Solvay to increase investments in USA and China

LONDON (ICIS) -- Solvay will invest $4m (┬3.1m) in a minority stake in Polyera Corporation, a materials developer from the printed electronics market based in Skokie, in the US state of Illinois, the Belgium-based chemicals group said on Tuesday.

The investment, in series-B financing for the US firm, complements similar investments Solvay has made in the emerging field of printed electronics, it said. Printed electronics is the emerging industry that relies on printing technologies to manufacture thin, lightweight and flexible devise substrates.

On 5 September, Solvay said that it would invest further in chemicals for electronics in China by building an electronic-grade hydrogen fluoride plant for its Lansol Fluorchem joint venture with a subsidiary of Sinochem Lantian.
Commercial products from the plant would be available later this year. Lansol's chemicals are used particularly for the production of photovoltaic cells.

MRC

(plastemart) -- Thai Plastic and Chemicals expects to restart plans for expansion of its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant at Map Ta Phut, allowing it to run production lines in November. The plant would have full capacity of 50,000 tons. The PVC plant, suspension on which has been lifted, was among 76 projects suspended a year ago because of environmental and health concerns at the estate.

A separate vinyl chloride monomer expansion was deemed to fall into the category of environmentally harmful activities by the court and had its licence withdrawn. The company has coordinated with government authorities to achieve full compliance with laws and regulations at the VCM plant, hoping to get a licence by mid-2011.

MRC

(plastemart) -- State-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) is eager to set up a multi-billion dollar petrochemical plant in Oman. IOC seeks a commitment from Oman on supply of rich-gas (natural gas containing C2/C3 - ethane, propane, compounds). GAIL and Petronet LNG- India's largest importer of liquefied natural gas, have expressed interest in buying LNG from Oman on long-term contract. Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and IOC are keen to join oil and gas exploration and production business in the Gulf nation.

At the 6th Indo-Oman Joint Commission Meeting leaders of the countries expressed satisfaction at their growing ties in the hydrocarbon sector. The possibility of enhancing equity of Oman Oil company in the Bina-Oman Refineries Ltd. from the current 2% to 26% has been discussed.

MRC

(prw) -- British degradable plastics company Symphony Environmental Technologies said it was ⌠delighted with its first half results.

For the six months to 30 June 2010, pre-tax profit was GBP 0.42m, compared with GBP 0.40m in the first half of 2009. Excluding non-recurring items meant underlying pre-tax profit increased by 33% from GBP 0.40m in the first half of 2009 to GBP 0.53m in the first half of 2010. Revenue increased 6% over the same period to GBP 3.90m.

MRC

(Reuters) -- Thailand's largest olefins maker-PTT Chemical Pcl, expects to operate its new 1 mln ton ethylene unit at 100% in 2010, from the current 50%. This is subject to the start up of the company's sixth gas separation plant of PTT, which is the main feedstock supply to the cracker, in Q4-2010. Chances of a fourth quarter start up seem bright after a ruling allowed lifted suspension of the gas separation plant, after work on it was suspended a year ago by a court ruling in an environmental dispute at Map Ta Phut.

MRC