Stavrolen to resume PP production

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lukoil plans to resume polypropylene (PP) production at Stavrolen. The start-up of the plant might take place in the near future, reported MRC analysts.

Lukoil's officials already announced in June technical possibilities of resuming PP production at Stavrolen on 1 July 2014. However, actual dates of the production launch were not announced because of issues in the feedstock market. The situation has slightly improved in the feedstock market (the prolylene market) by late July, which might lead to the resumption of production at the plant in late August - early September.

As reported earlier, Stavrolen was forced to shut down its polyethylene (PE) and PP production because of the accident at the plant's ethylene complex on 26 February 2014. The plant's PE and PP annual production capacities are 300,000 tonnes and 120,000 tonnes, respectively. At the same time, polyolefins production was not affected by the accident.

Given the potential of the propylene market in Russia and the CIS countries, there is a possibility of resuming PP production at Stavrolen on imported feedstock, however, to talk about the exact start-up dates and probable capacity utilisation is still too early because of many unknown factors, including the stability of operations at SIBUR Kstovo's (SIBUR) ethylene complex.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Nine Petroleos Mexicanos employees have reported minor injuries after a storage tank at a refinery in Ciudad Madero caught fire late on Tuesday night, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Seven workers have been treated for dehydration and two for minor burns, according to a Pemex press official who declined to be named because of company policy.

Emergency services crews continue to work to extinguish the fire at the state-owned oil producer’s refinery 500 kilometers (311 miles) north of Mexico City in the Tamaulipas state. No serious injuries have been reported.

The refinery has production capacity of 190,000 bpd.

The blaze is at least the third accident at the site this year. A fire at the unit’s coker plant limited operations for five days in May, less than a month after a boiler exploded because of an excessive pressure build-up in April. No injuries were reported in either incident.

The Ciudad Madero refinery, the smallest of Pemex’s six national refineries, processed 129,763 bpd in 2013, and 128,293 bpd in May.

As MRC wrote previously, in early 2013, a powerful explosion rocked the Mexico City headquarters of state-owned oil giant Pemex, killing 37 people, injuring more than 100 and trapping others inside.

Pemex, Mexican Petroleum, is a Mexican state-owned petroleum company. Pemex has a total asset worth of USD415.75 billion, and is the world's second largest non-publicly listed company by total market value, and Latin America's second largest enterprise by annual revenue as of 2009. Company produces such polymers, as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS).
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- CB&I has been awarded a contract valued in excess of USD50 million by the Daelim-Petrofac venture for the design and supply of delayed coking, hydrocracking, crude and vacuum heaters and a steam reformer for the Oman Refineries and Petrochemicals Co. (Orpic) project located in Sohar, Oman, reported Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Under separate contracts with Orpic, CB&I provided the process technology for the delayed coker unit and its Chevron Lummus Global joint venture provided the technology for the hydrocracker unit.

CB&I also performed the FEED, as previously announced, and is serving as project management consultant to Orpic for the project.

"We have successfully executed a range of projects for Orpic," said Daniel McCarthy, president of CB&I's technology operating group.

"This is another contract that emphasizes our ability to provide a complete supply chain solution for our customers," he added.

As MRC informed earlier, CB&I and Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, have recently announced that their new Ziegler-Natta (ZN) polypropylene catalyst plant in Louisville, Kentucky, is on schedule to begin production in 2015. The partnership strengthens both companies' position in polypropylene catalyst and technology by leveraging Clariant’s catalyst research and development and production know-how together with CB&I’s vast knowledge in catalyst, process design and licensing of polypropylene plants.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- PolyOne, a premier global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, has unveiled a new collection of liquid color concentrates for designers and brand leaders that infuse PET containers with shimmer and frost effects, reported the company on its site.

These unique colorants are the latest resource from the company’s InVisiOSM suite of innovative color services and solutions.

Created using ColorMatrix advanced liquid color dispersions, the new colorants produce effects such as iridescent color movements and unique surface appearance that can enhance brand presence and deliver differentiated shelf impact across beverage, personal care and household product packaging applications.

Gary Fielding, marketing director, PolyOne ColorMatrix, explained, "These new, eye-catching formulations give our customers the freedom to push design boundaries and react to global color trends, without disrupting their existing processes. When working closely with customers early in the design stage, we can use these solutions to help them maximize shelf appeal and increase market share."

ColorMatrix shimmer and frost formulations offer varying degrees of reflection, translucency, and apparent texture. Because they are able to use conventional gloss preform and blow molds, there is no need for customers to create new tooling. Ten standard color formulations are accompanied by custom colors, and formulations are suitable for all PET grades while meeting relevant regulatory compliance standards.

As MRC wrote previously, PolyOne Corporation has recently announced a realignment of its manufacturing assets in Brazil. As part of the realignment, PolyOne will close manufacturing plants located in Diadema and Joinville, Brazil. The company will continue to operate and invest in its facilities in Novo Hamburgo and Itupeva, Brazil, while offering specialty solutions throughout the region.

We also remind that in February 2014, PolyOne Corporation announced the addition of new capabilities to its OnColor HC Plus portfolio. These expanded offerings add medical-grade LDPE, nylon, PEBA, PS and PVC to the globally available palette of specialty healthcare colorants, and are pre-certified to meet or exceed biocompatibility requirements for ISO 10993 and/or USP Class VI protocols.

PolyOne Corporation, with 2013 revenues of USD3.8 billion, is a global provider of specialized polymer materials, services, and solutions. PolyOne is a provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions with operations in specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, polymer distribution and specialty vinyl resins.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Effective August 1st, 2014, Azelis announces that it will extend its co-operation with Allnex, a leading manufacturer of performance materials for all coating applications, said Presscenter.

For the first time, Azelis will offer the complete range of Allnex liquid resins, additives and cross linkers across Germany and Austria for selected customers. Previously Azelis only distributed part of the product range in Germany.

Dr. Rene Manski, Regional Business Manager Azelis Coatings DACH adds, "We are delighted that Allnex has chosen us to fully represent them in Germany and Austria. We already work together well and our dedicated coatings team will use market and product knowledge, backed by Allnex’ technical expertise, to help our customers anticipate market expectations and give them a competitive advantage."

Azelis is now able to distribute high performance waterborne, solventborne and phenolic resins, as well as additives and crosslinkers from Allnex. The Azelis Coatings Lab will also provide further technical support including formulation and application testing.

Both companies look forward to building upon the success already achieved in the paint and inks, building and construction, adhesives and varnish sectors.

As MRC wrote before, Azelis announces a new distribution contract with Evonik, a leading specialty chemicals manufacturer. In addition to other European countries, Azelis can now also offer products in Evonik’s Crosslinkers business line to customers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) for coatings, inks and other applications.
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