Russian plastic processors to boost imports of polymer feedstock in 2024

Imports of polymer feedstock to Russia may grow in 2024, Petr Bazunov, General Director of the Russian Plastics Processors Association (RPPA), told Interfax.

"A number of processors in our Association have decided to increase imports, as imported raw materials in Russia are sold at prices equal or close to those of SIBUR. The principle of import parity or so-called netbacks is in effect. Refiners choose the raw materials that are more profitable for them. No one is holding on to SIBUR because in quality of production - due to failures with American catalysts - and in the terms of purchase SIBUR is no better than imports, and often turns out to be worse," he said.

Thus, he said, there are reasons to believe that imports will grow amid diversification of feedstock supplies by companies.

"In 2023, imports are up 11%. We think the trend will continue this year. Or SIBUR will begin lowering prices. We will understand the outcome at the beginning of 2025 based on the results of statistics. So far we are talking about processors' plans, which are reflected in the forecasts of consumption of Russian raw materials," Bazunov added. He did not disclose absolute figures on planned volumes of imports, but noted that this concerns tens of thousands of tonnes.

"A lot of feedstock came from Iran. This is becoming advantageous, and the quality is good," the RPPA chief said. Besides Iran, he noted China and Azerbaijan among the main suppliers.

Earlier, it was reported a 12% increase in imports of large-tonnage polymers to 1 million tonnes by the end of 2023. RPPA President Mikhail Katsevman then pointed out that the import growth figure was prompted by the low base of 2022: "This is mainly due to the fact that 2022 was a shock year, when we were denied many deliveries".

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On the occasion of Hyvolution 2024, Air Liquide and TotalEnergies announce the creation of TEAL Mobility. Equally owned by the two companies, TEAL Mobility will accelerate the development of hydrogen for heavy duty trucks by offering a network of 100 stations on major European corridors, said Polymerupdate.

This approach contributes to reinforce the momentum given to the entire industry, from truck manufacturers to transport operators.

TEAL Mobility aims to develop more than 100 hydrogen stations over the next decade, creating the first transnational European network of this size - under the TotalEnergies brand. TEAL Mobility will be operating around 20 stations in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany from 2024.

TEAL Mobility provides a solution for transport and logistics operators committed to reducing their CO2 emissions. Hydrogen is particularly well-suited to long-distance road transport, as it enables rapid refueling - in about 15 minutes - and a long range - around 800 km - while preserving vehicle loading capacity.

The joint venture combines the expertise of its two founding companies: technologies and mastery of the entire hydrogen value chain on the one hand, and the operation and management of station networks and the distribution of energy to BtoB customers on the other.

TEAL Mobility markets hydrogen to transportation customers through a network of stations that the joint venture develops, operates and supplies.

We remnd, TotalEnergies, a globally recognized energy corporation, recently announced a delay in the reboot of its mixed-feed ethylene cracker facility situated in Antwerp, Belgium. This facility, which boasts an annual production capacity of 580,000 metric tons, has had its restart schedule pushed to the second half of January, a move that signifies the intricate challenges inherent in such large-scale operations.

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GAIL (India) Limited, India's largest Natural Gas company, has successfully concluded a long-term LNG purchase agreement for purchase of around 0.5 MMTPA LNG from ADNOC Gas, said Polymerupdate.

This is pursuant to an MoU dated 30.10.2022 between GAIL and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) P.J.S.C wherein Parties agreed that, in potential areas of collaboration both parties shall explore opportunities including purchase of LNG by GAIL from ADNOC for a tenure ranging from short term to medium and long-term. This significant development between GAIL and ADNOC will reinforce the robust cultural and economic bonds between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Under this agreement, the deliveries will commence from 2026 onwards for a duration of 10 years, across India. This arrangement is believed to further aid in India’s rising energy security requirements and, simultaneously, also fuel GAIL’s strategic growth objectives to cater to its downstream customers in the rapidly evolving Natural Gas landscape of the country.

We remind, GAIL India is looking to allot Rup 30,000 crore of investment in the succeeding three years for pipelines, city gas distribution projects, existing petrochemical projects, equity contribution in group firms, and operational capex. It also anticipates polymer sales to rise twofold and natural gas transmission volume to increase by 12% in FY 2024. (1 crore=10 M, 1 lakh=100,000).

GAIL, headquartered in New Delhi, is India’s largest natural gas company, with a diversified interest across natural gas value chain of trading, transmission, LPG production & transmission, LNG re-gasification, petrochemicals, city gas, E&P etc. It owns and operates a network of over 16,000 km of natural gas pipelines spread across the country along with concurrently working on enhancing the spread further. GAIL commands around 70% market share in gas transmission and has a gas trading share of over 50% in India.

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LUKOIL Group 2022 Sustainability Report debuted in the international Global Corporate Sustainability Awards and received a bronze class award in the Sustainability Reporting category, said the company.

The category recognizes organizations for disclosure of information in transparent and credible manner.

In 2023, 80 companies representing 8 countries submitted 90 applications to the contest. LUKOIL became its only Russian participant and winner. Among other Sustainability Reporting Awards winners are such companies as Delta Electronics, Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, China Airlines Ltd., Logitech International S.A. etc.

We remind, Romania's Petrotel Lukoil refinery, owned by Russia's Lukoil, will shut for one month from Wednesday for planned maintenance works, online news website Profit.ro reported. Lukoil's Romanian unit has a relatively small market share compared to bigger refineries in the country. The refinery uses alternative fuel supplies and is not affected by a ban on Russian imports.

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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor International Corporation will supply critical turbomachinery packages to Dow for their Fort Saskatchewan Path2Zero Project – the world’s first net-zero scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions ethylene cracker, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The Path2Zero Project, which supports the drive for industrial decarbonization, is projected to decarbonize approximately 20 percent of Dow’s global ethylene capacity. MCO-I’s turbomachinery equipment will be purchased under two contracts in support of Dow’s $6.5 billion brownfield investment at their existing manufacturing complex in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada.

The scope includes the supply of three compressor packages: a steam turbine driven cracked gas compressor (CGC) train, a propylene refrigerant compressor package, and an ethylene refrigerant compressor package; as well as two condensing steam turbine generator packages. In total, the scope includes three API 612 steam turbines and four API 617 centrifugal compressors. The CGC turbine alone will exceed 100 MW in rated power, making it one of the largest API 612 turbines to be built.

Satoshi Hoshi, president and CEO, MHI Compressor Corporation (MCO), said, “MCO and MCO-I are proud to partner with Dow for the Path2Zero project. Dow’s commitment to decarbonize their global footprint mirrors our own commitment to contributing to a carbon neutral society. We are grateful to have this opportunity to support their goals and objectives through the supply of world-class turbomachinery.”

Ron Huijsmans, global MEGA project director, Dow, said, “Dow is very excited to expand the partnership with MHI Compressor Corporation. Their technology and high-quality execution is an excellent fit to our ambitious project.”

The compressors and steam turbines will be manufactured and tested by MCO at its factory in Hiroshima, Japan. MCO-I will provide project management and engineering support, as well as installation and commissioning services. MCO & MCO-I will work together with Dow’s engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor through detailed engineering, manufacturing and testing to ensure all local Canadian regulations and industry standards are met, with final deliveries occurring in 2025.

Hoshi added, “The project will increase Dow’s production significantly with capacities exceeding 1,800 KTA by 2029. This further establishes MCO and MCO-I’s position as a market-leading turbomachinery provider for large scale ethylene production.”

We remind, The tanker Luggati is being loaded at Novatek's NVTK.MM terminal at the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga, where the company's fuel-producing complex was damaged by fire in January, according to industry sources and LSEG data. The tanker is designed for loading dirty oil products and, presumably, can take on fuel oil from the complex’s storage tanks, the sources added. Novatek did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

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