physical properties of rubber with the processing advantages of a thermoplastic material. This trend has been accompanied by a growing urgency in the demand for sustainable solutions that offer the same material performance but with circular content and a reduced carbon footprint.

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