Akzo Nobel plans further site closures in Europe

As part of its ongoing industrial transformation programme, Akzo Nobel intends to close its manufacturing sites in Wapenveld and Machelen, as per company.

Production is to be consolidated at larger anchor sites to enhance efficiency and competitiveness across Europe.
Akzo Nobel has announced plans to close its manufacturing facilities in Wapenveld, the Netherlands, and Machelen, Belgium. The closures are part of the company’s long-term industrial transformation strategy, which seeks to simplify operations, reduce costs and increase efficiency by consolidating production across fewer, more competitive sites.

The announcement follows previous restructuring measures, including last year’s decisions concerning three sites in Europe and Africa, and more recently, the proposed downsizing of the site in Montataire, France. Akzo Nobel’s strategy focuses on strengthening its network by concentrating capital and innovation on selected anchor sites.
By investing in sites with greater production capacity and improved operational performance, Akzo Nobel expects to increase cost efficiency and drive sustainable growth. The company has already undertaken investments such as equipment and process upgrades at its aerospace coatings facility in Pamiers, France, and established new research laboratories in Sassenheim, the Netherlands.

All relevant stakeholders, including local employee representatives, have been informed about the intended closures and the upcoming consultation processes. The decisions form part of a broader initiative to optimise the company’s European manufacturing footprint and remain competitive in a challenging market environment.

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PT Lotte Chemical Indonesia, an affiliate of Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd. (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), plans to start up its new 140,000 metric tons per-year butadiene plant at Cilegon around May 25–27, said Chemweek.

The company started up its new naphtha-fed steam cracker earlier this week. The cracker can produce 1 million metric tons per year of ethylene and 520,000 metric tons per year of propylene.

We remind, Lotte Chemical Indonesia (LCI, a subsidiary of Lotte Chemical) has entered into a long-term agreement to supply 150,000 tons of ethylene annually to chemical company PT Asahimas Chemical. The agreement is directly linked to LCI’s Lotte Integrated Petrochemical Complex, an ethylene production complex that is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2025.

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Interfax) - Chinese photovoltaic company JinkoSolar will supply solar panels (modules) for constructing the Gobustan Solar Power Plant (SPP) with a capacity of 100 MW in Azerbaijan, the company said on its website.

"JinkoSolar recently signed an agreement with Universal Energy to supply modules for the Gobustan SPP project in Azerbaijan. The project will exclusively use TOPCon N-type modules developed by the company, which reflects the recognition of JinkoSolar's technology performance in challenging weather conditions," the company said.

The power plant will be built in an area with harsh climatic conditions, the company said. Summer temperatures can reach 45 degrees, and the region frequently experiences strong winds, dust storms and high salinity.

"TOPCon N-type modules were chosen for their distinctive technical features - high output power per watt, reliable performance in all weather conditions and increased overall energy generation," it said.

As reported, Chinese company Universal Energy was announced as the winner of the international tender to implement the 100 MW Gobustan SPP project during the COP29 conference in November 2024.

The investment agreement for the Gobustan SPP construction project was signed on April 22, 2025, between the Azerbaijani government and Universal Solar Azerbaijan LLC, a subsidiary of Universal Energy.

According to the agreement, the Azerbaijani government will provide support in areas such as tax incentives, land allocation, grid connection and coordination with local authorities to facilitate project implementation.

Total investment in the project is estimated at around $51 million, Universal Energy said. The plant is expected to be commissioned by mid-2026. Once operational, the Gobustan SPP will generate approximately 180 million kWh of electricity annually.

JinkoSolar is one of the world's largest manufacturers of solar panels (modules).

Azerbaijan and Hungary will sign a new oil and gas cooperation contract at the beginning of 2026, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said, as per Interfax.

The two countries have successfully cooperated in the energy industry, Aliyev and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a joint press statement. Hungarian companies own stakes in two main oil and gas projects in Azerbaijan, in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) and Shah Deniz fields, the statement said. Yet another contract will be signed early next year, it said.

A Hungarian company will start working at Azerbaijani onshore oilfields, Aliyev said, without naming the company.

The two countries are also cooperating on natural gas supplies, he said.

Azerbaijan has been exporting natural gas to Hungary since last year, and today the two countries' leaders noted that Azerbaijan can provide Hungary with as much gas as it needs, Aliyev said.

It was reported that Hungary's MOL currently owns 9.57% in the project to develop the ACG block of oilfields and 8.9% in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project. In addition, on September 20, 2024 State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) and MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas signed a memorandum of understanding titled, "On the exploration, development and production at the onshore Shamahi-Gobustan oil and gas field."

Furthermore, Hungary's MVM Group bought a 5% stake in the Shah Deniz project from Azerbaijani company Cenub Qaz Dehlizi (CQD) and 4% in South Caucasus Pipeline Company (SCPC, which operates the South Caucasus Pipeline) from Azerbaijan Gas Supply Company Limited (AGSC). The agreement was signed on June 5, 2024. The deal was closed on August 30.

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The implementation of current renewable energy projects will enable Azerbaijan to annually save 3 billion to 4 billion cubic meters of gas, which it will export to Turkey and European countries, President Ilham Aliyev said, as per Interfax.

"We are actively working with Hungary in the area of green energy. Azerbaijan has a huge agenda in this field," Aliyev said in Budapest on Tuesday while making a joint statement to the press with Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"In the coming five years we will produce 6,000 MW of green energy. Production of 500 MW was established in the past two years and 6,000 MW will be provided within five years. I cite all these figures based on contracts, meaning these are projects that will be implemented. Thus, these projects alone will enable us to save about 3 billion-4 billion cubic meters of gas, the main markets for exports of which will, of course, be Turkey and European countries," Aliyev said.

He said Azerbaijan and Hungary are strategic partners and their positions on many issues coincide, they are both landlocked and "face the same challenges," considering the geopolitical situation.

Aliyev also said that Hungary is one of the few countries pursuing an independent policy, which is "fairly difficult, especially within the European Union."

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