Explosions and fire at petrochemical plant in eastern Thailand kill 12

(article.wn) -- Bangkok Synthetics Co Ltd (BST) and its affiliate BST Elastomers have declared force majeures on overall production in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, following a fatal explosion and fire on 5 May that damaged some of their plants at the site.

Officials say explosions and a fire at one of the world's largest petrochemical industrial estates have killed 12 people and injured more than 100 others in eastern Thailand.

The blasts Saturday forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 people living near Map Ta Phut industrial estate, Thailand's largest industrial park. The park is in Rayong province, 180 kilometres (110 miles) southeast of Bangkok.

Rayong Gov. Seni Jittakasem says authorities are investigating the cause of the explosions, which occurred when workers were cleaning a chemical tank at a Bangkok Synthetics plant, a synthetic rubber manufacturer.

BST Elastomers Company Limited produces synthetic rubbers for automobile tyres, automobile parts, shoe soles, sporting goods, and other rubber products.

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Aker Solutions starts carbon capture plant in Norway

(akersolutions) -- Aker Solutions on Monday inaugurated its carbon capture plant in Mongstad, Norway, calling it an important milestone for the company. The plant was completed mechanically in June 2011 and was followed by commissioning and start-up activities.

Aker Solutions on Monday inaugurated its carbon capture plant in Mongstad, Norway, calling it an important milestone for the company. After years of research and development, the capture technology will now be tested and verified in a large plant, according to the company.

The main objectives are to verify operational parameters and to increase the technical and economical knowledge regarding operation of an industrial-scale plant.

The facility includes a new amine plant, which has a capture capacity of about 80,000 tpy.
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Styrene import volumes decreased year on year in March 2012 in China

(chemmonitor) -- The Chinese styrene market witnessed a fall in March. The import mitigated by about 20,679 tonnes month on month.

Imported volumes of the product reached only 324,097 tonnes, if compared with 344,776 tonnes through February 2012.

However, the import volumes in March 2011 were significantly higher than in the existing year. The figure was 342,816 tonnes.
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Russian Polyef to enhance its PET capacity

(chemmonitor) -- Polyef, a Russia-based company, decided to initiate a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) capacity expansion project.

The facility has a rated capacity of 0.12 million tonnes per year. The manufacturer intends to raise its output by 0.09 million tonnes per year.

Polyef Group was founded in 2006. The company produces and sales polyester fiber, clothing, furniture and silicon syntepon.
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Exxon restarts part of Louisiana pipeline after spill

(hydrocarbonprocessing) -- ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. has restarted part of its North Line oil pipeline in Louisiana, which was shut down April 28 because of a leak. The stretch of North Line affected by the leak, northwest of Baton Rouge, remained shut, according to the company.

ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. has restarted part of its North Line oil pipeline in Louisiana, which was shut down April 28 because of a leak.

"Over the weekend, ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. restarted the portion of the North Line crude pipeline which runs from St. James, Louisiana, to Anchorage, Louisiana," Claire Hassett told. The stretch of North Line affected by the leak, northwest of Baton Rouge, remained shut.

ExxonMobile Pipeline is a unit of ExxonMobil.
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