Nizhnekamskneftekhim commissions ABS plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russian petrochemicals group Nizhnekamskneftekhim, one of Russia’s largest petrochemical producers, has formally commissioned its EUR100m 60,000 tpa ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) polymer plant in Nizhnekamsk, as per the company's press release.

To date, Nizhnekamskneftekhim has mastered the production of seven out of nine ABS brands under the unit’s Versalis licence agreement after trials since its start up last November. Overall, it has manufactured 7,285 tonnes of extrusion and injection moulding grades for applications ranging from refrigeration, automotive and plumbing to toys and packaging.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim is the largest petrochemical company, a leader in the production of synthetic rubber and plastics in the Russian Federation. The range of products includes more than 120 items. Major commodities are: synthetic general and special-purpose rubber, polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE).

Nizhnekamskneftekhim reported that its output of PS in 2012 amounted to more than 190,00 tonnes of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) and general-purpose polystyrene (GPPS), which is more than 3,000 tonsbe higher than in the previous year.
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Lukoil is in talks with Brazilian oil producer OGX to acquire a stake in the company

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Billionaire Brazilian businessman Eike Batista is in talks to sell a 40% stake in oil producer OGX Petroleo e Gas Participacoes SA to Russia's Lukoil, reported The Wall Street Journal with reference to the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper.

The deal would beef up finances at the entrepreneur's troubled flagship company ahead of an important auction of oil and natural-gas concessions next month. The Russian firm is conducting due diligence of the company, and the deal could be announced in early May, the newspaper reported.

OGX is also in talks to sell a 40% stake in the company's Tubarao Martelo field to Malaysian state-run oil and gas firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd., or Petronas, the newspaper said. Tubarao Martelo is expected to start producing crude oil by the end of 2013. OGX could also operate fields for Brazilian state-run energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro, or Petrobras, the newspaper reported.

OGX has fallen far short of its crude-oil production goals since the Tubarao Azul field first started output in early 2012. The field was expected to reach output of 40,000 barrels per day by end-2012, but those expectations were slashed by nearly half last year.

In March, technical issues at Tubarao Azul caused production to plummet. The company is carrying out repairs on two of the field's three production wells, with full output not expected to return before June. The field produced 8,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day in March.

We remind that, as MRC wrote previously, OAO Lukoil Holdings, Russia's No. 2 oil producer, will invest USD1 billion in the oil firm Samara-Nafta to increase production. Lukoil acquired Samara-Nafta from Hess Corp. this month for USD2 billion as part of a strategy to stabilize and increase oil production. Lukoil has for years fought declining output at its main, Soviet-era fields in Western Siberia.

OAO Lukoil Holdings is one of the leading vertically integrated oil companies in Russia. The main activities of the company include exploration and development of oil and gas, manufacturing and marketing of petroleum products.
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DSM opens new manufacturing plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Dutch life science and materials sciences company Royal DSM has opened its newly constructed manufacturing plant for KhepriCoat anti-reflective coating in Geleen, in southern Dutch province of Limburg, said Photon.

KhepriCoat anti-reflective glass coating is primarily targeted at solar applications. The coating – a nano porous layer with a thickness of approximately 100 to 150 nm – is applied on the cover glass of solar modules to reduce the reflection of sunlight. DSM says the coating can increase a module’s energy output by up to 4%.

As MRC wrote earlier, DSM has developed a new thermoplastic elastomer - Arnitel VT - for production of waterproof and highly breathable ultrathin membranes to be used in outdoor clothing.

Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials.

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Japanese Cosmo, Idemitsu to build refinery in Qatar with partners

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Qatar Petroleum (QP) signed a joint venture agreement with Total, Idemitsu, Cosmo, Marubeni and Mitsui for the new Laffan Refinery 2 (LR2) Project, said QP.

Under the agreement, the LR2 ownership structure will be composed of QP (84%), Total (10%), Idemitsu (2%), Cosmo (2%), Marubeni (1%) and Mitsui (1%).

The new LR2 condensate refinery is similar to the first Laffan Refinery (LR1), which started operations in September 2009, with a similar processing capacity of 146,000 barrels per day.

It will be operated by Qatargas Operating Company Limited (Qatargas) and will have a daily production capacity of 60,000 barrels of naphtha, 53,000 barrels of jet fuel, 24,000 barrels of gasoil, and 9,000 barrels of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The project’s total cost is estimated at USD 1.5 billion, and its construction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2016.

Mr. Mohammed Nasser Al-Hajri, QP Director for Downstream Ventures, gave more details about the project. "LR2 is designed to process untreated condensate from Qatar’s North Field. In addition to the LR2 condensate refinery, the configuration of the new plant includes a gantry for dispatching diesel to the local market by trucks (in operation since last year) and a diesel hydrotreater unit that will be able to process all light gasoil from LR1 and LR2. All products from the LR2 complex will be hydrotreated and its sulphur content will meet the most stringent quality specifications," he said.

Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chief Executive Officer of Qatargas and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the new joint venture company, said: "The new refinery, which is currently in the construction phase, will be built according to state-of-the-art technology with high energy efficiency and environmental protection standards. The detailed engineering work kicked off early this month, and we expect to complete and commission the project by the fourth quarter of 2016."

Speaking on behalf of Idemitsu, Mr. Yoshihisa Matsumoto, Executive Vice President and Representative Director of Idemitsu, said: "We are delighted to be associated with the development of this new project in Qatar. We share the strategic vision to produce and supply premium quality products to the market and LR2 is the right step in this direction."
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Clariant to build a new plant in Indonesia to support Asian pigments customers

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, will build a new pigment preparations plant in Indonesia in a series of investments to strengthen on-the-ground support for customers in China, India and Indonesia, according to the company's press release.

The announcement marks another step in Clariant’s significant commitment to support customers in the emerging markets with high quality low VOC pigment preparations complying with eco labeling schemes such as blue angel and equivalent schemes in other regions. The company is investing approximately CHF 8 million to enhance its capabilities in the region.

The investments include the construction of a new pigment preparations plant at Clariant’s Tangerang site in Indonesia that will double capacity to support the strong market growth in the country. Production is scheduled to commence in September 2013.

Clariant is also finalizing the feasibility for expanding the capacity at its Azo pigments and pigment preparations plants in Roha, India by 50%. In order to increase market coverage, provide more intimate customer service and support, and enhance market knowledge Clariant’s marketing and sales organization in China, India and Indonesia will be doubled throughout 2013.

"These initial steps are the first in a broader strategy to invest and develop our capabilities in China, India and Indonesia in order to better serve our customers and provide them with the high quality products and superior technical support they need to be successful in growing their business", comments Marco Cenisio, Senior Vice President & General Manager Business Unit Pigments, Clariant. "We expect to make further announcements regarding our additional plans for the region soon."

As MRC reported earlier, the company has strengthened its position in the Asian market by entering into strategic agreements with DKSH and Wacker. The company also showed good progress in portfolio management and the integration of Sud-Chemie.

Clariant is an internationally active specialty chemical company, based in Muttenz near Basel. The group owns over 100 companies worldwide. Clariant is divided into eleven business units: Additives; Catalysis & Energy; Emulsions, Detergents & Intermediates; Functional Materials; Industrial & Consumer Specialties; Leather Services; Masterbatches; Oil & Mining Services; Paper Specialties; Pigments; Textile Chemicals.
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