Since the turn of the new millennium, considerable changes have been taking place in the methanol sector. About ten years ago, methanol plans in the U.S. were being shuttered, while new ones, with much larger capacity — the so-called mega-methanol…
The word “sustainability” is used a lot, but for many businesses and industries it is increasingly becoming a challenge that must be taken seriously. As customers, large retailers and end-users continue to demand sustainable practices, packaging and products from their…
Plant Watch Ineos licenses HDPE process technology in Turkmenistan June 10, 2014 — Ineos Technologies (Rolle, Switzerland; www.ineos.com) has licensed its Innovene S process technology for the Turkmengas petrochemical complex in the Balkan Region of Turkmenistan. The new complex will…
Ineos (www.ineos.com) will acquire BASF SE’s (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) 50% share in Styrolution, a joint venture between the companies. The purchase price to be paid by Ineos amounts to €1.1 billion. A call option in favor of Ineos to buy…
Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) has signed a definitive agreement with Ineos to create a strong player in chlorovinyls, to be named Inovyn. The joint venture (JV) is expected to be effective by year-end following the divestments required by the…
Outotec Oyj (Espoo, Finland; www.outotec.com) has agreed with Nyrstar, a global integrated mining and metals company, to provide Outotec Ausmelt technology to the Port Pirie redevelopment in South Australia. Outotec will provide a technology licence, engineering, proprietary equipment and advisory…
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Pasadena, Calif.; www.jacobs.com) says that it was awarded a contract to support Ashta Chemicals Inc. in making significant upgrades to its chlorine and potassium-based chemicals plant located in Ashtabula, Ohio. Company officials did not disclose the…
Foster Wheeler AG (Zug, Switzerland; www.fwc.com) says today that a subsidiary of its Global Engineering and Construction Group has been awarded a contract by Glencore Oil Projects AG for the engineering and material supply of a steam reformer heater for…
Oxea (Oberhausen, Germany; www.oxea-chemicals.com) says that its specialty esters plant in Nanjing, China, is now mechanically complete. After a construction period of slightly more than fifteen months the new state-of-the-art plant is currently in the commissioning and startup phase. The…
ExxonMobil Chemical Co. (Houston; www.exxonmobile.com) says that it has started construction of a multi-billion dollar ethane cracker at its Baytown, Tex., complex and associated premium product facilities in nearby Mont Belvieu. This project, and major investments ExxonMobil has made to…