Petrovietnam to launch prospective drilling in Uzbekistan

(Trend) -- The Vietnamese Petrovietnam Exploration & Production (PVEP) will begin drilling the first exploratory well on the Kosorsky investment unit in Uzbekistan's Ustyurt region in mid-2012, the National Holding Company (NHC) "Uzbekneftegaz" said.


The Vietnamese company is currently conducting a seismic survey on the Kosorsky unit. Results of field processing of the first seismic data showed high perspective for the unit, especially the Paleozoic sediments.


The information was provided at the Uzbekneftegaz leadership talks held last week with the Vietnamese government delegation, led by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Minister Le Zan Vin.


The sides appreciated the course of geological work in the Kosorsky investment unit, conducted as a joint project with PVEP.


Preparations for signing an agreement between "Uzbekneftegaz" and the Vietnamese company, under the investment project "Joint study of Paleozoic sediments in some parts of the Bukhara-Khiva region," were also discussed.


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Southwest Venture Plastics to add a third injection molding cell

(PlasticsToday) -- Southwest Venture Plastics Inc. (El Paso, Texas) is adding a third injection molding cell to its full-service, ISO/TS-16949 certified facility. The custom thermoplastic injection molder, which opened its El Paso facility five years ago to serve a growing customer base in the area, stated that the new cell would help it meet the needs of long-term customers, new customers, and expansions within the marketplaces its serve. The company anticipates its new capacity to be fully online during the fourth quarter of 2011.


The El Paso subsidiary of Venture Plastics, which was founded and is headquartered in Ohio, now has injection molding machines ranging in clamp tonnage from 150 to 720 tons, with tooling and prototyping capabilities, in addition to finishing, decorating, and assembly functions, among others.


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BPCL mulls investment in Mozambique LNG project and petrochemical complex

(Plastemart) -- India's state-owned BPCL plans to invest USD 400 mln for a 10% stake in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Mozambique, as well as invest USD 1.3 bln in a greenfield petrochemicals complex, adjacent to its Kochi refinery.


BPCL has earmarked a fourth of its Rs 40,000 crore capital expenditure for upstream projects. Out of this most will be invested for developing the offshore Rovuma Basin gas field in Mozambique. BPCL's diversification strategy comprises setting up a USD 1.3 bln petrochemicals complex in Kochi for which talks are underway with at least four international majors.


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Chen Bao-lang named chair of Formosa Petrochemical

(The China Post) -- Chen Bao-lang, former chairman of Kuokuang Petrochemical Technology Company, is expected to take over as Formosa Petrochemical Corp. (FPC) chairman Sept. 15, after the FPC's core leadership resigned in July, FPC said yesterday. The proposal is expected to be adopted officially at an FPC board meeting Sept. 15 and Chen will take up the post immediately, the company said. In order to avoid a conflict of interest, Chen said, he will resign as a member of a special government committee assigned to oversee safety at an FPC petrochemical complex in Mailiao, Yunlin County.


The committee, formed under the Industrial Development Bureau ofthe Ministry of Economic Affairs, plans to convene a meeting around Sept. 20 to examine the suspension of operations at the plants.


Wilfred Wang and Su Chi-yi stepped down as FPC chairman and president, respectively, in late July after the seventh blaze in a year broke out on July 30 at an oil refinery in Mailiao owned by the Formosa Plastics Group.


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Siam Cement to buy 30 percent of Indonesia's Chandra Asri Petrochemical

(Reuters) - Thailand's Siam Cement Pcl agreed to buy 30 percent of Indonesia's Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk (CAP) for USD 442 million in a deal mainly with Singapore state investor Temasek that signals growing competition for Southeast Asian petrochemical assets.


The acquisitive Thai company's biggest overseas investment gives it a foothold in the fast-growing petrochemical industry of Southeast Asia's biggest economy, but it also hints at more deals to come as cash-rich Thai companies seek growth offshore and regional competition heats up.


Under terms announced on Tuesday, Siam Cement will buy 22.9 percent from a unit of Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd , and the rest from PT Barito Pacific Tbk , the holding company of Indonesian tycoon Prajogo Pangestu.


The deal highlights the growing allure of the vast and often-untapped resources of Indonesia, where M&A volume has more than doubled to USD 11.6 billion this year from a year earlier.


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