Business News: January 2021

Plant Watch LG Chem to run Wuxi cathode-materials plant on 100% renewable power December 14, 2020 — LG Chem Ltd. (Seoul, South Korea; www.lgchem.com) concluded an agreement related to the supply of 140 GWh of renewable energy for its cathode-materials plant in Wuxi, China from local wind- and solar-power company Yunfengxin Energy. This 140-GWh capacity can supply all electricity required by the Wuxi facility annually. LG Chem’s Wuxi plant is projected to operate solely using renewable energy beginning in 2021.   Mitsubishi Chemical acquires land in Louisiana for new MMA plant December 10, 2020 — Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. (Tokyo; www.m-chemical.co.jp) acquired greenfield property at a large integrated site in Geismar, La. and plans to advance its feasibility study for the design and construction of a methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant with a production capacity of 350,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr). The project is in the early engineering stage and is scheduled for final investment decision in early 2022. If approved, the plant would commence production in 2025.   Petrofac announces startup of Kuwait’s largest crude distillation unit December 10, 2020 — Petrofac Ltd. (St. Helier, U.K.; www.petrofac.com)…