Lummus Technology announces partnership with Texplore to license HDPE technology

Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, and Texplore Co., Ltd. , a wholly owned subsidiary of SCG Chemicals Public Co., Ltd., announced a commercial cooperation agreement to license and market EXCENE, Texplore's high-density polyethylene technology, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Leadership from both companies recently participated in a signing ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand. "Licensing Texplore's HDPE technology builds on our recent success of expanding Lummus' comprehensive technology portfolio," said Leon de Bruyn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lummus Technology. "Lummus has a long history of partnering with industry leading companies like SCGC to leverage our collective strengths and bring innovative technologies to market."

"We are honored to join hands with Lummus Technology in this collaboration, as we see it as a perfect fit for both parties to synergize our strengths and experiences towards a successful long-term partnership," said Dr. Suracha Udomsak, Executive Vice President and Chief innovation Officer of SCGC. "Today's CCA signing is just the beginning of a new chapter in our journey, and we are excited to explore further steps together to boost our sustainable market and bring value to our clients."

Under the agreement, Lummus will exclusively license Texplore's EXCENE HDPE technology. Lummus will also provide engineering design for plant construction, services for plant commissioning and start up, and additional lifecycle services, while Texplore will provide their EL-CAT catalyst supply.

Well suited for high-capacity production, HDPE is a thermoplastic polymer that is one of the most versatile plastic materials. HDPE has a high strength-to-density ratio and is used to make a wide variety of products including large-diameter pipes and films, and more.

EXCENE is a proven proprietary HDPE process commercialized by Texplore. The technology offers HDPE for the use in variety of high-end applications and quality products. It is also reliable and simple process and operation.

We remind, Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, and Citroniq Chemicals, a world-scale producer of carbon-negative materials, announced that the two companies have signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the development of Citroniq's green polypropylene (PP) projects in North America.

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Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will commission the multi-billion dollar Dangote oil refinery in two weeks, a presidency spokesperson said on Sunday, setting up the plant for its first production since construction started in 2016, said Reuters.

Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer, sees the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery - being built by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote's Dangote Group - as a solution to ending the country's reliance on imports for nearly all of its refined petroleum products.

Spokesperson Bashir Ahmad said Buhari will commission the refinery, near Lagos, on May 22, a week before he is due to leave office after serving the maximum two terms allowed by the constitution.

A spokesperson for Dangote confirmed the timing of the commissioning but did not give details.

The Dangote refinery's cost grew to USD19 B from initial estimates of between USD12 B and USD14 B, after years of delays.

We remind, Dangote Industries Limited has completed more than half of a planned USD720.82 MM bond issue to fund its mega-refinery on the outskirts of Lagos. Chiejina said the company had raised 187.5 B naira in the series one issuance, completed last month, and would announce a date for a second series as soon as possible. Proceeds will go toward the USD1.1 B that the company needed as of January for the project, which many view as the solution to years of sclerotic fuel supply in Africa's most populous nation.

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AkzoNobel shareholders voted in favor of all resolutions at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), said the company.

As well as adopting the company's 2022 financial statements, the dividend policy and total dividend per share of EUR1.98 for 2022 were also agreed. In addition, Mr. Ben Noteboom was appointed by the AGM as a new member of the company’s Supervisory Board. The intention is to elect Mr. Noteboom as Chair of AkzoNobel’s Supervisory Board as of May 25, 2023, when he will resign as member of the Supervisory Board of Aegon N.V.

Mr. Byron Grote, Deputy Chair of AkzoNobel’s Supervisory Board, commented: “We’re very pleased with the appointment of Ben Noteboom. His strong track record in executive and non-executive roles, and his broad experience in different industries – including the chemical industry – will be valuable additions to AkzoNobel. We wish him every success in his new role."

Mr. Noteboom will succeed Mr. Nils Smedegaard Andersen, who has served as a member and Chair of the Supervisory Board since 2018.

“We want to thank Nils for his commitment and dedicated service, both as a member and Chair of the Supervisory Board,” added Mr. Grote. “His experience and professional expertise have been of great benefit to the company and he played an essential role in AkzoNobel’s transformation. We wish him well in his future activities."

Mrs. Jolanda Poots-Bijl and Mr. Dick Sluimers were both reappointed as member of the Supervisory Board.

We remind, AkzoNobel is to further strengthen its China position after reaching an agreement with Sherwin-Williams to acquire its Chinese Decorative Paints business. Completion, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected in the second half of 2023. The business has an annual revenue of about EUR100 million and employs around 300 people. The transaction includes the Huarun brand, which has a long history and is well recognized in China.


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Sasol Chemicals has opened a new research, development, and analytics (RD&A) laboratory in Brunsbuttel, Germany, said European-coatings.

According to company information, the Brunsbuttel facility focuses on advanced and sustainable solutions for Sasol’s key markets – including metalworking and lubrication as well as coatings. Planning and construction of the 7000-square-meter facility began in April 2019. It has capacity for 140 employees, with 33 offices and 82 evaluation stations. Using its advanced equipment, the facility’s skilled workforce will be able to analyse up to 200,0000 samples a year.

“Co-creating innovative solutions with our customers has been a long-standing tradition at Sasol Chemicals, and our new lab provides a state-of-the-art environment to pursue the cooperation we share with them,” said Dr. Cronje Grove, Vice President of Advanced Materials for Sasol Chemicals.

We remind, TotalEnergies plans to supply renewable energy to Sasol and Air Liquide at the Secunda chemical site in South Africa. The companies signed power purchase agreements for the supply of 260MW capacity of renewable electricity over 20 years


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The Polynt Group expands its resin production capacity with the opening of a new site in Port Moody, BC, Canada during the second half of 2023, said European-coatings.

Last year, the Polynt Group announced its decision to expand resin production capacity to serve the North American Coatings Market and to meet the growing needs of the paint and coatings industry. This expansion is fully effective and will now be further enhanced with the opening of Polynt Coatings Canada Limited in Port Moody, BC during the second half of 2023.

This additional investment is intended to allow Polynt to add further capacity and flexibility in conventional alkyds, oil modified urethanes, and water-based technologies to start.

We remind, Polynt Group started the process for the installation of a new esterification plant to produce special plasticizers, in particular trimellitates, at its site in Atlacomulco, Mexico. Special high-performance plasticizers, with their superior technical performances in electrical and high temperature applications, are a main component for the electrification of cars and transportation, a general trend so important for improving environmental sustainability. Trimellitates represents the most effective family of products that can satisfy those outstanding performance characteristics.

Polynt Group has more than 3,100 employees in 35 manufacturing operations throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.

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