PPG withdraws proposal in combining with AkzoNobel
PITTSBURGH, US: PPG Industries Inc said that it has withdrawn its proposal to combine with AkzoNobel NV and will not pursue a public offer for all the issued and outstanding shares of AkzoNobel. PPG made the final decision after careful consideration, including the stakeholder interests of both companies. “We were hopeful throughout this process that AkzoNobel’s boards would see the merits of our compelling proposal to combine our two great companies and create significant shareholder value and a more sustainable business for the future. Read More
BASF increases pigment prices globally
LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY: BASF SE said that it will increase prices for numerous pigments by up to 15 percent worldwide. The price increase predominantly affects phthalocyanine and inorganic pigments used in the coatings, plastics and printing industries. The price adjustments are necessary due to higher raw materials costs eg- copper, titanium dioxide (TiO2) or cobalt, as well as further challenging environmental, health and safety costs. Read More
Honeywell introduces digital solutions for connected plant in India
NEW DELHI, INDIA: Honeywell (HON) has launched its set of solutions under the Honeywell Connected Plant (HCP), recently at the first India Technology Summit (ITS), held in New Delhi, India. This enables the company to promote digitisation in industries in support of the government’s Digital India effort. HCP’s transformative solutions enable manufacturers and process industries leverage data and insights to improve the efficiency and profitability of their operations. Read More
AkzoNobel reaffirms commitment to accelerate growth, profitability
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: AkzoNobel NV (AKZOY) has noted the recent announcement from PPG Industries Inc (PPG) that it has withdrawn its proposal and will not pursue an offer for AkzoNobel. “We continue to focus on our business, pursuing our strategy of accelerating sustainable growth and profitability and creating two focused, high-performing businesses – paints and coatings and speciality chemicals. We believe this will lead to a step change in growth and long-term value creation for our shareholders and all other stakeholders. Read More
Merck invests €80 million in pharmaceutical facility in China
DARMSTADT, GERMANY/NANTONG, CHINA: Merck will invest €80 million in a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, to be located in the Nantong Economical Technological Development Area (NETDA), in the Greater Shanghai region, China.
Lanxess expands cresol plant in Leverkusen, Germany
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Lanxess, specialty chemicals company, has completed the expansion of its cresol production plant in Leverkusen, Germany. The company has begun operating a newly constructed reaction system as well as a second 46-metre-high distillation column. The expansion increases capacity for this high-quality intermediate for the global market by some 20 per cent.
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Petronas, Versalis form elastomers JV in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Petronas, Malaysia’s national oil and gas company, and Versalis, subsidiary of Eni, have signed a Shareholders’ Agreement to set up a joint venture company that will manufacture, sell and market elastomers produced within Petronas’ proposed Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) complex in Pengerang, Johor, Malaysia.
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Novozymes’ new technology enhances freshness in packaged bread
BAGSVAERD, DENMARK: Novozymes has launched two new solutions to enhance freshness in packaged bread. Novozymes Sensea and Novamyl 3D are independent yet complementary solutions that together achieve a new standard for moistness and tenderness from day one and right throughout storage.
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Jacobs receives Honeywell’s production plant contract in China
PASADENA, US: Jacobs Engineering Group Inc has received a contract from Honeywell to provide Integrated Project Management Team (IPMT) services for a new production project in Zhangjiagang City, China. The contract value was not disclosed.
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Wison starts hybrid gasification technology demonstration unit in China
SHANGHAI, CHINA: Wison Engineering Services has successfully started up Shell – Wison hybrid gasification technology demonstration unit in Nanjing, China which marks the Shell – Wison new hybrid demonstration coal gasification technology into industrial application stage.
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Wacker Biotech acquires biologics firm, BioNet Ventures
MUNICH/HALLE, GERMANY: Wacker Biotech GmbH, a subsidiary of Wacker Chemie AG, is acquiring a production site for bioengineered pharmaceutical proteins (biologics), including the associated business, from BioNet Ventures GmbH.
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Carbon dioxide, a renewable feedstock; says Cefic
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: According to Cefic Innovation Head, Gernot Klotz, chemical industry use of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a renewable resource can support EU chemical sector sustainable development and future competitiveness.
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Dr Klaus Engel, Chairman, Evonik Industries AG.
Evonik opens organic specialty surfactants facility in Shanghai, China
ESSEN, GERMANY: Evonik Industries has opened a new production facility for organic specialty surfactants in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) in Shanghai, China. The new facility has an annual capacity of around 80,000 metric tonne. The production uses a number of different technologies, enabling Evonik to offer a broad portfolio of locally manufactured products.
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Technip awarded Sasol’s ethane cracker contract in Louisiana, US
PARIS, FRANCE: Technip was awarded by Sasol a contract to supply its proprietary ethylene technology and front-end engineering design (FEED) for a world-class grassroots ethane cracker. The cracker, to be located at Sasol’s Lake Charles site in Louisiana, US, will produce an estimated 1.5 million tonne per annum of ethylene.
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Invista, Ingenza develop bio-derived processes for industrial chemicals
WICHITA, US: Invista, one of the world’s largest integrated producers of polymers and fibre, and Ingenza, a leading industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology company, collaborate for the development of new technologies to enable bio-derived processes for the production of industrial chemicals.
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ICA Fluor bags vinyl chloride monomer plant revamp contract in Mexico
IRVING, US: ICA Fluor, industrial engineering-construction joint venture of Fluor Corporation and Empresas ICA, has signed a contract with Petroquimica Mexicana de Vinilo (PMV), a joint venture between Mexichem and Pemex, for the revamp of the vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) plant located within the Pajaritos petrochemical complex, near Veracruz, Mexico. The total contract value is approximately $205 million.
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Evonik headquarters in Germany.
Evonik completes superabsorbents polymer plant construction in Jubail, Saudi Arabia
JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA: The Saudi Acrylic Polymer Company (SAPCO), a joint venture of Evonik Industries and the Saudi Acrylic Acid Company (SAAC), has signed the mechanical completion certificate for the superabsorbents polymer plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia which was built under Evonik license.
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AkzoNobel opens new research centre in Sassenheim, the Netherlands
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS: AkzoNobel has opened a new centre for research at its Sassenheim site in the Netherlands. Along with a research centre in Slough in the UK and Singapore, the Dutch location is now one of the main research centres for AkzoNobel’s Decorative Paints portfolio.
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Technip bags Delta House project subsea contract in Gulf of Mexico
PARIS, FRANCE: Technip was awarded by LLOG Exploration Offshore LLC a substantial contract for the development of the Delta House field, located in the Mississippi Canyon area of the US Gulf of Mexico.
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Teva Pharmaceuticals to cut 5,000 jobs
PETAH TIKVA, ISRAEL: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the world’s largest maker of generic drugs, plans to eliminate about 5,000 jobs as it accelerates cost reductions amid growing competition for the company’s best-selling product. The restructuring programme will lead to expenses of $1.1 billion through 2017.
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Enterprise to expand Aegis ethane pipeline in US Gulf Coast
HOUSTON, US: Enterprise Products Partners LP will expand its wholly owned Aegis Pipeline following strong interest from shippers. Long-term agreements have been executed, which support increasing the size of the Aegis pipeline to 20-inches in diametre, which will facilitate delivery of up to 425,000 barrels per day of ethane to the expanding petrochemical corridor along the Gulf Coast.
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Hariolf Kottmann, CEO, Clariant.
Clariant to sell detergents business to ICIG
MUTTENZ, SWITZERLAND: Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, has signed an agreement to divest its detergents & intermediates business to International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG). The total consideration of the sale amounts to CHF 58 million ($63.7 million), out of which 20 million will be in cash at closing. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.
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Evonik headquarters in Germany.
Evonik, Colorcon to market aqueous acrylic enteric system
ESSEN, GERMANY/HARLEYSVILLE, US: Evonik Industries AG and Colorcon Inc have signed a cooperation agreement for the marketing and technical support of Acryl-EZE, aqueous acrylic enteric system. Acryl-EZE fully formulated coating systems are produced by Colorcon and contain EUDRAGIT L 100-55, an Evonik product, as the key functional ingredient.
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Merck Serono, Ablynx expand Nanobodies research patnership
GHENT, BELGIUM: Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA, and Ablynx have further expanded their relationship through a multi-year research alliance that could lead to at least four co-discovery and co-development collaborations. Both partners will jointly select disease targets against which this group will develop Nanobodies, up to in vivo proof-of-principle.
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Air Products adds new members to the board
LEHIGH VALLEY, US: Air Products will add three new independent directors to its Board of Directors and will commence a search to identify a successor to chairman and CEO John E McGlade, who will retire in 2014. The actions reflect the Board’s ongoing focus on best-in-class corporate governance and leadership succession planning.
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Toray to acquire Zoltek for $584 million
TOKYO, JAPAN: Toray Industries Inc has agreed to purchase the entire stake at $16.75 per share (total of $584 million) in Zoltek Companies Inc, engaging sales and manufacture of large tow carbon fibre. The global demand for polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibres is expected to expand at an annual growth rate of exceeding 15 per cent as an advanced material which contributes not only to energy saving through weight reduction but also to spread of renewable energy as alternative of fuel (oil and coal) energy.
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Oxea to expand 3-methylbutanol portfolio
OBERHAUSEN, GERMANY: Chemical manufacturer Oxea is expanding its portfolio of higher alcohols with 3-methylbutanol (isoamyl alcohol), a versatile intermediate product for the chemical industry. Oxea will manufacture 3-methylbutanol in Oberhausen, Germany. The product is already available in commercial quantities.
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Hariolf Kottmann, CEO, Clariant.
Clariant opens global headquarters for Oil and Mining in Texas, US
HOUSTON, US: Clariant, a world leader in Specialty Chemicals, opened its new global headquarters for Oil and Mining Services business unit in The Woodlands, Texas, US. A centre of technology innovation just north of Houston expands on the company’s investment strategy in North America.
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Dow to add polyether polyols facility in Thailand
MIDLAND, US/MAP TA PHUT, THAILAND: Dow Polyurethanes, a business of The Dow Chemical Company, will add a polyether polyols facility at the Company’s Map Ta Phut, Thailand site to further address regional customer needs. The facility’s 165 kilotonne per annum of capacity will reduce logistical costs and transportation risks by minimizing the amount of transportation across different assets in the region.
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Enterprise to expand LPG export terminal in Houston, US
HOUSTON, US: Enterprise Products Partners LP announced an additional expansion of its LPG export terminal located on the Houston Ship Channel that will increase its capability to load fully-refrigerated, low-ethane propane. By enhancing the refrigeration capacity of the LPG export facility, Enterprise will increase its loading capacity by an additional 1.5 million barrels per month.
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KMG appoints new President and CEO, Christopher Fraser
HOUSTON, US: The Board of Directors of KMG Chemicals, Inc, a global provider of specialty chemicals to select markets, has appointed Christopher T Fraser as the President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Fraser, who is chairman of the KMG board, has been serving as interim CEO since late June.
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BASF headquarters in Germany.
BASF acquires biotechnology company, Verenium
BASF Corporation, US affiliate of BASF, has entered into an agreement to commence a cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of the biotechnology company Verenium Corporation for $4.00 per share. The enterprise value of the transaction is approximately $62 million.
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Teijin’s adhesion prevention gel made with a plant-based biodegradable polymer.
Teijin develops biodegradable adhesion prevention gel
Teijin Limited has developed an adhesion prevention gel made with a plant-based biodegradable polymer that is expected to be effectively applied to laparoscopic surgery. The company plans to commercialize the material by 2020. Teijin’s newly developed gel-form polysaccharide polymer is derived from chemically modified cellulose.
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Mitsubishi acquires Canadian pharmaceutical company
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, completed all the procedures for the acquisition of Medicago Inc, a pharmaceutical company based in Canada. The acquisition was announced on 12 July 2013. As a result of the acquisition, Medicago has become a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma.
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Henkel opens adhesives factory in Shanghai, China
Henkel has inaugurated the world’s largest adhesives factory in Shanghai, China. With this new production facility, Henkel will expand the production capacity in a major emerging market and will deliver its innovative adhesive technologies more quickly to the growing number of customers based in China and the Asian region.
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Novozymes, Raizen collaborate for cellulosic ethanol in Brazil
Novozymes has entered into a collaboration agreement with Brazil’s largest sugarcane crusher, Raizen Energia S/A. Novozymes will supply enzyme technology to Raizen’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Brazil, scheduled to be operational by end of 2014.
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Mitsubishi Rayon, PTT to study carbon fibre business JV in Southeast Asia
TOKYO, JAPAN/BANGKOK, THAILAND: Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd (MRC) and PTT Public Company Limited signed a MOU for joint study of carbon fibre business in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community.
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Tosoh increases PVC capacity in Chiba, Japan
TOKYO, JAPAN: Taiyo Vinyl Corporation, subsidiary of Tosoh Group, will increase the annual polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production capacity at its Chiba plant (Japan) by 10,000 metric tonne. New production facilities for the expanded capacity will be completed in October 2014. The Chiba plant is a vital supply hub for Taiyo Vinyl. It ships PVC to over 50 per cent of the subsidiary’s customers located in the Kanto region of Japan, which includes Tokyo.
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Foster Wheeler bags Sasol’s pressure compression contract in Mozambique
ZUG, SWITZERLAND: Foster Wheeler’s Global Engineering and Construction Group subsidiary has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCm) contract by Sasol Petroleum International (SPI) for the low pressure compression project at Sasol’s Central Processing Facility (CPF) in Temane, Mozambique.
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Mitsui, Itoh Oil, Jayant Agro-Organics JV for bio-polyol in India
TOKYO, JAPAN/MUMBAI, INDIA: Mitsui Chemicals Inc and Itoh Oil Chemical Co Ltd signed a joint venture agreement with India’s Jayant Agro-Organics Ltd for the establishment of the company in India to produce ‘bio-polyol,’ the main raw materials of which are non-edible plant derived fatty acid.
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Praxair, JSW Steel to operate nitrogen plants in India
KALAMESHWAR/TARAPUR, INDIA: Praxair India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Praxair Inc, has signed two long-term contracts with JSW Steel, to operate small on-site nitrogen plants in support of the company’s expansion efforts in the cities of Kalameshwar and Tarapur, Maharashtra, India.
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DKSH, Bayer expand collaboration in Singapore
SINGAPORE: DKSH Business Unit Healthcare has signed an agreement with Bayer Thai to provide services for Bayer’s products in Singapore. DKSH Healthcare already provides market expansion services for Bayer’s consumer care and pharmaceuticals divisions in Thailand, China and Cambodia.
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IMCD acquires majority stake in Brazilian firm, Makeni Chemicals
ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS: IMCD Group BV has acquired a majority interest in Makeni Chemicals, a leading speciality chemical distributor in Brazil. Makeni represents world class suppliers and covers a wide range of market sectors including coatings, construction, adhesives and plastics, personal care and nutrition.
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Rockwood completes sale of advanced ceramics business
PRINCETON, US: Rockwood Holdings Inc has completed the sale of CeramTec, its advanced ceramics business to Cinven, a European private equity firm for purchase price of €1.49 billion, subject to customary adjustments. Rockwood has received net cash proceeds of over $1.75 billion, net of all transaction adjustments, fees and taxes.
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Innospec acquires Chemsil, Chemtec; strengthens personal care business
LITTLETON, US: Innospec Inc has acquired Chemsil Silicones Inc and the Chemtec Chemical Co, from its private owners. Chemsil develops and markets silicone-based formulations to the personal care industry. Chemtec, which distributes a wide range of personal care ingredients, is focused on customers on the West Coast.
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Peter Eckes, President, Plant Science, BASF.
BASF opens new research centre in Research Triangle Park, US
LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY/RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, US: BASF opened its new research facilities in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina, US. This $33 million expansion includes 80,000 square feet of office, laboratory, climate-controlled greenhouse and laboratories for plant biotechnology research as well as a new environmentally-controlled insect production facility to expand insect control research.
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Makhteshim Agan makes two appointments in Europe
TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL/SCHAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND: The Makhteshim Agan Group (MAI), the world leader in branded off-patent crop protection solutions, has two new appointments in the European region. Jose Luis Collar is appointed as Head of Portfolio Management Europe. In his new position, Collar will focus on managing and harmonizing MAI’s product portfolio in Europe, with a special focus on Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
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A Schulman acquires Perrite for $52 million
AKRON, US: A Schulman Inc has purchased the Perrite Group, a thermoplastics manufacturing business with operations in Malaysia, the United Kingdom and France, for approximately $52 million. Perrite was part of the Vita Group portfolio of companies. The acquisition is expected to increase revenues in A Schulman’s Asia Pacific (APAC) segment by 35 per cent and will double the size of the Company’s existing Engineered Plastics business in the region.
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EU approves acquisition of Shell refinery by Nynas in Germany
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of certain refinery assets of Shell Deutschland Oil GmbH located in Hamburg/Harburg, Germany by Nynas AB of Sweden.
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Israel Chemicals to develop phosphate mine in Vietnam
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL: Israel Chemicals plans to open a phosphate mine and processing plant in Vietnam together with a local company. The joint venture with Duc Giang, Vietnam will market phosphate products primarily in Vietnam and nearby Southeast Asian. The company plans to extract phosphate and manufacture downstream products based on the chemical.
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Technip bags Petrobras’ projects modification services contract in Brazil
PARIS, FRANCE: Technip has signed a four-year frame agreement with Petrobras for projects modifications services for the Rio de Janeiro Operations Unit (UO-RIO), including existing offshore platforms located in the Campos Basin area, Brazil.
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Neste Oil, Raisioagro to research on straw potential as renewable fuel feedstock
ESPOO, FINLAND: Neste Oil and Raisioagro have launched a research project to investigate the potential of straw as a raw material for producing renewable diesel. The project will study whether a logistically effective and efficient, large-scale straw harvesting chain could be created in Finland. The researchers will also look at the storability of straw for use as an industrial input year-round.
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ADM, CIC, Chemanex form bio-based SAP JV in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA: Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), CIC Holdings Plc and Chemanex Plc have formed a joint venture – Chemcel Pvt Ltd – that will build and operate a processing facility near Colombo, Sri Lanka, to manufacture bio-based superabsorbent polymers (SAP). ADM will be the majority owner of the venture and will market the plant’s production of ADM’s BioSAP -brand superabsorbents.
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Saudi Aramco plans to acquire 30 pc stake in OPaL project
NEW DELHI, INDIA: The world’s biggest oil producer, Saudi Aramco, plans to acquire up to 30 per cent stake with a key management role in a giant petrochemicals project in Gujarat, and is negotiating with ONGC Petro additions Ltd (OPaL) for the stake that can pave the way for the entry into the Indian oil and gas sector.
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Tim Dodson, Executive Vice President, Exploration, Statoil.
Statoil makes crude oil discovery offshore Canada
STAVANGER, NORWAY: Statoil has made a third discovery of crude oil in the Flemish Pass Basin, offshore Newfoundland. The discovery was made on the Bay du Nord prospect, located approximately 500 kilometre northeast of St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Statoil is the operator of Bay du Nord and Harpoon with a 65 per cent interest while Husky Energy has the rest 35 per cent interest.
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David Allen, newly appointed head of integrated supply chain, AkzoNobel.
AkzoNobel appoints new head of integrated supply chain, David Allen
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS: AkzoNobel appointed David Allen as the company’s new head of integrated supply chain, effective from 1 October 2013. Allen joins AkzoNobel from China National Bluestar Group, where he has held the post of Chief Operating Officer since 2009. David Allen will report directly to CEO Ton Buchner.
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Technip awarded FEED contract for LNG terminal in Louisiana, US
PARIS, FRANCE: Technip was awarded by Trunkline LNG Export, LLC the front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the potential expansion of the existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, US. The completion is scheduled during the first half of 2014.
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PhosAgro completes the acquisition of OJSC Apatit
MOSCOW, RUSSIA: PhosAgro, a leading global vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producer, has consolidated 100 per cent of OJSC Apatit shares. PhosAgro has now completed all procedures related to the squeeze-out, which was launched on 17 April 2013, at a total cost of RUB 1.99 billion ($60.08 million).
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Syngenta takes legal action on EU’s decision of thiamethoxam ban
BASEL, SWITZERLAND: Syngenta has submitted a legal challenge to the European Commission’s decision to suspend the use of thiamethoxam on bee attractive crops. The Commission took the decision on the basis of a flawed process, an inaccurate and incomplete assessment by the European Food Safety Authority and without the full support of EU Member States.
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Patrick Gruber, Chief Executive Officer, Gevo.
Gevo opens bio based paraxylene plant in Texas, US
ENGLEWOOD, US: Gevo Inc, the world’s only commercial producer of bio-isobutanol, opened a demonstration-scale paraxylene plant in Silsbee, Texas, US. The paraxylene facility is located adjacent to Gevo’s existing jet fuel plant in Silsbee, and establishes the site as a biorefinery that will serve the renewable chemicals and true drop-in biofuels markets.
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ONGC buys 10 pc stake in Anadarko’s gas field offshore Mozambique
THE WOODLANDS, US: Anadarko Petroleum Corp said it agreed to sell a 10 per cent stake in a gas field offshore Mozambique to a unit of Oil & Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) for $2.64 billion in cash, as the US oil company looks to focus more on its domestic assets. The deal for Mozambique’s offshore Area 1 is expected to close around the end of 2013.
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Hubei Xingfa to open phosphate plant in Georgia
SHANGHAI, CHINA: Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group, a leading phosphate and fine chemical products producer, will open its US headquarters and manufacturing plant in Effingham County, Georgia. The project represents a significant investment and will create 50 jobs.
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Indian Oil to increase linear alkyl benzene capacity
VADODARA, INDIA: Gujarat Refinery, the largest refinery owned by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), is planning to augment capacity of its linear alkyl benzene (LAB) plant to cater to growing industrial demand. The initial 120,000 metric tonne per annum capacity plant was commissioned in August 2004 with the investment of Rs 1,248 crore ($19.29 million) by the IOC.
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Stamicarbon, Chemoprojekt to revamp urea melt plant in Romania
SITTARD, THE NETHERLANDS: Stamicarbon, the Licensing and IP Centre of Maire Tecnimont SpA, has signed a contract with Chemoprojekt, Czech Republic, covering the license and process design package for a revamp of the existing urea melt plant of Azomures SA at Targu Mures, Romania, and for a new granulation plant alongside it.
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Honeywell’s Experion Process technology selected by Russian firm
DES PLAINES, US/TYUMEN, RUSSIA: Antipinsky Refinery CJSC will use Honeywell’s Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) to control plant processes and general refinery facilities as part of the third stage of construction of the Antipinsky Refinery in Tyumen, Russia.
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China investigates tert-butylhydroquinone imports from India
BEIJING, CHINA: China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has launched an investigation into imports of Indian tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). MOC has received requests from domestic TBHQ producers, accusing Indian manufacturers of dumping the product on the Chinese market and calling for an inquiry.
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Technip bags Shell’s subsea contract in Gulf of Mexico
PARIS, FRANCE: Technip was awarded by Shell Offshore Inc, an important engineering, procurement and installation contract for the development of subsea infrastructure for the Stones field. This field is located in the Walker Ridge area in the US Gulf of Mexico, at a water depth of approximately 2,900 metre.
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Orica invests in carbon dioxide capture research project
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA: Orica will support a world-first research pilot plant, which will trial a technology that transforms captured carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into forms of solid carbonate for future safe disposal or use in ‘green’ building materials.
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RIL, BP discover gas condensate in Cauvery basin
MUMBAI, INDIA: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and British Petroleum (BP) have announced a new gas condensate discovery off the east coast of India in the Cauvery basin. The discovery, in the deepwater block CY-DWN-2001/2 (CYD5), is situated 62 kilometre from the coast in the Cauvery Basin and is the second gas discovery in the block.
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Superior Plus delays hydrochloric acid expansion at Wisconsin facility
CALGARY, CANADA: Superior Plus Corp’s previously announced expansion of the hydrochloric acid production at its Port Edwards, Wisconsin chloralkali facility has been delayed as a result of a loading accident at the supplier’s facility that resulted in significant damage to the hydrochloric acid burner which is required to complete the expansion.
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Shell to build lubricant oil blending plant in Indonesia
JAKARTA, INDONESIA: Shell has progressed its plan to build a lubricant oil blending plant in Indonesia. The facility with 120 thousand tonne per year capacity will be located in Marunda Centre, north of Jakarta, Indonesia. The plant will supply a range of high quality lubricants for consumer, transport, industrial and marine markets in Indonesia.
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Nutreco to form joint venture in Ukraine
AMERSFOORT, THE NETHERLANDS: Nutreco has signed an agreement to enter into a joint venture with its existing experienced partners who have an extensive sales and distribution network in Ukraine. Nutreco will take an initial 1/3rd share in the company, Dutch Feed.
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Invista wins PolyShield resin patent against M&G
WILMINGTON, US: The United States District Court for the District of Delaware recently found as a matter of law that two members of the Mossi & Ghisolfi Group, M&G Polymers USA and M&G USA Corporation (M&G), infringed all asserted claims of Invista’s PolyShield resin patent. In July, a jury in the same Court also found the asserted claims to be valid.
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Clariant, Lummus collaborate for polypropylene catalyst technology
MUTTENZ, SWITZERLAND: Catalysts Business Unit of Clariant has signed long-term cooperation agreements with CB&I’s Lummus Novolen Technology GmbH business unit. The two companies will combine and ramp up R&D efforts to develop improved polypropylene catalyst and donor technologies.
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Evonik headquarters in Germany.
Evonik starts extrusion plant operation in Johannesburg, South Africa
ESSEN, GERMANY: Evonik Acrylics Africa (EEA), a joint venture of Evonik Industries and Ampaglas Plastics Group, is to begin producing extruded PLEXIGLAS sheets in Elandsfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa. With an initial number of 20 employees and a new extrusion facility, some several thousand metric tonne of semi-finished material will be produced per year for the African market.
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DuPont opens application development centre in Hyderabad, India
HYDERABAD, INDIA: DuPont opened an application development center in Hyderabad, India, expanding its integrated science capabilities at the DuPont Knowledge Centre. The expansion is focused on integrating advanced material science with other scientific disciplines for the automotive industry, enabling solutions for light-weighting, engine performance, comfort and safety.
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Celanese, PetroChina collaborate for synthetic fuel ethanol in China
BEIJING, CHINA/DALLAS, US: Celanese Far East Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Celanese Corporation, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to advance the development of synthetic fuel ethanol with PetroChina Company Limited, the largest oil and gas producer and distributor in China.
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Opposition activists with the bodies of people they say were killed during a gas attack on 21 August 2013 near Damascus. © Reuters.
Chemical weapon attack in Syria kills dozens
DAMASCUS, SYRIA: Chemical weapons attacks have killed dozens on the outskirts of Damascus, Syrian opposition activists claim. Rockets with toxic agents were launched at the suburbs of the Ghouta region early on 21 August 2013 as part of a major bombardment on rebel forces. Syria’s state-run news agency said that the reports were ‘baseless’ and an attempt to distract the inspectors.
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Technip, Sasol form front-end engineering JV for GTL facilities
PARIS, FRANCE/JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA: Technip and Sasol, the owner of the world’s leading gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology, have established an alliance for front-end engineering services for future Sasol GTL projects. Furthermore, it also allows for Technip’s participation during the execution stage of future GTL projects.
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Covanta acquires ‘energy from waste’ facility in Camden, US
MORRISTOWN, US: Covanta Holding Corporation, world leader in sustainable waste management and renewable energy, has acquired the Camden Resource Recovery Facility, a 1,050 tonne per day Energy from Waste (EfW) facility in Camden, New Jersey, US from a subsidiary of Foster Wheeler AG.
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BHP Billiton invests $2.6 billion in Jansen Potash project
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: BHP Billiton is investing $2.6 billion to finish the excavation and lining of the Jansen Potash project production and service shafts, and to continue the installation of essential surface infrastructure and utilities. This investment will be spread over a number of years, with completion of both shafts expected during 2016, while the associated works programme will extend into 2017.
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Sibur starts operation at TPE plant in Voronezh, Russia
VORONEZH, RUSSIA: Sibur has launched production of styrene-butadiene thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) at its Voronezh facility, Russia. The production facility reached its full design capacity of 50 kilo tonne per annum. The process phase of start-up and commissioning operations at the new facility completed with a 72-hour trial run of all the equipment units attended by the licensor’s representatives.
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James L Hambrick, Chairman, President and CEO, Lubrizol.
Lubrizol opens additives manufacturing facility in China
The Lubrizol Corporation has opened a world-class additives manufacturing facility in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China. The plant is the latest addition to Lubrizol’s long-term investment and growing presence in China.
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Sasol sells 50 pc stake in Iranian unit
Sasol Ltd, the world’s biggest coal-to-gasoline producer, has sold its stake in an Iranian unit. Sasol sold its 50 per cent stake in Arya Sasol Polymer Co to Main Street 1095 (Pty) Ltd, a South African subsidiary of an Iranian investor. The price of the transaction was not disclosed.
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LanzaTech to develop low carbon fuels from industrial carbon dioxide
LanzaTech has partnered with the Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy, a joint venture between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) and the Indian government’s Department for Biotechnology (DBT), to create a novel process for the direct production of low carbon fuels from industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
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Aurora Algae builds algae cultivation test facility in Geraldton, Australia
Aurora Algae in collaboration with Durack Institute of Technology has completed the construction of a new algae cultivation test facility in Geraldton, Western Australia, to evaluate the potential of the Mid West region for the production of microalgae.
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Pharmstandard to acquire API suppliers in Singapore
Pharmstandard OJSC, Russia’s leading pharmaceutical company, will acquire 100 per cent share capital of Bever Pharmaceutical Pte Ltd, a Singapore based active pharmaceutical ingredients supplier.
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Edeniq, Pacific Ag collaborate for cellulosic ethanol production
Edeniq, a biomaterials and sustainable fuels company, and Pacific Ag, the leader in agricultural feedstock supply chains, have signed a five-year exclusive collaboration agreement to assist existing corn-based ethanol production facilities to increase cellulosic ethanol production, thereby diversifying feedstock sources.
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Mylan gets clearance for $1.6-billion takeover of Agila Specialties
Mylan Inc gets clearance for $1.6-billion takeover of Agila Specialties after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh overruled objections from the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) and health ministry, sending a positive signal to foreign investors as the country battles a sliding rupee.
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Boehringer Ingelheim to close API plant in Petersburg, US
Boehringer Ingelheim Chemicals Inc will close its Petersburg plant at the end of 2014. The facility will continue normal operations through the remainder of 2013 and phase out operations the following year. The closure will impact 240 employees through a multi-stage process starting in December 2013.
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Elemental Minerals gets potash mining license in Republic of Congo
PERTH, AUSTRALIA: Elemental Minerals Ltd has been awarded a mining license for its Sintoukola Potash project in the Republic of Congo (RoC). The award of the mining license marks another positive step in the key permitting requirements and taken in conjunction with the expected approval of the application for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Permit, will mark the completion of the key permitting stage. The ESIA application was submitted to the Ministry of Mines on 17 December 2012.
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Evonik headquarters in Germany.
Evonik expands oil additives plant in Singapore
ESSEN, GERMANY: Evonik Industries will significantly expand its Jurong Island, Singapore oil additives plant. The expansion is expected to be completed in early 2015. With ongoing improvement and debottlenecking projects scheduled to be finalized during the first half of 2014, these optimizations and the planned expansion will nearly double the capacity of the oil additives plant in Singapore.
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GranBio, Rhodia to build bio n-butanol facility in Brazil
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL: Brazilian biotechnology company, GranBio, and Rhodia, a Solvay Group company, have signed an agreement to create a partnership to produce bio n-butanol. The companies plan to build the world’s first biomass-based n-butanol plant in Brazil, which will enter into operation in 2015.
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Sudarshan Chemicals wins appeal in European court against Clariant
MUMBAI, INDIA: Sudarshan Chemical Industries, Global producer of performance colourants and effect pigments, has won an appeal in a European court against Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH. According to a statement by the company, the court of appeal, London has dismissed the objection raised by Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH and awarded costs and damages for wrongful ‘threats’ to Sudarshan.
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Chevron Phillips gets permit for Texas ethane cracker, polyethylene units
THE WOODLANDS, US: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP has received air permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for its planned ethane cracker and polyethylene units. The company has also received a greenhouse gas permit from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the cracker earlier this year.
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China rare earth trading platform to see trials in October 2013
BAOTOU, CHINA: The Baotou Rare Earth Products Exchange, China’s first national trading platform of its kind, is expected to go into use on a trial basis in October. The exchange officially launched on 8 August 2012, is located in the city of Baotou in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, home to more than half of the world’s light rare earth output.
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Hariolf Kottmann, CEO, Clariant.
Clariant, Tasnee form masterbatches JV in Saudi Arabia
MUTTENZ, SWITZERLAND: National Industrialization Co (Tasnee), one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Saudi Arabia, and specialty chemicals company Clariant, have signed an agreement to establish masterbatches joint venture in Saudi Arabia.
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Dow AgroSciences, Taminco sign choline hydroxide supply agreement
INDIANAPOLIS/ALLENTOWN, US: Taminco US Inc, a subsidiary of Taminco Corporation, and Dow AgroSciences LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, have reached a strategic supply agreement for choline hydroxide. Taminco will supply choline hydroxide to Dow AgroSciences for herbicidal uses. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
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Nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
68 year after nuclear attack on Hiroshima, Nagasaki
SINGAPORE: 6 and 9 August marks the 68th anniversary of nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. People throughout the world remember the events that changed modern warfare forever, killing hundreds of thousands of people with two foul swipes. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States during the final stages of World War II in 1945 were the two events in which nuclear weapons have been used in war.
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Jim Prokopanko, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mosaic.
Mosaic, Ma’aden, SABIC JV for phosphate facility in Saudi Arabia
PLYMOUTH, US: The Mosaic Company has entered into a shareholders’ agreement with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) to participate in integrated phosphate production facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ma’aden, Mosaic and SABIC will own 60, 25 and 15 per cent of the joint venture, respectively.
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Asahi Glass to increase chlor-alkali capacity in Indonesia
TOKYO, JAPAN: Asahi Glass Co Ltd (AGC) will invest approximately ¥40 billion ($406 million) to significantly increase the production capacity of its Indonesian subsidiary PT Asahimas Chemical (ASC) to meet growing demand for chlor-alkali products, such as caustic soda and vinyl chloride, in the Southeast Asia region.
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Foster Wheeler awarded Enterprise’s PDH unit contract in Texas, US
ZUG, SWITZERLAND: The Global Engineering and Construction Group subsidiary of Foster Wheeler AG has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract by Enterprise Products Operating LLC, a subsidiary of Enterprise Products Partners LP, for a propane dehydrogenation unit (PDH) and associated power, utilities and infrastructure at Mont Belvieu, Texas, US.
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Mel Sauder, President, Latin America, MicroBlend.
Momentive, MicroBlend to establish JV company in Cali, Colombia
COLUMBUS, US: Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc (MSC) and MicroBlend Inc have formed a new joint venture company located in Cali, Colombia. The new company, to be called MicroBlend Colombia SAS, will support MicroBlend’s revolutionary ‘automated paint machine system’ (APM System) with the necessary liquid components for making fresh paint at the point of sale in Colombian home centre stores while occupying less than 120 square feet.
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KBR bags crude oil refinery revamp contract in US
HOUSTON, US: KBR has secured an award to execute front-end engineering and design (FEED) for a crude oil refinery revamp project for one of the oldest operating refineries in the US. During the feasibility phase, KBR’s expertise will focus on determining the optimum economic configuration to increase overall heavy crude processing capability and flexibility.
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Daniele Ferrari, CEO, Versalis.
Versalis, Neville JV for hydrocarbon resins
SAN DONATO MILANESE, ITALY: Versalis (Eni) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Neville Venture (joint venture of synthetic resins manufacturer Neville Chemical Co and engineering and technology company GTC) for the production of hydrocarbon resins at the versalis Priolo plant and entered into a licence agreement related to the feedstock which will feed the resin facilities.
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PetroChina selects Dow, JM Davy technology
MIDLAND, US/LONDON, UK/SHANGHAI, CHINA: PetroChina Guangdong Petrochemical Company, a subsidiary of PetroChina Company Limited, China’s largest oil and gas producer and distributor have selected LP Oxo Technology of Johnson Matthey Davy Technologies (JM Davy) and The Dow Chemical Company.
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Bharat Petroleum, Manali Petrochemicals to build polyurethane plant in Kochi, India
MUMBAI, INDIA: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Indian state owned oil company, and Manali Petrochemicals Limited (MPL), Chennai (India) based petrochemical player, are in talks to set up India’s single largest polyurethane manufacturing plant in Kerala. The project will spread over in 150 acres of land next to the BPCL’s existing facility at Kochi, Kerala, India.
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Barack Obama, President, US.
Barack Obama orders for review of chemical safety rules
WASHINGTON DC, US: Barack Obama, US President ordered federal agencies on 1 August 2013 to review chemical safety rules following a deadly fertilizer depot explosion in April in West, Texas. Obama directed federal agencies to develop proposals within 90 days for the safer handling and storage of ammonium nitrate, the substance that exploded, killing 15 people and injuring several hundred others.
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MOL comfort ship found in Berika beach, Kasargod, Kerala, India.
Freon 22 leakage in containers ashore Kasargod, India
KASARGOD, INDIA: Officials have spotted the remains of tanker ships off the coast of Berika beach, Kasargod, Kerala, India. The containers were found to produce a foul smelling gas which had caused a threat to the local residents. The gas was found to be Freon 22 (Chloro difluoro methane), which is a non- dangerous gas mostly used as a refrigerant.
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Mega container ships disaster, major threat to marine environment
A report compiled by Voytenko Mikhail, editor-in-chief, Maritime Bulletin, presents a detailed opinion about MOL Comfort disaster. According to a letter received from an Ukrainian logistics company, many shippers declare a false weight of the goods loaded in containers (less than actual) not because they don’t want to pay extra freight. Extra weight is peanuts in comparison with really big money they may save or lose when clearing the goods in Ukraine, Russia and generally, all of former USSR republics.
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Valspar acquires industrial coatings manufacturer in Europe
MINNEAPOLIS, US: The Valspar Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of paints and coatings, has completed the previously announced acquisition of Inver Holding Srl, a leading industrial coatings manufacturer in Europe. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.
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Musab Al Mahruqi, CEO, Orpic.
Oman Refineries to float tender for Liwa FEED contract
MUSCAT, OMAN: Oman Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) is planning to float a tender to appoint a consultant for front-engine engineering design (FEED) for its proposed $3.6 billion integrated Liwa Plastics project within two months. The project, which is integrated with the existing Sohar refinery for producing polyethylene, polypropylene, and benzene, is scheduled for commissioning by 2018.
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Ineos ChlorVinyls sells UK packed chlorine business to 2M
ROLLE, SWITZERLAND: Ineos ChlorVinyls has completed the sale of UK packed chlorine business to 2M Group Limited. The value of the deal is not disclosed. The sale includes the packed chlorine assets at ChlorVinyls’ Runcorn Site, Cheshire, together with the associated commercial goodwill of this business.
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Showa Denko to build ethyl acetate plant in Oita, Japan
OITA, JAPAN: Showa Denko (SDK) will build a 100,000 tonne per year ethyl acetate plant at its Oita Complex using its proprietary production process technology. The plant will start commercial production in June 2014. Demand for ethyl acetate is expected to continue growing inside and outside Japan.
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PhosAgro appoints new CEO, Andrey Guryev
MOSCOW, RUSSIA: PhosAgro, a leading global vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producer, has elected Andrey A Guryev as CEO. The current CEO Maxim Volkov has resigned. The Board of Directors has also appointed a new Management Board, which includes PhosAgro Board Member and CEO Andrey A Guryev, COO Mikhail Rybnikov, Deputy CEO Sergey Sereda, Deputy CEO for Corporate and Legal Affairs Alexei Sirotenko and CFO Alexander Sharabaiko.
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Solvay, IMCD sign distribution agreement in Europe
ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS: IMCD Group has entered a Pan-European distribution partnership with Solvay Specialty Polymers for its Tecnoflon FKM product range used in the rubber industry. Effective immediately, this agreement will cover market segments including automotive, aerospace, energy and oil & gas, where high purity and long service life are essential.
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EU, China to defuse dispute over Chinese solar panels
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM/BEIJING, CHINA: China and the European Union reached a deal to defuse a multi-billion euro dispute over Chinese solar panels that threatened a wider trade war. EU’s trade chief and his Chinese counterpart sealed the deal over the telephone, after six weeks of talks, setting a minimum price for panels from China near spot market prices.
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Fluor awarded Cerro Verde mine expansion contract in Peru
IRVING, US: Fluor Corporation was awarded a contract by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold to provide construction management services for the expansion of the Cerro Verde mine in Peru. Fluor previously provided engineering and procurement services on the project beginning in early 2012.
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OriginOil gets Japanese patent for algae harvesting technology
LOS ANGELES, US: OriginOil Inc has received its second international patent for its algae harvesting technology from the Japan Patent Office. The invention, titled “Systems, apparatus and methods of obtaining intracellular products and cellular mass and debris from algae and derivative products and process of use thereof,” was issued as patent number 5284536 in Japan for a term of 20 years beginning in 2010.
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Steve Sonnenberg, President, Emerson Process Management.
Emerson bags Sasol’s GTL, ethane cracker contract in Louisiana, US
AUSTIN, US: Sasol, an international integrated energy and chemical company, has chosen Emerson Process Management, a global business of Emerson, for a comprehensive programme to automate its planned integrated gas-to-liquids (GTL) and world-scale ethane cracker complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana, US.
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KBR awarded Ineos’ HDPE plants contract in America
HOUSTON, US: KBR has been awarded a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by Ineos Olefins & Polymers US for one of the largest grassroots high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plants to be built in the Americas. The facility would produce 470 kilotonne per annum of bimodal HDPE using Innoven S process technology. The facility is expected to be located in the US Gulf coast area.
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Clariant to expand pigments capacity in Roha, India
MUTTENZ, SWITZERLAND: The world leader in specialty chemicals, Clariant, will expand its 50 per cent capacity at its Azo pigments and pigment preparations plants in Roha, India. This underlines the company’s commitment to provide customers in the region with high quality products specifically tailored to their needs.
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Yasunori Yamaguchi, President and CEO, BioWa.
Lonza, BioWa sign research agreement with Pfizer
BASEL SWITZERLAND/LA JOLLA, US: BioWa Inc, the health science company, and Lonza have entered into research agreements with Pfizer Inc allowing the use of the POTELLIGENT CHOK1SV Cell Line in the research and development of multiple proprietary antibodies in Pfizer’s pipeline.
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Foster Wheeler bags Dow’s petrochemical facility contract in Louisiana, US
ZUG, SWITZERLAND: Global Engineering and Construction (E&C) Group, a subsidiary of Foster Wheeler AG has been awarded a contract by Dow Chemical Company to provide detailed engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCm) services for the LA-3 Crack More Ethane (CME) Project at Dow’s Plaquemine petrochemical facility in Louisiana, US. The contract value was not disclosed.
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CB&I bags Sunoco’s propane terminal contract in Marcus Hook, US
THE WOODLANDS, US: CB&I has been awarded a contract of $270 million by Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals LP for the construction of a turnkey propane terminal and de-ethanizer facility in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, US.
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Kaneka expands chlorinated polyvinyl chloride capacity
OSAKA, JAPAN: Kaneka North America LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kaneka Corporation, will increase the annual production capacity of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride resin (CPVC) by approximately 20,000 tonne, bringing it up to 50,000 tonne per year to meet the robust demand in North America. The investment is expected to be about ¥5 billion ($51 million), and operations are scheduled for early 2015.
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BASF to build polymerization plant in Shanghai, China
SHANGHAI, CHINA: BASF is building a new Ultramid polymerization plant with a capacity of 100,000 metric tonne per year in Shanghai, China. The new plant is expected to start operations in 2015. The plant will be built at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park which is also home to a world scale facility for integrated isocyanates, operated by BASF and partners.
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China to adjust anti-dumping duties on chloroprene rubber imports from Japan
BEIJING, CHINA: The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has decided to adjust anti-dumping duties on chloroprene rubber imported from Japan effective from 2 August 2013. The change was made according to the ministry’s anti-dumping review on imports from Japanese company Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha at the request of Chinese companies that claimed the original anti-dumping tax was too low.
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Air Liquide to invest €50 million in carbon monoxide facility in Belgium
PARIS, FRANCE: Air Liquide has just signed a long-term contract with BASF to supply carbon monoxide to its methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) production unit located in Antwerp, Belgium. The total investment will amount to around €50 million. Air Liquide will invest in a new carbon monoxide production unit located next to its existing facilities which will double carbon monoxide production capacity in this basin.
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Technip bags Chevron’s subsea contract
PARIS, FRANCE: Technip was awarded by Chevron North Sea Ltd a substantial engineering, procurement, installation and construction (EPIC) contract for the Alder field, located in the central North Sea, about 200 kilometre North-East of Aberdeen, Scotland. Chevron is developing the Alder field as a subsea tieback to the Britannia Bridge Link Platform.
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EuroChem forms fertilizers joint venture with Chinese firm
MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Russia’s largest mineral fertilizer producer, EuroChem, plans to create a joint venture with Migao Corporation, a China-based specialty potash fertilizer producer, in Yunnan, a province in southern China. The joint venture is expected to produce up to 60,000 tonne of potassium nitrate and up to 200,000 tonne of chloride-free NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizers per annum.
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Teijin strengthens carbon fibre operations in India, ASEAN
TOKYO, JAPAN: Toho Tenax Co Ltd, carbon fibre and composites subsidiary of Teijin Group, has established Toho Tenax Singapore Pte Ltd in Singapore to strengthen group business operations in India and the ASEAN region, where the demand for carbon fibre is expected to increase rapidly.
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Dr David Nicholson, Head of Research & Development, Bayer CropScience.
Bayer expands vegetable seeds research in West Sacramento, US
MONHEIM, GERMANY: Bayer CropScience plans to consolidate and expand its US based R&D operations for vegetable seeds and biological crop protection products in a new site in West Sacramento, California. The vegetable seeds research, as well as the company’s biologics business management, both located in Davis, California, will move about ten miles to West Sacramento in the first quarter of 2014.
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W R Grace to close silica sol FCC catalyst production in Lake Charles, US
COLUMBIA, US: W R Grace & Co will close its 35,000 metric tonne per year silica sol based fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst manufacturing operation in Lake Charles, Louisiana, US during the third quarter of this year.
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OMNOVA to repurpose SB latex capacity in Mogadore, US
FAIRLAWN, US: OMNOVA Solutions will make an investment to repurpose (or redirect) excess styrene butadiene (SB) latex capacity at its plant in Mogadore, Ohio, US to the production of styrene acrylic and other specialty emulsion polymer chemistries. The project will allow OMNOVA to optimize its existing assets and provide significantly greater flexibility to respond to the company’s changing business mix with a wide range of polymers in its Mogadore facility..
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Dr Matthias L Wolfgruber, CEO, Altana.
Altana acquires Rockwood’s global rheology business
WESEL, GERMANY: The specialty chemicals group, Altana, has signed a definite agreement to acquire the global rheology business of Rockwood Holdings Inc. The unit, currently part of Rockwood’s “Performance Additives” segment, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of rheology additives that optimize the flow characteristics of various materials.
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BHP Billiton to build sea-water desalination facility in Chile
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: BHP Billiton approved an investment of $1,972 million to sustain operations at Escondida, Chile, by constructing a new 2,500 litre per second sea-water desalination facility. The project will ensure continued water supply to Escondida, as water use increases upon completion of the 152,000 tonne per day OGP1 copper concentrator.
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ADM gets Japan’s approval for acquisition of GrainCorp
DECATUR, US: The Japan Fair Trade Commission has given its approval to Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) for ADM’s proposed acquisition of GrainCorp Limited. This brings the number of government agencies that have cleared the acquisition to five.
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Jordan Phosphate forms phosphoric acid JV with Indonesian firms
AMMAN, JORDAN: The Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) has signed memoranda of understanding with two Indonesian companies, for the establishment of two joint projects for the production of phosphoric acid. Of the two projects, one will be set up in the Kingdom while the other will be set up in Indonesia.
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Monocrotophos contamination in food kills 23 children in Bihar, India.
“Fatal food” – toxic chemical in food kills 23 children in Bihar, India
BIHAR, INDIA: Traces of pesticide, monocrotophos, were found in the mid-day meal that killed 23 children and sickened 25 others in Chhapra, Bihar, India. Monocrotophos is a chemical that is banned in 46 countries and is easily available in India. This chemical is so toxic that just a dose as light as the weight of 5 grains of rice can be fatal.
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Mitsubishi, Samyang to manufacture ion exchange resins in Korea
TOKYO, JAPAN: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Samyang Corporation have entered into an agreement on basic policies for establishing a joint venture (JV) to manufacture ion exchange resins (IERs) in Korea. Both sides will continue consideration regarding concrete conditions and details.
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Praxair starts hydrogen plant operations to supply US Gulf refiners
DANBURY, US: Praxair Inc has started operations of hydrogen plant serving the Valero refinery Port Arthur, Texas and other customers. The 135 million standard cubic feet per day (scfd) hydrogen plant, houses the largest steam methane reformer (SMR). Praxair has built to date to supply hydrogen and up to 450,000 pounds per hour of steam to Valero’s new 57,000 barrels-per-day hydrocracker.
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Dynea completes sale of Dynea AS in Norway
HELSINKI, FINLAND: Dynea Chemicals Oy has completed the sale of 100 per cent of the shares of Norway-based Dynea AS to a newly founded legal entity representing Eltek Holding AS.
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Showa Denko, UOP to build high silica zeolite facility in Japan
TOKYO, JAPAN/DES PLAINES, US: Union Showa (USKK), a joint venture between Showa Denko (SDK) and UOP LLC, has decided to start high silica zeolite production in Japan. A new production facility will be built within the premises of SDK’s Higashinagahara Plant in Aizu-Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
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Dr Thomas Haeberle, Member of the Executive Board and responsible for Resource Efficiency Segment, Evonik.
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ESSEN, GERMANY: Evonik Industries is expanding precipitated silica capacity at its Maptaphut site in Thailand. With an investment of double-digit million euro range, the expansion is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2014. The expansion is in accordance with the growing demand for precipitated silica in Southeast Asia.
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Willie Wu, Vice President, industrial coatings, Asia Pacific, PPG.
PPG opens heavy-duty equipment coatings facility in Tianjin, China
TIANJIN, CHINA: PPG Industries inaugurated a new manufacturing facility for the production of heavy-duty equipment coatings in Tianjin, China. The Tianjin site also has installed equipment to help reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and preserve the local environment. The new plant will have an annual capacity of 9000 tonne and will produce industrial coatings.
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CropEnergies acquires UK bioethanol producer
MANNHEIM, GERMANY: CropEnergies AG has acquired the UK bioethanol producer Ensus Limited, based in Yarm, England. The company operating one of the largest production plants for bioethanol in Europe has an annual capacity of 400,000 cubic metre of bioethanol and 350,000 tonne of dried protein animal feed (DDGS).
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Belarus, China to construct soda ash plant in Belarus
Belarus and China have reached an agreement to jointly construct a soda ash plant in Belarus. The plant will produce soda ash from domestic raw materials. This will be a highly productive plant which will provide Belarus with domestically produced soda ash.
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Sinopec, Wanhua sign five years agreement in Yantai, China
YANTAI, CHINA: Sinopec Chemicals Sales Company and Wanhua Chemical Group sign a five year framework agreement in Yantai, China. The agreement will extend from 2013 to 2018. The agreement will further strengthen their relations as well as expand and deepen the collaboration.
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IndianOil, LanzaTech to develop micro-algae technology
FARIDABAD, INDIA: IndianOil and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) have jointly set up a Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy Research in Faridabad, India to boost research in bio-fuels on micro-algae technology. The IndianOil – DBT (IOC-DBT) centre has signed an agreement with LanzaTech to further develop IOC-DBT’s micro-algae technology.
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Uma Chowdhry, Chief Science and Technology Officer, DuPont.
Uma Chowdhry, an inspiration to young chemists
Uma Chowdhry, born in Mumbai, India, is well known for her research in material science and nanotechnology. Uma Chowdhry is Chief Science and Technology Officer at DuPont. Chowdhry worked at DuPont in their main labs in Wilmington, Delaware, where she became involved in many different research projects.
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Chris Pappas, President and CEO, Styron.
Ravago to acquire Styron’s expandable polystyrene business
RP Compounds, a subsidiary of Ravago SA, will purchase expandable polystyrene (EPS) business of Styron Europe GmbH. The financial details were not disclosed. The sale includes the EPS manufacturing facility in Schkopau, Germany, as well as related intellectual property and the SCONAPOR brand.
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Ferrostaal, Chandra Asri to build petrochemical complex in Indonesia
The German petrochemical company Ferrostaal Industrial Projects GmbH and Jakarta based PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical will work on studies for the development of a petrochemical plant. The companies will develop a methanol-based olefin production complex in Teluk Bintuni in West Papua, Indonesia.
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Oriental Energy selects Ineos’ technology for plant in China
Ningbo Fuji Petrochemical Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Oriental Energy Co Ltd, has selected Ineos Technologies’ Innovene PP process for its unit to be built in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. The facility will take propylene from the upstream propane dehydrogenation process and produce 400 kilo tonne per annum of polypropylene resins including homopolymers, random copolymers and impact copolymers.
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PTT to close LDPE plant temporarily
PTT Global Chemical Public Company’s low density polyethylene plant (LDPE) has shut down since July 2013 to repair the cylinder of the booster/primary compressor. The plant had a production capacity of 300,000 tonne per year.
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China imposes provisional anti-dumping duties on polysilicon from US, Korea
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) will impose provisional anti-dumping duties on imported solar-grade polysilicon from the United States and the Republic of Korea.
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KBR to conduct revamp studies for ToAZ’s ammonia plants in Russia
HOUSTON, US: KBR has been selected by Togliattiazot Corporation (ToAZ) to perform revamp studies for seven ammonia plants located in Togliatti, Russia. The ToAZ revamp project will be the world’s largest upgrade of an ammonia complex with the seven plants located at the same site.
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K’Lynne Johnson, CEO, Elevance.
Elevance, Wilmar start operations at biorefinery in Gresik, Indonesia
WOODBRIDGE, US: Asia’s leading agribusiness, Wilmar International Limited and Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc, a specialty chemical company, have begun shipping commercial products, including novel specialty chemicals, to customers from their first world-scale joint venture biorefinery, located in Gresik, Indonesia.
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Firmenich appoints new Chairman, Yves Boisdron
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: The fragrance and flavor company, Firmenich, has elected Yves Boisdron as the new chairman of the board of directors as of 1 July 2013. Boisdron will succeed Vernon Sankey, who will retire from the board at the end of fiscal year on 30 June 2013.
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Monsanto to withdraw EU pending approvals for genetically modified crops
ST LOUIS, US: Monsanto Co will withdraw all pending approval requests to grow new types of genetically modified crops (GMC) in the European Union, due to the lack of commercial prospects for cultivation. The decision covered five EU approval requests to grow genetically modified maize, one soybean and one sugar beet.
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BASF not in favour of EU’s decision to restrict key insecticide
LIMBURGERHOF, GERMANY: BASF disagrees with the European Commission’s latest decision to apply a two-year restriction on selected seed treatment uses of the insecticide fipronil. This will limit growers’ access to valuable and approved technologies. Along with the majority of experts, the company believes that the decline in bee populations is caused by multiple and complex factors and that the restriction of fipronil will not contribute to protect bees.
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CF Industries receive air permit from Louisiana, Iowa
DEERFIELD, US: Regulators in Louisiana and Iowa have issued final air emission permits related to CF Industries’ capacity expansion projects in both states. The Donaldsonville, Louisiana project consists of new urea and UAN (urea and ammonium nitrate) plants scheduled to come on stream in the second half of 2015 and a new ammonia plant in 2016.
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Clariant, OMV sign ethylene supply agreement
MUTTENZ, SWITZERLAND: Specialty chemicals producer, Clariant, has signed a long-term supply contract with Austrian oil and gas firm, OMV. Effective from 2015, OMV will supply ethylene to Clariant’s site in Gendorf, Germany. This agreement will allow Clariant to source most of its requirements for ethylene in southern Bavaria.
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Henkel to open Chinese adhesives factory in September
SHANGHAI, CHINA: Henkel’s Dragon Plant factory in Shanghai will be the largest state-of-the-art adhesives factory in the world when it opens this September. The Dragon Plant will consolidate two former plants into one multi-technology site. This will enable Henkel to expand its capacities and respond to rapidly increasing demand, especially in emerging markets.
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Kapil Mehan, Managing Director, Coromandel International Limited.
Coromandel JV starts phosphoric acid plant in Tunisia
SECUNDERABAD, INDIA: A phosphoric acid plant of ‘Tunisian Indian Fertilisers (TIFERT)’ has been inaugurated on 12 July 2013 in Tunisia. TIFERT is a joint venture company between India’s leading fertilizer manufacturer – Coromandel International Limited and Gujarat State Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd (GSFC) and Tunisia’s Groupe Chimique Tunisien (GCT) and Compagnie Des Phosphat De Gafsa (CPG).
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Sipchem awards debottleneck contract to eTEC
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA: International Diol Company (IDC), an affiliate of Saudi International Petrochemical (Sipchem), has signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract with eTEC of South Korea to debottleneck and improve the efficiency and the reliability of its plant facilities.
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Sasol awards US ethane cracker contract to major service providers
WESTLAKE, US: Sasol has awarded a series of engineering and technology provider appointments as it continues to advance front-end engineering and design (FEED) of its world class ethane cracker and derivatives project. The ethane cracker is designed to produce 1.5 million tonne per year of ethylene. The current project cost of the ethane cracker is estimated to be $5 – $7 billion.
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Total selects KBR’s deasphalting technology for Antwerp refinery
HOUSTON, US: KBR has been selected by Total to utilize KBR’s ROSE solvent deasphalting technology for use at their Antwerp refinery in Belgium. The ROSE unit is expected to significantly enhance the profitability of the refinery and is expected to come on stream in early 2016.
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Flint Hills to acquire Platinum Ethanol’s plant in Iowa
Independent refining, chemicals and biofuels company, Flint Hills Resources will acquire Platinum Ethanol’s plant in northwestern Iowa, a facility with an annual capacity of 110,000 million gallons. The deal is expected to close later this year and would bring to six the number of ethanol plants owned by Flint Hills.
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Bechtel bags petrochemical complex contract in Qatar
The Qatar Petroleum – Qatar Petrochemical Company partnership (QP-QAPCO) selected Bechtel to provide project management services for construction of the Al Sejeel mega-petrochemical complex in Ras Laffan, Qatar. Bechtel will provide project management services over the course of the project starting with the front-end engineering design phase to ensure the quality, safe, and timely construction of the project.
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HPCL to build refinery and petrochemical complex in Barmer, India
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) in a joint venture agreement with the Indian Government will establish a green field refinery cum petrochemical complex in Barmer district, Rajasthan, India. HPCL will hold a 76 per cent share in the JV company, HPCL-Rajasthan Refinery Limited, while the Indian government 24 per cent.
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Iraq offers discovered oil blocks to India
The government of Iraq has offered three discovered oil blocks to India in Middle Furat oil fields on nomination basis. Besides, the West Asian energy major will also invest in the Rs 30,000-crore ($5008million) Paradip refinery by IndianOil Corporation (IOC). India may also buy crude oil worth $20 billion from Iraq.
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Acron starts construction of ammonia plant in Russia
Acron has obtained an approval for Ammonia-4 design and permit for construction of a new 700,000 tonne per annum ammonia unit from Glavgosexpertiza (Directorate-General for State Environmental Review). The company has got approval for design documentation, time schedule and term of construction of a new ammonia unit.
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Jan A Hammer, President and CEO, Odfjell SE.
Odfjell to develop bulk liquid terminal in Le Havre, France
Odfjell Terminals Europe signed an agreement with Grand Port Maritime du Havre (GPMH) for a plot of land in the Port of Le Havre to develop a bulk liquid terminal. The planned terminal will be located inside the Port of Le Havre, France along the Grand Canal Maritime.
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Zotefoams, Inoac to manufacture and sell cross-linked polyolefin foam
Zotefoams signed a joint venture agreement with Inoac Corporation for the manufacture and exclusive sale of its Azote cross-linked polyolefin foam products in Asia and Australasia. Zotefoams and Inoac have established a 50/50 owned sales joint venture company in Hong Kong.
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WorleyParsons bags Sasol’s GTL, ethane cracker contract
WorleyParsons has been awarded a contract by Sasol North America Inc for an integrated gas-to-liquids (GTL) and ethane cracker complex. WorleyParsons will provide Integrated Programme Management Team (IPMT) services for the front-end engineering and design phase.
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Ineos licenses Innovene Process technology to CNOOC
ROLLE, SWITZERLAND/HONG KONG, CHINA: Ineos Technologies has licensed its Innovene S Process for the manufacture of medium density and high density polyethylene to CNOOC Oil and Petrochemical Company Limited for its cracker complex located in Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, China.
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Asahi Kasei opens S-SBR plant in Singapore
TOKYO, JAPAN: Asahi Kasei Chemicals opened its new plant for solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) in Jurong Island, Singapore. The plant began commercial operation in April 2013. The company is constructing a second line at the same site, with its start-up scheduled for the first half of 2015.
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Teijin to build meta-aramid fibre facility in Thailand
TOKYO, JAPAN: Teijin Limited has developed a new type of meta-aramid fibre which will be produced in a facility to be built in Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. The new meta-aramid fibre will offer the world’s highest level of heat resistance combined with excellent dyeablility.
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OriginOil expands algae, aquaculture systems
LOS ANGELES, US: OriginOil Inc has expanded its algae and aquaculture designs to achieve commercial scale. The new systems are each intended to process up to 60 litre (16 gallons) per minute, scaling up through modular design for distributed management of both algae and fish farming ponds.
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DuPont expands Silicon Valley technology centre
SUNNYVALE, US: DuPont expanded the capabilities within its Silicon Valley technology centre to include new innovations and collaborations in the fields of energy and electronics. The company plans to use this centre to further accelerate product and process development, as well as increase application support to customers around the world and specifically in Silicon Valley.
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Air Liquide acquires two healthcare companies in Poland
PARIS, FRANCE: Air Liquide is expanding its home healthcare activity in this country with the acquisition of two companies: HELP! and Ventamed. The acquisition will enable Air Liquide to provide its home healthcare services nationwide to patients who suffer from chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, or conditions requiring mechanical ventilation.
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HF Chlor-Alkali starts manufacturing plant construction in Eddyville, US
EDDYVILLE, US: HF Chlor-Alkali LLC, a newly formed affiliate of Indianapolis-based Harris & Ford, will commence construction on a manufacturing plant adjacent to Cargill’s corn milling facility in Eddyville, Iowa, US. HF Chlor-Alkali will make caustic soda, muriatic acid and bleach at the Cargill Eddyville complex, also known as the Iowa Bioprocessing Centre.
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BASF to increase production capacity of butanediol and PolyTHF
LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY: BASF is increasing the global production capacities of the chemical intermediate 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and the BDO derivative PolyTHF (polytetramethylene ether glycol) within the coming two years. BASF will increase BDO capacity from 535,000 to 650,000 metric tonne per annum, and PolyTHF capacity from 250,000 to 350,000 metric tonne annually.
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DSM acquires Bayer’s feed millers business in Philippines
HEERLEN, THE NETHERLAND: DSM Nutritional Products has acquired the industrial custom premix for feed millers business of Bayer in the Philippines. Both companies emphasise that current Bayer Animal Health industrial feed premix customers in the Philippines will continue to be supplied in future without interruption and at the highest level of quality and service from a newly built state-of-the-art facility, inaugurated by DSM in March 2013.
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Luke Kissam, CEO, Albemarle Corporation.
Albemarle, SABIC JV starts aluminum alkyls facility in Saudi Arabia
AL-JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Organometallic Chemicals Company (SOCC), a joint venture equally owned by Albemarle Netherlands BV, a subsidiary of Albemarle Corporation and Saudi Specialty Chemical Company, an affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) have started the aluminum alkyls facility located in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
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ThyssenKrupp opens facility for bio-based chemicals in Germany
ESSEN, GERMANY: ThyssenKrupp inaugurates Europe’s first multi-purpose fermentation plant for the continuous production of bio-based chemicals in Leuna, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Built at a cost of around €20 million, the facility will enable ThyssenKrupp to further expand its research and development activities in the area of biochemicals based on renewable raw materials.
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Eni invests €700 million to renovate Gela refinery
ROME, ITALY: Eni has made an announcement for renovation and recovery of the Gela refinery. The refinery will also be redesigned to be more environmentally friendly and respectful of the local area. The renovation with €700 million investment is aimed to restore the site’s economic sustainability by overcoming its structural weaknesses.
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Linde starts shipping helium from Qatar
MUNICH, GERMANY: Linde Gases, a division of The Linde Group, has shipped the first container from its newest helium source, Helium II, operated by Ras Gas at the Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar. Linde has secured long term rights to 30 per cent of the output from this latest and largest helium source in the world.
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Ben van Beurden, newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Royal Dutch Shell.
Shell appoints new CEO, Ben van Beurden
THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS: The Board of Royal Dutch Shell has made an announcement that Ben van Beurden will succeed Peter Voser as Chief Executive Officer effective from 1January 2014. Peter Voser will leave Shell at the end of March 2014. Van Beurden has been Downstream Director since January 2013.
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Nufarm acquires HSR Seeds’ sorghum assets in Australia
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA: Nuseed, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nufarm Limited, has acquired the HSR Seeds’ sorghum assets in Australia. The agreement includes all HSR’s commercial grain and forage sorghum hybrids, research breeding programme and germplasm pipeline. The breeding programme will be based in Queensland, Australia.
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Dow licenses UNIPOL process technology to Chinese firm
MIDLAND, US: Chinese firm Shanxi Coking Co Ltd, has signed a license agreement for UNIPOL Polypropylene (PP) Process Technology with Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology LLC, a wholly owned Subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. The plant with 400 kilo tonne per annum capacity is expected to start production from 2015. The plant will be located in Hongdong City in the Shanxi Province, China.
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Huntsman to acquire urethane polyols manufacturer in Houston, US
THE WOODLANDS, US: Huntsman Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the business of Oxid LP, a privately-held manufacturer and marketer of specialty urethane polyols based in Houston, US. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter and will be immediately accretive to Huntsman’s earnings.
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Ken MacKenzie, Managing Director and CEO, Amcor.
Amcor to acquire Chinese flexible packaging firm
HAWTHORN, MELBOURNE: Australian-based multinational packaging company, Amcor will acquire the flexible packaging operations of Jiangsu Shenda Group for RMB350 million ($57 million). The acquired business is a strong fit with Amcor’s exiting plant in Jiangsu province and enables sharing of overheads, optimisation of production across the sites and operating improvements through sharing of best practice.
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Lanxess to build iron oxide red pigments facility in Ningbo, China
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Lanxess is investing €55 million in for a premium iron oxide red pigments facility in Ningbo, China, which will have an initial annual capacity of 25,000 metric tonne. With the start of the piling process, the construction work is proceeding right on schedule. New red iron oxide pigments will be introduced to the global market in the first quarter of 2015. Through its new plant, Lanxess will create 150 new jobs in Ningbo.
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Liam Condon, CEO, Bayer CropScience.
Bayer, IFC to increase agricultural productivity in Ukraine
MONHEIM, GERMANY/KIEV, UKRAINE: Bayer CropScience and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, entered in an innovative partnership to support modernization of agriculture in Ukraine. The partnership will also help the country maximize its farming potential. Securing harvests and increasing agricultural productivity are key factors for global food security. The funds for the project are supported by the Austrian Ministry of Finance.
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Deepak Fertilisers acquires 24 pc stake in Mangalore Chemicals
NEW DELHI, INDIA: Deepak Fertilisers & Petrochemicals Corporation has acquired 24.46 per cent stake in Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd (MCFL) for an undisclosed amount. The company has bought 2,89,91,150 equity shares in MCFL, which is worth about Rs 160 crore ($26.65 million) at the current market price.
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BASF, Cargill, Novozymes develop bio acrylic acid production process
LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY/MINNEAPOLIS, US/COPENHAGEN, DENMARK: BASF, Cargill and Novozymes have jointly developed technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable raw materials by successfully demonstrating the production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) in pilot scale.
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Huchems invests $800 million to build ammonia plant in Tanzania
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: Huchems Fine Chemical Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with two Tanzanian firms to invest $800 million in a new ammonia plant following huge discoveries of natural gas in the east African country.
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Marrone Bio receives US patent for herbicide active ingredient
DAVIS, US: Marrone Bio Innovations Inc (MBI), a leading global provider of bio-based pest management products for the agricultural and water treatment markets, received a patent by the United States Patent & Trademark Office for sarmentine, the active ingredient in its new bioherbicide, currently identified as MBI-011. Sarmentine is one of three herbicidal products that MBI has under development for commercialization.
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Makhteshim Agan establishes local subsidiary in Lithuania
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL/LEUSDEN, NETHERLANDS: The Makhteshim Agan Group, leading manufacturer and distributor worldwide of crop protection solutions, established a wholly owned subsidiary in Vilnius, Lithuania called UAB Makhteshim-Agan Benelux & Nordic (MABENO). This subsidiary will provide with direct commercial access to the Lithuanian market and closer proximity to the needs of farmers in that region.
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A Schulman drops bid for Ferro acquisition
AKRON, US: A Schulman Inc has dropped its bid for Ferro Corp, about four months after it had offered $563 million for its smaller rival. According to A Schulman, the acquisition would help cut costs and widen its customer pool.
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Thomas Videbaek, Executive Vice President, Head of Business Development, Novozymes.
Novozymes to acquire TJ Technologies
BAGSVAERD, DENMARK: Novozymes has signed a definitive agreement to acquire TJ Technologies Inc. TJ Technologies provides North American farmers with biological solutions that enhance plant growth, increase stress tolerance, and improve yields. The acquisition marks yet another important step in building Novozymes’ business within sustainable bioagriculture solutions. The financial terms of the agreement are not disclosed.
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Orica appoints new CFO, Craig Elkington
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA: Noel Meehan, Executive Director Finance, Orica will leave the company at the end of October 2013. Craig Elkington, currently Executive Global Head Mining Services, will be appointed Chief Financial Officer from 1 November 2013.
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Brenntag expands application laboratory facilities in Thailand
MULHEIM AN DER RUHR, GERMANY: Brenntag expanded its application laboratory facilities with the construction of a new Innovation & Training Centre in Thailand. The new facility is situated within the premises of the Warehouse and Logistics Centre in Bangkok offering two training rooms and six technical application laboratories. The labs are designed to support Brenntag’s Specialties business for Personal Care, Food & Beverage, Agro, Cleaning, Textile and Coatings.
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CB&I awarded pipe fabrication contract for LNG project in Australia
THE WOODLANDS, US: CB&I has been awarded a contract valued in excess of $40 million. The scope of work includes pipe fabrication for a major liquefied natural gas project in Australia, which will be executed by CB&I’s manufacturing facility in the United Arab Emirates.
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KBR bags Sasol’s gaseous oxygen compressor contract in South Africa
HOUSTON, US: KBR has been awarded a contract by Sasol Technology (Pty) Ltd, for the provision of engineering, procurement and construction management services (EPCm) for the gaseous oxygen compressor at the Oxygen East Plant at the Sasol Synfuels Complex in Secunda, South Africa.
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Sika acquires sealants and adhesives manufacturer in UK
BAAR, SWITZERLAND: Sika has acquired Everbuild Building Products Ltd, UK’s largest independent manufacturer of sealants, adhesives and construction chemicals. Everbuild will operate as a subsidiary of Sika UK and will be led by the existing management team.
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Technip bags Petrobras’ flexible pipes supply contract in Brazil
PARIS, FRANCE: Technip was awarded a major contract by Petrobras for the supply of flexible pipes for the Iracema Sul field, Santos Basin pre-salt area, Brazil. The contract covers the qualification and supply of up to 250 kilometre of flexible pipes for oil production, gas lift, water and gas injection as well as related equipment for the pre-salt area to be installed on the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit Cidade de Mangaratiba.
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Air Liquide, LyondellBasell expand existing joint venture
PARIS, FRANCE: Air Liquide has signed a new long term contract with LyondellBasell in the US to provide steam, power, air gases and water to three LyondellBasell sites in the Bayport Industrial District in Pasadena, Texas, US. This agreement expands Air Liquide’s existing relationship with LyondellBasell. Air Liquide will re-invest in a state-of-the-art, energy efficient cogeneration unit, increasing its capacity and extending its life by more than 20 years. The facility will have a full capacity of 300 megawatts of electricity and more than 1,300 tonne of steam per hour.
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Patrick Gruber, Chief Executive Officer, Gevo.
Gevo resumes isobutanol production at Luverne, US
ENGLEWOOD, US: Gevo Inc has resumed commercial production of isobutanol at its Luverne, Minnesota, US plant in single train mode, successfully utilizing its proprietary Gevo Integrated Fermentation Technology (GIFT).
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BP gets Chinese government approval for construction of PTA plant
ZHUHAI, CHINA/ LONDON, UK: BP and Zhuhai Port Co, received final approvals from the Chinese Government for the construction of a third purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant, at Zhuhai, Guangdong, China. The plant will have an annual capacity of 1.25 million tonne and is expected to start up in late 2014.
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Linde to manage gas supply infrastructure of Sibur
The Linde Group will be managing the gas supply infrastructure of Sibur at its Dzerzhinsk site in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia, also building and operating two new air separation units (ASUs). Both companies signed a long-term contract to this effect. Linde will invest €70 million in the ASUs. The new on-site plants are set to come on stream at the end of 2015. Linde will assume responsibility for Sibur’s four ASUs in Dzerzhinsk and modernise these plants in order to increase energy efficiency.
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Onex completes the acquisition of Nielsen Expositions
Onex Corporation has completed the acquisition of Nielsen Expositions from its parent, an affiliate of Nielsen Holdings NV, for $950 million in cash consideration. Onex Partners made an equity investment of approximately $350 million, of which Onex’ share was $85 million as a Limited Partner in the Fund. Concurrent with the closing of the acquisition, the company was renamed Emerald Expositions Inc.
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Cabot to acquire remaining stake in Mexican carbon black JV
Cabot Corporation has entered into an agreement with Grupo Kuo SAB de CV to purchase the remaining 60 per cent equity of its Mexican carbon black manufacturing joint venture, NHUMO, SA de CV, for $105 million, of which $80 million will be paid upon closing, excluding cash acquired. The acquisition of NHUMO will strengthen Cabot’s global carbon black business. This strategic asset in Mexico will also serve to meet the growing demand for carbon black throughout North America.
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Ashland, UPM collaborate for biofibrils technology
Ashland Inc and UPM have entered into a cooperative agreement to develop and commercialize products containing UPM’s Biofibrils technology. UPM and Ashland will jointly study the use of biofibrils in a wide range of industrial application opportunities. The collaboration marks a milestone for two companies with extensive expertise in cellulose technology. UPM has pursued research and development of biofibrils technology for several years and has a large portfolio of patent applications and production experience. Ashland has its own research and patents in microfibrillar cellulose technology.
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Oil India Ltd to acquire 49 pc stake in Assam Petrochemicals
Oil India Ltd (OIL) is set to acquire 49 per cent equity in Assam Petrochemicals Ltd (APL), credited to be the first company in India to manufacture petrochemicals using natural gas as feedstock. A deal with the Assam government, which holds majority stake in the company through Assam Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (AIDC), is likely by October 2013.
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Jorgen Ole Haslestad, President and Chief Executive Officer, Yara International ASA.
Yara postpones Canadian plant expansion project
Yara International ASA is postponing the planned expansion project at its production plant in Belle Plaine, Canada. Yara views the Belle Plaine site as an optimal location for a future North American nitrogen expansion, but will spend more time evaluating construction cost development and other key project parameters.
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Ecolab expands research and development centre in Brazil
CAMPINAS, BRAZIL: Ecolab has expanded its Research, Development & Engineering (RD&E) Centre in Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The expansion doubles the size of the RD&E facility to 1,300 square metre. The Campinas facility has several laboratories designed to meet the technological demands of the markets Ecolab serves, including a lab for the development of solutions to increase the efficiency and sustainability of oil and gas operations. The centre also has facilities to research new industrial water applications.
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Qatar Petroleum, QAPCO sign technology license contract for Al Sejeel Complex
DOHA, QATAR: Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Qatar Petrochemical Company Limited (QAPCO) signed technology license contract for the upcoming Al Sejeel Petrochemical Complex at Ras Laffan Industrial City. Both the companies have also signed an agreement to jointly develop this mega-petrochemical complex, in which QP will hold 80 per cent equity interest. The Al Sejeel Petrochemical Project will use Univation Technologies’ polyethylene technology and The Dow Chemical Company’s polypropylene technology.
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Air Liquide to acquire Voltaix
PARIS, FRANCE: Air Liquide has signed an agreement to acquire Voltaix Inc, a US based electronics material company. The acquisition is expected to close later this summer, pending applicable regulatory approvals. The acquisition of Voltaix contributes to accelerate the introduction of a broader portfolio of new high-tech materials to semiconductor manufacturers and therefore enables the increase in computing power and connectivity.
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Klaus Engel, Chairman of the Executive Board, Evonik.
Evonik opens innovation centre for cosmetics in Essen, Germany
ESSEN, GERMANY: Evonik Industries has opened a new innovation centre for products for the cosmetics industry at its Goldschmidtstraße site in Essen, Germany. Some 90 employees of the Consumer Specialties Business Unit of Evonik will work in the innovation centre, primarily for applications in the cosmetic industry. The new innovation centre covers a total area of approximately 5,000 square metre on five floor levels and includes both laboratories and office space.
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US, China to phase out consumption, production of hydrofluorocarbons
WASHINGTON, US: The United States and China, the world’s top two greenhouse-gas emitters, have agreed to work together and with other countries to phase down the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) as an important new step to combat global climate change. A global phase down of HFC could potentially reduce some 90 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050, equal to roughly two years worth of current global greenhouse gas emissions, the White House statement said after the two-day informal summit.
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Ineos to close expandable polystyrene production in Marl, Germany
ROLLE, SWITZERLAND: Ineos has announced its intention to close production of expandable polystyrene (EPS) at its Marl site in Germany. Discussions will now begin with employees and the Works Council to find alternative roles for the 65 people affected by this decision. Operating costs of the EPS plant have also been affected by the recent closure of the styrene monomer and polystyrene units at Marl.
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Asahi Kasei acquires DuPont’s share in polyacetal joint venture in China
TOKYO, JAPAN: Asahi Kasei Chemicals and DuPont China Holdings Co Ltd have agreed to a share transfer under which the Asahi Kasei Group will obtain full ownership in Asahi-DuPont POM (Zhangjiagang) Co Ltd (ADZ), a joint venture between Asahi Kasei Chemicals and DuPont for the production and sale of polyacetal copolymer in China.
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Arkema expands acrylic acid capacity in Texas, US
COLOMBES, FRANCE: Arkema has brought on stream additional acrylic acid capacity at its Clear Lake, Texas, site, US. A ramp-up period is planned to continue over the next few months associated with commercial qualification of newly manufactured products. This project will improve reliability and increase competitiveness of the Clear Lake plant and brings the site to a nameplate capacity of 270 kilotonne per year.
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EU, Russia collaborate to control drug precursors
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: EU and Russia completed signature of a new cooperation agreement on the control of drug precursors, at the EU-Russia Summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The agreement will strengthen co-operation between the EU and Russia in preventing drug precursors from being trafficked for the manufacture of illegal drugs.
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World Ocean Day 2013
World ocean day – “together we have the power to protect the ocean”
SINGAPORE: 8 June is recognized globally as World Oceans Day, which was initially started by government of Canada in 1992 and later got global recognition in 2008. According to the United Nation, Oceans Day is that special time when we can look back on everything we love about the beach, the islands, the ships, the diverse forms of life and the watery depths. The theme of 2013 World Ocean Day is “Together we have the power to protect the ocean.”
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Save oceans, “seriously”…
SINGAPORE: The ocean safety is under threat and major issue of concern. With the increasing urbanization and globalization, ocean pollution has increased drastically. This is a major problem at global level and need to have an immediate check as it has negative economic and health impacts. Increasing human activities are polluting the oceans to very large extend.
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Jorgen Ole Haslestad, President and Chief Executive Officer, Yara International.
Yara gets approval for acquisition of Bunge’s fertilizer business in Brazil
OSLO, NORWAY: The Brazilian Administrative Council for Economic Defence (CADE) has approved Yara’s acquisition of Bunge’s fertilizer business in Brazil, allowing Yara to proceed with completing the $750 million transaction and integration process.
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EU imposes anti-dumping duties on Chinese solar panels import
BERLIN, GERMANY: The European Union is imposing anti-dumping levies on imports of Chinese solar panels, in a move that could trigger a trade war between two of the world’s largest economies. According to Karel De Gucht, Trade Commissioner, EU, the 27-nation bloc will impose a tariff of about 12 per cent on the import of solar panels, cells and wafers from this week, increasing it to an average of 47 per cent in August unless a settlement is reached with China in the next 60 days.
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AkzoNobel, Solvay to expand renewable raw materials in coatings
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS/BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: AkzoNobel and Solvay have signed a three-year agreement whereby AkzoNobel will increase the use of renewable raw materials in its paints and coatings, building on an existing partnership between the two companies. AkzoNobel will progressively increase the use of Solvay’s bio-based epichlorohydrin (Epicerol), which is already contained in many of the company’s resins for its coatings products.
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Valspar to acquire Inver Holdings
MINNEAPOLIS, US: The Valspar Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of paints and coatings, announced a definitive agreement to acquire Inver Holding Srl (Inver Group), a leading industrial coatings manufacturer in Europe. The transaction is expected to close in the fiscal fourth quarter, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
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The theme for this year’s World Environment Day celebrations is Think.Eat.Save, an anti-food waste and food loss campaign that encourages us to reduce our foodprint.
World Environment Day 2013 – focus on “anti-food waste” campaign
NEW YORK, US: World Environment Day is an annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. World Environment Day activities take place all year round and climax on 5 June 2013 every year, involving everyone from everywhere. World Environment Day is also a day for people from all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.
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Ferro to increase dibenzoates capacity in Antwerp, Belgium
CLEVELAND, US: Ferro Corporation will add significantly to its plasticizer product offerings by installing new dibenzoates production capability at its operations in Antwerp, Belgium. The Antwerp project is designed to provide annual production capacity of 28,000 metric tonne of dibenzoates, a non-phthalate, fast-fusing plasticizer. Production at the facility is expected to begin in the second half of 2014.
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KMG completes acquisition of ultra pure chemicals business of OM Group
HOUSTON, US: KMG Chemicals Inc has completed the acquisition of the Ultra Pure Chemicals subsidiaries of OM Group located in the US, England and Singapore. Simultaneously, KMG completed the acquisition of OM Group’s Ultra Pure Chemicals subsidiary in France. The total purchase price for OM Group’s Ultra Pure Chemicals subsidiaries was $63.3 million in cash, which included approximately $17.3 million for working capital.
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Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group.
Aditya Birla to acquire chlor-alkali, phosphoric acid unit of Solaris Chemtech
MUMBAI, INDIA: Aditya Birla Chemicals (India) Limited, a company of the Aditya Birla Group, approved the acquisition of the chlor-alkali and phosphoric acid division of Solaris Chemtech Industries Limited (SCIL) for a cash consideration of Rs 153 crore ($26.9 million). This transaction will enable Aditya Birla’s entry into the southern Indian market as well as the addition of phosphoric acid to its current product portfolio.
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Axel C Heitmann, Chairman of the Board of Management, Lanxess.
Lanxess invests €400 million in butyl rubber plant in Singapore
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY/SINGAPORE: Lanxess inaugurated its new butyl rubber plant on Jurong Island in Singapore on schedule. The specialty chemicals company has invested approximately €400 million in the plant, which will have a capacity of 100,000 metric tonne. The plant will create about 160 highly qualified new jobs that will mainly be filled locally.
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Sahara Petrochemical, Sipchem plan merger
JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia’s Sahara Petrochemical and Saudi International Petrochemical Co (Sipchem) have begun initial talks on a potential merger. A feasibility study will be carried out by the two companies over the next five months, with the plan then put to shareholders and the regulator for approval, said both the companies in separate statements to the Saudi stock exchange.
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GV Prasad, Chairman and CEO, Dr Reddy’s.
Dr Reddy’s, Fujifilm to terminate generic drugs partnership in Japan
MUMBAI, INDIA: Fujifilm Corporation and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd have decided to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enter into an exclusive partnership in the generic drugs business for the Japanese market and to establish a joint venture in Japan. Based on the MoU signed on 28 July 2011, the two companies had conducted detailed studies on the establishment of a joint venture for developing and manufacturing generic drugs in Japan.
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Linde to build air separation unit in La Porte, Texas
MUNICH, GERMANY: The Linde Group will invest more than $200 million to build a large, state-of-the-art air separation unit (ASU), a new gasification train and supporting equipment and facilities in La Porte, Texas, US. The new plants are scheduled to come on-stream in the course of 2015. The ASU will be the largest operated by Linde in the US and the addition of a new gasification plant will create the world’s largest natural gas based partial oxidation complex for the production of syngas products for petrochemicals.
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China to impose anti-dumping duties on perchlorethylene imports from EU, US
BEIJING, CHINA: China launched an anti-dumping probe for perchlorethylene imports from the European Union (EU) and United States, the government said, amid heightened trade tensions between the giant economies. Beijing’s commerce ministry has started investigating whether EU and US firms were selling perchlorethylene at below cost – a tactic to win market share and eliminate competitors – after complaints from domestic companies.
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Myriant, Uhde start bio-succinic acid production at Leuna, Germany
QUINCY, US: Myriant Corporation, a global renewable chemicals company, announced the successful scaling and commercial production of bio-succinic acid at ThyssenKrupp Uhde’s biotech commercial validation facility in Leuna, Germany. The production process meets targets for commercial yield and product quality.
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Sundaresan Ramnath, Managing Director, BASF Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.
BASF appoints Managing Director Sri Lanka, Sundaresan Ramnath
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA: Effective from 1 June 2013, BASF has appointed Sundaresan Ramnath as the Managing Director of BASF Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. He succeeds I S Ragavan, who has left the company. Ramnath has also been appointed as a Director on the Board of BASF Lanka (Pvt) Ltd effective 1June 2013.
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Kuraray to expand PVA films capacity at LaPorte, Indiana facilities
TOKYO, JAPAN: Kuraray Co Ltd has decided to expand its facilities in LaPorte, Indiana, the United States in response to the active demand for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films for consumer goods and industrial applications used in single-use packet for detergents, agrichemicals, solid surface and so on.
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Mexichem to acquire PolyOne’s specialty PVC resins business
TLALNEPANTLA, MEXICO: Mexichem, SAB de CV has concluded the acquisition of the specialty PVC resins business of PolyOne for an amount of $250 million. The acquired assets include two productions facilities and a resin research and development centre in the US. These assets will be integrated in Mexichem’s Chlorine-Vinyl Chain expanding and complementing the product portfolio to deliver better solutions to the customers.
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Eastman to invest $1.6 billion in Kingsport site, US
KINGSPORT, US: Eastman Chemical Company will invest in a major economic development project referred to as Project Inspire. As part of this project, over the next seven years, Eastman will invest $1.6 billion in its Kingsport site and add 300 new jobs in Tennessee. This comprehensive effort will enable the company to invest in, among other things, new growth opportunities, safety and environmental projects, increased warehouse capacity, building renovations and expansion of its corporate campus.
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Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca.
AstraZeneca to acquire Omthera Pharmaceuticals for $323 million
LONDON, UK: AstraZeneca has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Omthera Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company based in Princeton, New Jersey, focused on the development and commercialisation of new therapies for abnormal levels of lipids in the blood, referred to as dyslipidemia.
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Amgen, Astellas to provide new medicines in Japan
TOKYO, JAPAN: Amgen Inc, the world’s largest biotechnology company, entered into a long-term collaboration with Astellas Pharma Inc and will form a joint venture with the Japanese drugmaker to provide new medicines in Japan. Amgen plans to expand its business into major Asian markets in 2015 and 2016 and called its lack of presence in Japan and China “a noticeable gap.” The JV takes a major step toward filling that gap.
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ExxonMobil expands ethylene cracker in Singapore
SINGAPORE: ExxonMobil’s Singapore Chemical Plant is now producing ethylene from the facility’s second world-scale steam cracker. The expansion is integrated with the existing petrochemical plant. Over the next few weeks, the petrochemical complex, powered by a 375-megawatt cogeneration plant, will increase production at its three polyethylene plants, two polypropylene plants, a specialty metallocene elastomers unit and the expanded oxo-alcohol and aromatics units.
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Showa Denko to increase production capacity for aluminum laminated films
TOKYO, JAPAN: Showa Denko Packaging Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Showa Denko KK (SDK), has decided to increase its production capacity for aluminum laminated films used for packaging lithium ion batteries (LIBs). This is in addition to the expansion work now under way at Showa Denko Packaging’s Hikone Plant in Shiga Prefecture, which is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2013.
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Dr Albert Heuser, President, Greater China and Functions Asia Pacific, BASF.
BASF, Sinopec expand ethylene oxide production in Nanjing, China
LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY/NANJING, CHINA: BASF and Sinopec are considering the extension of their Nanjing joint venture BASF-YPC Company Limited with the expansion of existing ethylene oxide (EO) production, and a new plant for neopentylglycol (NPG). BASF-YPC will further expand its acrylic acid value chain with additional acrylic acid and butyl acrylate plants. Production is expected to commence in 2014.
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Bayer gets US FTC clearance for acquisition of Conceptus
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Antitrust clearance from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was obtained with respect to Bayer’s acquisition of Conceptus Inc. The FTC raised no objection to the transaction within the relevant waiting period under US antitrust law, which expired on 28 May 2013. The antitrust clearance marks an important step toward Bayer’s intended acquisition of Conceptus. The transaction remains conditioned upon a minimum tender of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Conceptus.
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A Schulman to cut jobs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa
AKRON, US: A Schulman Inc said it would cut an unspecified number of jobs in its Europe, the Middle East and Africa operating region, citing poor economic conditions. The company expects the restructuring to generate about $4 million in savings. The company has been cutting costs in Europe since 2010 after weak demand there hurt its performance. A Schulman also said it plans to sell a business in Brisbane, Australia.
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China imposes anti-dumping duties on pyridine imports from India, Japan
BEIJING, CHINA: China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) will levy provisional anti-dumping duties on pyridine imported from India and Japan. After a preliminary investigation that started in September 2012, the MOC determined that Indian producers had sold pyridine in China at dumping margins ranging from 24.6 per cent to 57.4 per cent, and Japanese producers sold the product at a 47.9 per cent dumping margin.
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Solvay campus in Brussels, Belgium.
Solvay to temporarily stop polymer production at Saint-Fons, France
LYON, FRANCE: Solvay Polyamide & Intermediates has decided to temporarily stop one of its three production lines on Belle-Etoile industrial platform in Saint-Fons, France. Belle-Etoile facility is dedicated to the manufacturing of the Company Nylon 6.6 polymer product range Stabamid. This decision will be maintained until better economic conditions are recovered.
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Professor Dr Aldo Belloni, Member of the Executive Board, Linde AG.
Linde to build ammonia plant in Russia
MUNICH, GERMANY: The Linde Group has formed a joint venture with chemical company JSC KuibyshevAzot to build and operate a large ammonia plant at the Togliatti site in Samara region, Russia. Both partners signed an agreement to this effect on 27 May 2013. The deal will involve a total investment volume of around €275 million. Both companies have an equal stake in the newly formed venture, Linde Nitrogen Togliatti.
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BASEL, SWITZERLAND: Syngenta launched CLARIVA
Syngenta launches seed treatment nematicide
BASEL, SWITZERLAND: Syngenta launched CLARIVA, a proprietary seed treatment nematicide based on the Pasteuria technology acquired in 2012. CLARIVA consists of naturally occurring soil bacteria with a unique, direct mode of action on nematodes – microscopic worm-shaped soil organisms, which cause significant damage to all major agricultural crops. Click here to read complete news For more chemical industry news please visit our website
Tonio Borg, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, EU.
EU bans three neonicotinoid pesticides effective from 1 December 2013
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: A restriction on the use of three pesticides belonging to the neonicotinoid family was adopted by the European Commission. These pesticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam) were identified as being harmful to Europe’s honeybee population. This restriction will enter into force as from 1 December 2013 and will be reviewed, at the latest, within two years. It targets pesticides used in the treatment of plants and cereals that are attractive to bees and pollinators. Click here to read complete news For more chemical industry news please visit our website
Patrick Pouyanne, President, Refining & Chemicals, Total.
Total invests €1 billion in modernization project at Antwerp, Belgium site
PARIS, FRANCE: Total has approved a €1 billion modernization project for its Antwerp production facilities, Total’s largest European refining and petrochemical platform, in line with the Group’s strategy of focusing its investment on its large integrated platforms to position them among the most competitive of the industry. Click here to read complete news
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