Formosa has to inspect tanks after leak

TAIPEI (Reuters) -- Taiwan environmental officials said on Thursday they had ordered Formosa Petrochemical Corp to inspect 227 oil storage tanks after a leak in one, the latest in a series of incidents for Asia's fifth-largest refinery complex.

County officials also issued a T$1 million ($31,328) fine for a Sept. 9 gas leak that sent fumes into neighbouring towns, although no injuries were reported, said Lai Tung-hung, a section chief under the local environmental protection agency.

The leaking tank at in central Taiwan had been shut down and Formosa ordered to inspect others over two months as normal work continued, Lai said.

Russian polymers' market prospects are going to 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

Solvay to hold PrimoSpire SRP Plastic Production

(Azom) -- Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC announced today that it will suspend production at its facility here that makes the plastic, PrimoSpire SRP (self-reinforced polyphenylene), in order to refocus its people and assets on research and development to fully commercialize the product.

The move will eliminate 14 positions at the site while retaining five R&D positions and transferring another five employees to other facilities and sites within the company.

Solvay Advanced Polymers will offer severance packages and comprehensive outplacement services to affected employees. In addition, the company will continue talks with some affected employees about other opportunities within the company.

MRC

Arkema declares PVC force majeure in France

LONDON (ICIS) -- Arkema has declared force majeure on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from all four of its French sites due to restricted feedstock supply, a company source said on Thursday.


The company first declared force majeure on deliveries from its Berre, France, plant on Monday, following a disruption to its upstream vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) supply. Another declaration covering its French sites at Balan, St Fons and St Auban followed on Wednesday.


The problem began with ⌠unforeseen events connected to VCM production that forced reduced capacity in downstream PVC. Because the VCM market in Europe is currently tight, with little product available on the merchant market, it would be difficult for the company to quickly secure VCM supplies from an outside source.

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

SIBUR set up trade company in China

SHANGHAI (SIBUR) -- SIBUR, the largest petrochemical holding company in Russia and Eastern Europe, has opened a Chinese trading company Citco (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd. The new company, registered in China, will be located in Shanghai and will deal with sales of petrochemical products with payments in the Chinese currency (yuan).

Until now exports of SIBUR's products to China were coordinated through the Shanghai branch of the corporate trading company CITCO (Austria), with payments in U.S. dollars.

The SIBUR product portfolio includes liquefied petroleum gases, synthetic rubbers, plastics, fertilizers and liquid chemical products. Total SIBUR sales in China in 2009 amounted to more than 350,000 tons of petrochemical products with a value of around $500 million. In particular, more than 175,000 tons of plastics, more than 71,000 tons of caprolactam, more than 53,000 tons of liquid chemical products, and more than 47,000 tons of synthetic rubber were sold.

SIBUR Vice-President Sergey Merzlyakov is going to participate in the 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

LyondellBasell technology selected for new Pucheng 400 KTa plant

(LyondellBasell) -- LyondellBasell's Spheripol process technology has been selected by Pucheng Clean Energy Chemical Company Ltd. for a new 400 KT per year polypropylene plant to be built in Pucheng County, Weinan City, Shaanxi Province, in the Peoples Republic of China. Start up is planned for 2013.


The Spheripol process polypropylene plant will be part of one of China's largest coal-based chemicals production projects, which is expected to produce more than two million tonnes of olefins per year.

MRC