FOCUS ON
world’s largest methanol manufacturing complex
globally.
Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 2-15
Feb 2018, 293 (5), 7 (Website: http://www.icis.
com) ã Reed Business Information Limited
2018.
Chandra Asri begins construction on
new PE facility in Indonesia
Chandra Asri has started construction on a new
polyethylene (PE) facility in Cilegon, Bantan,
Indonesia. The 400,000 tonnes/y swing PE plant
will include the production of high-density PE,
linear low-density PE (LLDPE) and metallocene
LLDPE. Completion is expected by end-2019
and operations are planned to begin in early
2020. The new PE facility, based on Univation’s
XCAT metallocene PE technology, will be
integrated into Chandra Asri’s existing naphtha
cracker complex, where it operates a 336,000
tonnes/y two-train PE plant. In Sep 2017, Toyo
Engineering won the engineering, procurement
and construction contract for the project.
Original Source: PetroChemical News, 12 Feb
2018, 56 (7), 1 (Website: http://www.
petrochemical-news.com) ã William F. Bland
Co. 2018.
Nippon Shokubai expansion of
production capacity for performance
chemicals
Nippon Shokubai CO LTD expands its production
capacity for functional monomer “VEEA”, and
functional polymers “EPOCROS” and “EPOMIN”
to meet the strong growth in global demand.
Original Source: Eurasian Chemical Market, 25
Jan 2018, (Website: http://www.chemmarket.
info/en/) ã Eurasian chemical market 2005-
2018.
KBR awarded contract from
Indorama Eleme for second
ammonia unit at Port Harcourt
KBR has received a contract from Indorama
Eleme Fertilizer & Chemicals and Toyo
Engineering for a second ammonia plant (Train
2), which is planned for Indorama’s Port Harcourt
site in Nigeria. Under the terms of the contract,
KBR will provide technology licensing, basic
engineering design, proprietary equipment and
catalyst for Train 2. No other details were
available.
Original Source: PetroChemical News, 29 Jan
2018, 56 (5), 1 (Website: http://www.
petrochemical-news.com) ã William F. Bland
Co. 2018.
The HR-GDP unit of BASF Petronas
in use in Malaysia
On 12 Jan 2018, BASF Petronas Chemicals,
which is 60% owned by BASF and 40% by
6 April 2018
CATALYSTS
Petronas Chemicals, declared the successful
commissioning of the highly reactive
polyisobutene (HR-PIB) facility at its site in
Gebeng, Malaysia. Construction works at the
50,000 tonnes/y unit commenced in spring-2016.
The project is the first of its kind in the Southeast
Asian region. The unit’s output will be intended
for local market. The new unit is part of BASF
Petronas Chemicals’ projects with a global
commitment of around $500 M.
Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 22
Jan 2018, (0829), (Website: http://www.
industrie.com/chimie) ã ETAI Information
2018.
Praxair signs new long-term
contract with BASF in the US Gulf
Coast
Praxair Inc, a leading global industrial gas
company, and BASF signed a long-term
agreement for Praxair to design, build, own, and
operate a new syngas processing plant at
BASF’s facility in Geismar, LA, US. The new
plant, which will start up in 2020, will produce
high-purity carbon monoxide and hydrogen from
a stream of crude synthesis gas. Coupled with
an earlier investment that Praxair announced in
Apr 2016, this will bring the company’s total new
investment in the Geismar area to approximately
$250 M. These investments, including pipeline
expansions, are examples of Praxair’s ongoing
commitment to supporting growing customer
demand and further increasing supply reliability
in the Mississippi River chemical corridor.
Original Source: Praxair, 25 Oct 2017,
(Website: http://www.praxair.com/) ã Praxair
Technology Inc 2017.
Bangchak eyes bio-based plan
For 2018-2022, Thailand-based Bangchak
Corporation Plc (BCP) will invest Baht 37 bn to
build a bio-based industrial estate at the Eastern
Economic Corridor (EEC) in Chachoengsao. The
project will be constructed near a manufacturing
plant for feedstock of biodiesel and ethanol,
which will be converted into raw material for
cosmetics, skincare items, biodegradable
materials, pharmaceuticals and food
supplements. BCP will invest in the project
through BBGI Co, its joint venture with Khon
Kaen Sugar Industry Plc (KSI). BBGI runs an
ethanol manufacturing plant in Chachoengsao
and owns some land that is ideal for the bio-
based industrial estate. The partners are
studying the feasibility of the project, which is
projected to be completed within two years. BCP
aims to raise its combined biodiesel and ethanol
capacity from 1.7 M L/d to 2 M L/d before
launching the construction works for the new
project. Most of the investment for the project will
come from the initial public offering (IPO) of
BBGI and its listing on the Stock Exchange of
Thailand in 2H 2018. BBGI expects to float
around 30% of its shares in the IPO. The bio-
based project is part of the capital investment
budget of BCP worth Baht 113 bn for the 2018-
2022 period. The company will allot Baht 37 bn,
or around 33% of the budget, for the expansion
of renewable power capacity from the current
600 megawatts (MW) to 800 MW, as ran by
offshoot BCPG Plc. The capacity expansion of
BCPG comprises of a domestic solar rooftop
project, a smart power distribution system and
renewable power projects abroad. A further Baht
23 bn, or 20% of the budget, will be allocated
for the expansion of oil refining capacity from the
current 120,000 barrels/d to 133,000-140,000
barrels/d at the refinery unit in Phra Khanong
district, Bangkok. With the project, higher-value
products such as jet fuel and diesel fuel will be
manufactured by setting up continuous catalyst
regeneration. After a maintenance shutdown in
Apr-Jun 2017, the refinery’s operating rate is
projected to increase from 111,000 barrels/d in
2017 to an average of 102,000 barrels/d in 2018.
Revenue of BCP is expected to surpass Baht
200 bn in 2018, exceeding its earlier estimate of
Baht 180 bn.
Original Source: Bangkok Post, 2 Feb 2018,
(Website: http://www.bangkokpost.com) ã The
Post Publishing PCL 2018.
NEW
TECHNOLOGY
Popular coupling could turn into
runaway reaction
Scientists at Dow Agrosciences have carried out
a systematic assessment of the Suzuki-Miyaura
cross-coupling reaction in the presence of
several solvents, catalysts and bases to better
understand the exothermic behaviour. According
to the study, the reaction was greatly influenced
by palladium catalysis. The behaviour was also
affected by the selection of solvent, aryl
electrophile, catalyst, vinyl boron and base.
Original Source: Chemical and Engineering
News, 12 Feb 2018, 96 (7), 7 (Website: http://
cen.acs.org/index.html) ã American Chemical
Society 2018.
Carbios develops bio-recycling
technology in 5-year project
France-based Carbios SA has finished the last
important stage of its five-year s22 M Thanaplast
project. The Carbios-led project intends to
develop new industrial methods to enhance the
biopolymers manufacturing and recycling. Sixty
scientists have participated in the project.
Carbios has synthesized PET oligomers
produced from terephthalic acid via its bio-
recycling method of PET plastic bottles. Virgin
PET was successfully manufactured from
enzymatic hydrolysis-treated post-consumer PET
plastic bottles. Additionally, Carbios has
established Carbiolice (a joint venture with the
SPI funds run by Bpifrance and Limagrain
Cereales Ingredients), which intends to advance
the industrialization of its biodegradation method.
Original Source: European Plastics News, 29
Jan 2018, (Website: http://www.
europeanplasticsnews.com) ã Crain
Communications Inc 2018.