Sabic presents new Polymer Catalysis

(Sabic) -- Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) presented a check on last Tuesday (May 18), for US$1 million to endow a special Chair in Polymer Catalysis at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), which is based in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Ubaid, Executive Vice President, Technology and Innovation, presented the check to KAUST on behalf of SABIC as further support for ongoing commitments by both parties to leverage their respective strengths to promote science and research that will benefit both parties, Saudi Arabia, the region and the world.

Catalysis research belongs to the Material Science and Engineering focus area within KAUST. By endowing the chair, SABIC seeks to create a truly world-class center of excellence in polymer catalysis based on a synergistic collaboration between the newly endowed KAUST chair and SABIC's own well-established expertise in catalyst development.

MRCMRC Reference

Sabic. The share in the Russian market in 2008:
PE - 0.2%;
PP - 0.4%;
PS - 0.2%.

Annual sales growth in Russia over the last 5 years:
PE - 33%;
PP - 62%.

(Interfax) -- LUKOIL's investments into the program of modernization and reconstruction of refineries formed $ 827 million in 2009 comparing with $ 1.023 billion in 2008.

These include investment in upgrading Lukoil refinery in Russia - total $ 519 million (in 2008 - $ 688 million), overseas - $ 308 million ($ 335 million in 2008).

MRC

(Plastics Today) -- Still in ongoing discussions with creditors to reach a consensual Chapter 11 plan of reorganization, Chemtura said it is finalizing an agreement with a group of bondholders on confidentiality terms that will allow its largest bondholders to engage in direct negotiations with Chemtura.

Chemtura said expects the plan to repay creditors with cash or common stock in a reorganized, publicly traded company. Chemtura CEO Craig Rogerson, said the company's intent is to emerge from Chapter 11 as quickly and efficiently as possible. "We believe that filing a plan of reorganization with the support of all of our major constituencies is the best way to accomplish this goal," Rogerson said.

In previously announced reorganization activities, Chemtura listed its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) additives business as a discontinued operation saying it will not have "significant continued involvement in the operations of the disposed business."

MRC

UST-LUGA (SIBUR) -- Construction work has been started in the territory of Ust-Luga merchant seaport under the construction project of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transshipment complex.

The new export terminal will be the largest Russian LPG transshipment terminal. Its favorable geographic position will enable SIBUR to transport its products to previously inaccessible markets of North-West Europe.

Execution of numerous projects for substantial increase of associated petroleum gas processing volumes in Russia leads to increase in volumes of liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) and stable natural gasoline (SNG) produced therefrom. SIBUR's strategic benchmark is reprocessing of this gas chemical feedstock in the territory of Russia to final HPV polymers: polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polystyrene. To this effect, the Company is executing large-scale projects for construction of appropriate petrochemical complexes in Tyumen Oblast, Nizhniy Novgorod Oblast, and other regions.

MRCMRC Reference

Sibur Holding is the largest Russian petrochemical group.

Shareholders:
Gazprombank (70% minus 1 share);
Gazfond (25% plus 1 share);
5% reserved for option program.

The share in the Russian market in 2008:

polyethylene - 11.1%;

polypropylene - 16% (including PP-random - 11.2%);
ABS - 5.2%;
PVC - 8.1%.

MOSCOW (MRC) - In Q1 2010 investments into PVC formed USD7,4 mln., which is 30% less than same period last year - according to MRC Annual reports.

This year converters were investing more selectively. By Q1 2010 results the investments were towards three processing technologies: profile extrusion, injection molding and compounding.

Narodniy Plastik (mixing stations, extrusion lines) became a leading investor with USD2,7 mln. of investments.

In Q1 2010 Politech-Pipe became the second leading investor with over USD1,5 mln. into thermoplastic machines for PE, PP and PVC pipe fittings.

Profine-Rus, Vintek, Plastic, Veka Rus, Dielectric cable systems, Dekkennink Rus should also be mentioned among profile producers who made 19% of all the investments in January-March 2010.

MRC

For more detailed information about investments into equipment please refer to MRC Annual reports.