Bp plc (London, U.K.) has successfully completed an autonomous vehicle trial at its Lingen refinery in Germany, working with Oxbotica, a global leader in autonomous vehicle software. The trial was a world-first in the energy sector and the latest addition to the bp ventures technology portfolio. »

Covestro AG (Leverkusen, Germany) is planning a new production facility for polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) at the Covestro Integrated Site in Shanghai, China (CISS) to address the rising demand for environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives in the Asia-Pacific region. A further line for polyester resins, from which PUDs are produced, is also to be built there. »

Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany) and BioNTech are further expanding their strategic partnership. Merck, in close collaboration with BioNTech, will significantly accelerate the supply of urgently needed lipids and increase the amount of lipid delivery towards the end of 2021. The lipids will be used for the production of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine (BNT162b2). »
 

Air Liquide (Paris) and BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany) have signed a new long-term contract for the supply of oxygen and nitrogen to one of BASF’s largest European sites, located in Schwarzheide, Germany. Air Liquide will invest around 40 million euros in the construction of an Air Separation Unit (ASU) at this flagship site for the production of battery materials. »

Eastman Chemical Co. (Kingsport, Tenn.; www.eastman.com) announced the recent startup of its new dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) unit at its Nanjing, China site. The addition will significantly increase the company’s DMAE capacity, support additional sales in Asia, and further strengthen Eastman’s global leadership in alkyl alkanolamines like DMAE. »
 

An international private-equity consortium consisting of BroadPeak Global LP, Asia Green Fund (AGF) and The Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (Dussur) announced that they have signed a definitive agreement whereby the Group will purchase the Clean Technologies business of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. for $510 million in cash. »