BASF and machine manufacturer Arburg to present multi-faceted subject of energy efficiency

(BASF) -- In a special show at the Fakuma 2011, material producer BASF and machine manufacturer Arburg will present the multi-faceted subject of energy efficiency. Visitors to the East Foyer will be shown measures for increasing energy efficiency in injection molding throughout the entire value-added chain and beyond, thereby reducing unit costs. Using a specially-optimised plastic and the appropriate machine technology, the two companies will demonstrate how new developments can work together to save energy.


On an exhibition area of 100 square metres, the entire injection molding process will be analysed in detail in terms of energy-efficiency: from product design to production planning. As a clear practical example, comparative production with two different plastics will show how energy efficiency can be enhanced by the right choice of material. For this purpose, an electric Arburg Allrounder 370 E will produce test parts from a standard plastic and from a material that was specially improved in terms of its flow characteristics.


The ⌠energy measurement function of the Selogica machine control system registers the energy requirement of the relevant process. The comparison makes clear how an energy-optimised machine, together with a plastic with improved flow characteristics, can contribute to significant energy savings in the injection molding process. Depending on the size of the components and their geometry, the lower processing temperatures and shorter cycle times result in greater energy efficiency, thus reducing unit costs.


MRC

Iraq approved a contract with South Korea's Kogas to develop the Akkas gas field

(Trend) -- Iraq 's cabinet approved a contract with South Korea's Kogas on Tuesday to develop the Akkas gas field in western Anbar province, an oil ministry source said. Iraq awarded a development contract for Akkas, the country's largest gas field, to Kogas and KazMunaiGas in a bidding round last year, Trade Arabiya reported citing Reuters. State-run Kogas announced in May it had raised its stake in Akkas to 100 per cent after KazMunaiGas pulled out.


In June, Kogas chief executive Choo Kang-soo said three Asian nations had asked Kogas to sell them a stake in the field, which has estimated reserves of 5.6 trillion cubic feet.


In April, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visited Seoul and agreed for South Korea to have the priority right to at least 250,000 barrels a day of crude oil during any emergency that upsets the global supply-and-demand balance, equivalent to about 10% of South Korean daily crude imports.


MRC

Rosneft may get up to 30 percent in ExxonMobil's projects

(RIA Novosti) -- Russia's top oil producer Rosneft may get up to 30 percent in ExxonMobil's projects as part of a USD 3.2 billion agreement signed in August, Glenn Waller, head of Exxon Mobil Russia, said on Tuesday. Rosneft had to decide on its share in Exxon Mobil's projects at the beginning of 2012, Waller told journalists. Igor Sechin, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of energy, has said Rosneft would get a share in no less than six of Exxon Mobil's projects in the U.S.


The deal between Rosneft and Exxon is aimed at exploring the East Prinovozemelsky Blocks 1, 2 and 3 in the Kara Sea in the Russian Arctic and the Tuapse License Block in the Black Sea. The deal also presupposed Rosneft's participation in Exxon Mobil's turf in the United States, particularly the Gulf of Mexico and Texas, as well as in third countries.


The pact gives Exxon, which already works with Rosneft on the Sakhalin-1 offshore project in Russia's Far East, access to substantial reserves in Russia, the world's top oil producer, while Rosneft, which was in search of a partner to provide it with shelf technologies it lacks.


MRC

BP put on hold a key hi-tech project worth 6.7 million pounds in Skolkovo

(RIA Novosti) -- British oil major BP has put on hold a key hi-tech project worth 6.7 million pounds (USD 8 million) in Skolkovo near Moscow over fears that it may be accused of breaching a shareholder agreement with its Russian venture TNK-BP, Kommersant business paper reported on Wednesday.


In spring, the AAR consortium, which represents BP's Russian partners in TNK-BP blocked a USD 16 billion share swap and Arctic shelf development deal between the British oil giant and Russia's top oil producer Rosneft, saying the pact broke TNK-BP's 2008 shareholder agreement, under which all energy projects must be offered to TNK-BP first.


BP was expected to finance the Skolkovo project on a parity basis with the Skolkovo fund, headed by TNK-BP co-owner and billionaire shareholder Viktor Vekselberg, but at the last moment refused to sign the deal. The firm cited the same shareholder agreement with TNK-BP, an instrument previously used by the joint venture's Russian shareholders to block BP's deal with Rosneft, the paper said.


A source close to Skolkovo said BP's behavior was irrational because the British oil major's investment in the hi-tech R&D project was not the subject of the TNK-BP shareholder agreement.


MRC

Celanese opened POM production facility in Germany

(Plastemart) -- Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company and a global leader in high performance engineering plastics, announced the opening of its state-of-the art polyoxymethylene (POM) production facility in Frankfurt Hoechst Industrial Park, Germany. With a nameplate capacity of 140 KTa, Celanese's new POM plant will be the world's largest and strengthens the company's Ticona engineering polymers business, including its global operations and advanced technical capabilities. The new manufacturing facility is expected to meet the increased global demand for innovative specialty solutions in polymer-based products.


MRC