Sibur commenced startup operations at second phase of the EPS complex

(sibur) -- Construction and installation of the second phase for the production of AlphaporTM expandable polystyrene has been completed, and startup operations have commenced.

Trial manufacture of expandable polystyrene is planned to begin in spring 2012. The second phase is expected to be able to produce 50,000 tonnes a year by the summer of 2012.
The official startup of the first stage of production of 50,000 tonnes per year of expandable polystyrene took place at the end of 2010. During 2011 production was based on projected capacity and sales volume. Total projected production capacity of expandable polystyrene at SIBUR's Perm site after completion of the second stage of the complex will reach 100,000 tonnes per year.


AlphaporTM expandable polystyrene is produced using the technology of the Austro-Norwegian Company Sunpor. The product is employed in a wide variety of uses, including energy-efficient building insulation, permanent shuttering, and packaging for household appliances and food products. The major world markets for construction-grade polystyrene foam are the USA and Europe (France, Italy, Germany and Poland).

All grades of AlphaporTM expandable polystyrene comply with strict European standards for fire safety, grain-size distribution, density and stress-strain properties. The grades of expandable polystyrene used in the production of building insulation are required to contain fire-retardant antipyrenes.



MRC

OAO Mogilevkhimvolokno (Mogilev Chemical Fibre Plant) is poised to invest
over $60 million in a project to build a facility producing food-quality PET, Belneftekhim concern
told Prime-TASS.
Simultaneously, Mogilevkhimvolokno will close down a facility which uses an obsolete technology to produce
PET from dimethyl terephthalate.
The PET project is on Mogilevkhimvolokno's technological upgrade programme for 2011-2015, which spans 5
years and is worth around 150 million euros.
Mogilevkhimvolokno OJSC is one of Europe's leading producers of polyester fibres and threads and the only
CIS manufacturer of polyethylene terephthalate. It was established in 1968 and transformed into a joint-stock company in 2002. Mogilevkhimvolokno exports 65% of its chemical products to 30 states of the world.

(orlen) -- Poland's PKN ORLEN signed an agreement with Lekkerland Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Europaallee 57, 50226 Frechen, Germany (⌠Lekkerland Deutschland). On the base of the agreement Lekkerland Deutschland will be delivering to gas stations of ORLEN Deutschland goods and services from the non-fuel categories in the period of 1 February 2012 until 31 January 2015.

Estimated net value of the agreement in the whole contractual period amounts to EUR 657 million, i.e. PLN 2 747 m based on EUR/PLN average exchange rate as of 7 February 2012, stated by the National Bank of Poland.

In accordance with the ⌠Regulation of the Minister of Finance dated 19 February 2009 on current and periodic information to be published by issuers of securities and on the conditions under which such information may be recognized as being equivalent to information required by the regulations of law of a state which is not a member state the abovementioned agreement constitutes a ⌠significant agreement due to the fact that its value exceeds 10% of PKN ORLEN's equity.

MRC

(process-worldwide) --The Shaw Group announced it has been awarded a contract to provide the technology license and process design package for the revamp of a residue fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) unit for Star Petroleum Refining Company in Map Ta Phut, Thailand. The design will upgrade the 40,800 barrels per day RFCC unit by incorporating the latest advances in reactor system technology.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana/USA - ⌠Shaw was the original licensor of this RFCC unit, which first started-up in 1996, said James Glass, president of Shaw's Energy & Chemicals Group. ⌠We are now upgrading the unit to incorporate the latest technology features and improve performance and profitability.

Shaw jointly developed the proprietary RFCCU technology through an alliance with Axens and Total that began in the early 1990s. To date, Shaw and Axens have licensed 51 grassroots units and performed more than 200 revamp projects. The undisclosed value of the contract was included in Shaw's Energy & Chemicals segment's backlog of unfilled orders in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012.

MRC

(plastech) -- ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha (EMYK) announced that Japan Butyl Co. Ltd. (JBC) will expand the capacity of its halobutyl rubber manufacturing plant at Kashima to 80,000 tons per year. The expansion is planned to be completed in 2012.

⌠Demand for halobutyl rubber is expected to grow at about six percent per year, mainly in the Asia Pacific region, said John Lyon, vice president, butyl polymers, ExxonMobil Chemical Company. ⌠The expansion by our affiliate's joint venture at Kashima will add 10,000 tons per year of capacity in the region. This aligns with ExxonMobil Chemical's long-term commitment to meet industry demand.
This is the second capacity expansion in five years at the Kashima halobutyl rubber plant.

The JBC butyl polymers manufacturing plant at Kawasaki also completed a major expansion in 2010 to bring its total capacity to 98,000 tons per year. That expansion incorporated ExxonMobil proprietary technology that enables significant energy savings.

Lyon adds, ⌠Auto production is growing at a rapid pace in Asia, especially in China. This has led to increased tire sales for new cars and trucks as well as the sale of replacement tires as these vehicles age. Halobutyl rubber holds air in tubeless radial tires for both passenger cars and heavy duty trucks.
ExxonMobil Chemical has more than doubled its global halobutyl rubber capacity since 1995. The company is a world leader in synthetic rubber technology, products and customer support.

Japan Butyl Co., Ltd., a butyl rubber manufacturing company, is a joint venture of ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha and JSR Corporation. The company serves as a supply base for butyl rubber primarily in Asia. ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha holds a 50 percent stake in Japan Butyl Co., Ltd.
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