Acron orders compressors from Atlas Copco

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Swedish industrial equipment manufacturer Atlas Copco has been awarded a contract for the supply of its compressors to Acron, a Russian chemical and fertiliser specialist, said Plastemart.

As part of the SEK113m (EUR13m) contract, the company's Gas and Process division will manufacture and deliver two high-pressure integrally-geared centrifugal compressors for use at Acron's facility in Veliky Novgorod, Russia.
The compressors will primarily be used for processing and the supply of CO2 for urea production, which serves as one of the main components of nitrogen-release fertiliser.

"The compressors will primarily be used for processing and the supply of CO2 for urea production."

Atlas Copco Compressor Technique business area president Stephan Kuhn said the contract further strengthens the company's presence in the strategic Russian market. "We have worked closely with Acron to develop a solution specially tailored to their requirements. Thanks to our innovative design these compressors will deliver high customer productivity," Kuhn added.

Designed to control Acron's plant's entire flow range, the compressors will replace the existing, ageing piston compressors, thereby significantly cutting energy use and reducing service and maintenance downtime.
Deliveries under the contract are scheduled to take place in 2015.

Acron Group is a world’s leading mineral fertiliser producer with a high level of vertical integration, including potash and phosphate asset development. The Group’s key business segments include ammonia, nitrogen and complex mineral fertilisers, as well as organic and non-organic compounds.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ecuador firebrand leftist President Rafael Correa lambasted US oil giant Chevron as an enemy for allegedly besmirching his country as part of a lengthy court battle over Amazon pollution, said Upstreamonline.

Last year an Ecuadoran court ordered Chevron to pay USD19 billion dollars for polluting the rain forest.

The case is still alive and Correa says the company has spent USD400 million and hired an army of hundreds of lawyers to discredit the government and get the ruling overturned on appeal in the country's highest court, AFP reported.

The news agency quoted Correa in his weekly address on Saturday referring to Chevron as "that enemy of our country."

"We are going to tell Latin America what Chevron has done in our country to shirk its responsibility, with that criminal campaign that is waging against Ecuador," Correa was quoted as saying.

Chevron has never worked directly in Ecuador but inherited the pollution lawsuit when it acquired Texaco in 2001.

Texaco operated in Ecuador from 1964 to 1990 and after leaving it was sued by indigenous groups in pollution-related legal proceedings that have dragged on for nearly 20 years.

Correa is strong on protecting the environment and six years ago came up with a novel plan: have rich countries pay USD3.6 billion into a trust fund for Ecuador in exchange for its not drilling in the Amazon.

But this week Correa finally abandoned the plan because so little money had been contributed.

Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States, and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining, marketing and transport; chemicals manufacturing and sales; and power generation. Chevron is one of the world's six "supermajor" oil companies.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Continuing its dedication to working closely with industry professionals to deliver the right solutions for the right applications, Dow Building Solutions (DBS), a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company has introduced a new Ultra Air Barrier Wall System, according to the company's press release.

Building on field input and demand, DBS developed a second Ultra Air Barrier Wall System solution for use in block backup construction as well as on metal stud walls.

The Ultra Air Barrier Wall System delivers a layer of continuous insulation (ci) and a properly detailed air/vapor and water barrier together in one easy-to-install package. Industry professionals now have multiple solutions for an energy efficient wall design that integrates ci, air/vapor barrier, and moisture barrier in fewer steps than traditional construction methods.

For block walls with integrated brick ties, the system uses STYROFOAM Brand CAVITYMATE Ultra Insulation boards placed between the ties. Air/vapor and water barrier properties are achieved by sealing the insulation board joints with single-component GREAT STUFF PRO Gaps and Crack Insulating Foam Sealant.

For continuous metal stud back up backup walls or block walls without integrated brick ties, the larger sheets of STYROFOAM Brand Ultra SL Insulation with a shiplap edge treatment (one of the most thermally efficient joint treatments) are mechanically fastened and then brick ties affixed. In this solution, air/vapor and water barrier properties are achieved by sealing the insulation board joints with WEATHERMATE Flashing Tape.

GREAT STUFF PRO Gaps & Cracks Insulating Foam Sealant offers the air and water barrier by sealing all the joints between the square edge insulation boards and around all penetrations. In the new Ultra Air Barrier Wall System solution, the foam is used to seal the bottom layer of the larger STYROFOAM Brand Ultra SL Insulation boards along the base.

WEATHERMATE Flashing Tape is a self-sealing, self-healing flashing tape. This flashing tape combines a BLUE high-density polyethylene (HDPE) film facer with a 20 mil butyl rubber adhesive to form a strong mechanical and chemical bond to the STYROFOAM Brand Ultra SL Insulation. A polymeric-coated paper release liner offers a more consistent peel than plain paper liners.

Ultra Air Barrier Wall System offers industry professionals with one easy-to-install system with two solutions that both deliver a layer of ci and a properly detailed air/vapor and water barrier together for steel stud and block backup walls. The wall system helps architects, designers and contractors to meet new building codes, and also offers solutions for a complete energy efficient building envelope.

We remind that, as MRC informed previously, in March 2013, Dow Chemical signed a long-term ethylene off-take agreement with a new Japanese joint venture that will allow the chemical producer to enhance its performance plastics franchise. The joint venture is being formed between Japanese companies Idemitsu Kosan and Mitsui & Co. to construct and operate a Linear Alpha Olefins unit on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Dow Building Solutions has a 60+ year legacy of providing energy saving solutions to the global commercial and residential new construction and remodeling industry, which began with the launch of its flagship STYROFOAM Brand Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam Insulation, one of the most recognized brands of insulation in the world. A market-facing business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Building Solutions offers insulation, air sealing and weatherization solutions backed by building science expertise to help builders, remodelers, designers, architects and home/building owners reduce energy costs and protect against wind, rain and moisture, while contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Dow Chemical Company is an American multinational chemical corporation headquartered in Midland, Michigan, United States. Dow is a large producer of plastics, including polystyrene (PS), polyurethane, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and synthetic rubber. In 2012, Dow had annual sales of approximately USD57 billion. The company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 36 countries across the globe.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PETKIM Petrochemical Holding, SOCAR's main asset in Turkey, has announced financial results for the first half of 2013, reported 4-traders.

Holding's profit for the first half of 2013 reached 5.5 million Turkish liras.

Gross profit, with 586% increase compared to the profit for the same period of 2012, year was equal to 5.69% of Petkim Holding's earnings (107 million liras).

According to Holding's CEO Sadeddin Korkut, an increase in demand for holding's products is expected in the 2nd half of the year. He mentioned the highest quality of production and service, as well as meeting the needs of consumers as the main targets of the company.

As MRC wrote previously, Petkim petrochemical complex's share in the domestic market of Turkey will increase from the current 25 to 40% by 2023, CEO of Petkim, Saadettin Korkut said at a ceremony marking the 48th anniversary of the company's establishment in April 2013.

Petkim is the leading petrochemical company of Turkey. Specializing in petrochemical manufacturing, the company produces ethylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene and other chemical building blocks for use in the manufacture of plastics, textiles, and other consumer and industrial products.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Problems with Ukrainian imports to Russia might hit Ukrainian producers of titanium dioxide (TiO2), said MRC analysts.

The deprivation of the Russian market for Ukrainian TiO2 producers is fraught with heavy losses, because Russia accounts for the largest share of Ukrainian imports.

Exports of Ukrainian titanium dioxide to Russia in January-June 2013 totallled about 13,000 tonnes (19.5% of the total shipments to foreign markets).

Sumykhimprom is the largest exporter of titanium dioxide to Russia. The plant's exports in the first half of the year amounted to 6,720 tonnes. Exports of Crimean TITAN to the Russian market in the first half of 2013 totalled about 6,000 tonnes. Both producers may be affected by delays in deliveries.

As reported previously, the Customs Service of the Russian Federation included all Ukrainian suppliers without exception in the "risky" list from 14 August, 2013.

In Ukraine, titanium dioxide is mainly produced by two makers: JSC Sumykhimprom and CJSC Crimea TITAN. Titanium dioxideis used in making paints, pulp and paper products, plastics, rubber, building materials and in the production of tires.

50% +1 share of "Crimean TITAN" is owned by Ostchem Germany GmbH (Germany). 90% of OstChem Holding's shares are owned by AG Group DF, belonging to the Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Firtash, who has repeatedly stated its interest in the privatization of Ukrainian enterprises for the production of titanium dioxide.

PJSC "Sumykhimprom" specializes in the production of titanium dioxide, sulfuric acid, yellow and red iron oxide pigments, complex fertilizers and coagulant for water treatment. State ownership is 100% of its shares.
MRC