Russian Premier resolves ethylene conflict in Bashkortostan

(plastemart) -- Russian petrochemical companies Salavatnefteorgsintez and Kaustik will have to resolve their dispute over ethylene prices within two months, Russian Government Head V. V. Putin said. In the interim Kaustik will receive ethylene at 19,000-19,500 rubles (US$633-650) per ton until the price row is settled. Kaustik will be supplied 4,500 tons of ethylene per month.

Kaustik was compelled to get production to a halt last month when Salavatnefteorgsintez stopped supplying it ethylene. Kaustik accused its supplier of imposing disadvantageous terms for raw material supplies, which the supplier refuted as it was offering its products at market prices, currently 24,500 rubles per ton. Russia's anti-monopoly watchdog has launched a probe into Salavatnefteorgsintez's abuse of its dominant position on the ethylene market.

Russian polymers' market prospects will be discussed at Russian Polymers Summit on October 14, 2010 organized by ICIS and MRC. For more information please refer to http://www.polmersummit.ru/ Summit official web page.

MRC

(prw) -- Work is continuing to complete a delayed Russian project to build a 180,000 tpa polypropylene plant in the western Siberian city of Omsk.

Omsk-based company Titan Group, a producer of synthetic rubber, chemicals and fuel additives, was reported to be preparing to launch the first stage of the project later this year.

It was back in 2005 that Titan Group and the Italian engineering firm Tecnimont planned to construct the Omsk plant, using Basell's Spheripol technology, by 2007. But the $200m scheme was later postponed, reportedly due to delays in the procurement of plant equipment.

Russian polymers' market prospects will be discussed at Russian Polymers Summit on October 14, 2010 organized by ICIS and MRC. For more information please refer to http://www.polmersummit.ru/ Summit official web page.

MRC

(Recycle) -- MBA Polymers has pledged $6.6 million to begin boosting recyclable plastic materials being used in household goods.

With its base in recovering engineering plastics from items such as appliances, vehicles and computers, the firm has raised more than $6.6 million towards an overall goal of $25 million. The funding will be used to increase the firms recycling of plastic taken from household items. According to a SEC filing, the investments have so far been gleaned from Honeywell Capital Management, Citi's Sustainable Development Investments and Less Plastics Limited based in Hong Kong.

Founded in 1994, the group maintains its operating facility in California. MBA Polymers is responsible for processing millions of pounds of plastics waste every month. In its last attempt to secure funding, the firm was able to raise $40 million back in 2008.

MRC

(Azom) -- Pinnacle Polymers LLC, a major polypropylene (PP) manufacturer based in Ridgefield, Conn., has reached new heights of aesthetics and quality by upgrading to Millad NX8000 technology from Milliken Chemical, a division of Milliken & Company.

Pinnacle's two new PP3 random copolymer grades offer customers superior aesthetics at an affordable price point. Besides giving housewares and other products a dramatically brighter and cleaner look, Pinnacle 5135C3 and 5155C3 resins enable shorter cooling times and a broader processing window, which can provide energy savings and cycle time reductions.

MRC

(Bloomberg) -- Exxon Mobil Corp. plans to shut a crude unit at its Fawley refinery, the U.K.'s biggest, for maintenance early next year, two people with knowledge of the work said.

The halt is scheduled to start in the first quarter and last about four weeks, the people said, declining to be identified because the information is confidential. A powerformer, which makes blending components for gasoline, will also be idled for repairs during the same time, they said.

The refinery can process about 320,000 barrels of oil a day and supplies 15 percent of Britain's petroleum products, according to the country's Petroleum Industry Association. Refiners regularly halt equipment for inspections and repairs to prevent problems and ensure efficient operations.

MRC