The blaze at Shell's refinery at Bukom Island in Singapore is ongoing

(ICIS) -- The ongoing blaze at Shell's refinery at Bukom Island in Singapore surged at midday on Thursday as explosions were heard at the site, but the fire is contained within a specific area. ⌠The source of the fire is remnant light fuel components within the specific area where the fire originated. The smoke observed is from hydrocarbons that are not fully combusted, Shell said.


The fire, which has been raging at Shell's Bukom manufacturing site since Wednesday afternoon, involves petroleum products from pipes in the tank farm at the manufacturing facility at Bukom, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).


The SCDF said that fire fighting operations are still ongoing at the site, adding that two of its fire engines deployed at the site have been badly damaged. Water jets were being used to carry out cooling operations at the Bukom site, it said.


Shell had shut some of the production facilities located in Bukom, including a hydrocracking unit that makes diesel, as a safety precaution. The company's integrated complex at Bukom has a crude distillation capacity of 500,000 bbl/day. It is Shell's largest refinery in the world in terms of crude distillation capacity. Two of the three CDUs at the site have been shut down, according to market sources.


MRC

New POM plant in Frankfurt is officially inaugurated

(Plasteurope) -- After dispelling rumours about alleged delays in the start-up of its new and improved 140,000 t/y polyoxymethylene (POM) plant in the Industrial Park Hochst, in Frankfurt (Germany). The cornerstone for the plant - which Ticona says is the world's largest POM facility - was first laid in 2008. The faciliy was moved from its erstwhile location following the expansion of Frankfurt airport.


MRC

The Indian petrochemical industry to grow by 11% per annum by 2017

(IANS) -- With India's petrochemical industry poised to grow by 11 percent annually by 2017, the central government was in the process of reviewing the policy that guides the sector, an official said Wednesday. ⌠The Indian petrochemical industry is projected to grow by 11 percent per annum by 2017. The sector, currently accounting for 13 percent of the national exports and 8 percent of its imports, is currently in an expansion mode, said Chemicals and Petrochemicals Secretary K. Jose Cyriac.


The government is in the process of reviewing the policy for promotion of Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIR) to bring it in sync with the ground realities, Cyriac said.


The rollback of the tariff and non-tariff barriers incorporated as a safeguard against the after-effects of the 2008 global meltdown has also started, said Cyriac speaking at an event organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce here.


West Bengal Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee said the government was committed to formulating more investor-friendly policies for fostering the growth of the industry in the state.


MRC

US companies to establish JV projects to recycle waste into plastic and oil

(Plastemart) -- Green EnviroTech Holdings Corp. has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with 5 Stone Green Capital, LLC (5 Stone), a fund manager based in New York. Under the LOI, both parties agree to collaborate to establish joint venture projects in recycling waste into plastic and oil within the United States and internationally, the initial focus being in the United States. The initial project identified for collaboration under the LOI is the development of a plant in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, that is anticipated to require USD 5 million in the form of convertible debt financing, or alternative financing that will acquire the building or equipment required for the plant. Under the LOI, 5 Stone has a right of first offer to provide financing on subsequent GETH projects where shredder residue will be consumed, plus the right to participate in any future financing of projects for shredder residue recycling for up to 20% of the total financing.


MRC

IOC undertakes feasibility studies for PP and phenol plants in West Bengal

(Plastemart) -- Indian Oil Corporation Ltd is undertaking feasibility studies for production of polypropylene and phenol in the state of West Bengal. Post feasibility studies, an investment outlay of Rs 3500 crore has been earmarked for the 60000 tpa PP project, likely to be sited at Paradip where a cracker is under construction and will be commissioned in 2012-13. A feasibility study is to be undertaken for a 250 KTa phenol unit in West Bengal for which he site has not been identified.


MRC