Indian Oil claims technical breakthrough in Octomax unit of Mathura refinery

MOSCOW (MRC) -- State-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has said it has made a technological breakthrough in commissioning a Octomax unit at its Mathura refinery that will help manufacture Euro-VI fuel emission compliant petrol, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

"The breakthrough technology developed by IOC's R&D Centre converts C-4 streams from Catalytic Cracker and/or Naphtha Cracker units to high-octane gasoline (petrol) blending stream, thereby enabling compliance with stringent fuel quality norms," a company statement said.

The Octamax Unit has been completed ahead of the targeted schedule and without any cost overrun, IOC said.

"The blending octane number of the sample drawn from the newly commissioned unit was seen to be 118, higher than the guaranteed 108, while meeting all other defined product properties," it said.

IOC said Octamax truly is a 'Make in India' venture where all activities, from concept to development of the technology, preparation of basic design engineering package, erection and commissioning of the unit, have been accomplished through indigenous efforts.

As MRC informed before, in mid-August 2017, IOC completed maintenance at its polypropylene (PP) plant in India following maintenance turnaround. The company had undertaken a planned shutdown at its plant in mid-July 2017.
Located at Panipat in the northern Indian state of Haryana, the PP plant comprising two units has a production capacity of 300,000 mt/year each.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited, or IndianOil, is an Indian state-owned oil and gas corporation with its headquarters in New Delhi, India.
MRC

SIBUR subsidiary opens BOPP metallisation unit in Siberia

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BIAXPLEN's Tomsk site (BIAXPLEN T) has put into operation a 5 ktpa metallisation unit for the biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film, as per press release of the producer.

This is the only machine of its kind behind the Urals. It coats the film with an aluminium nanolayer using a sophisticated process of vacuum deposition.

Metallised films have enhanced barrier properties and are used in food packaging, namely for products that require sealed storage and light protection. They also find application as gift wrapping for various household items and flowers, and as material for decorative labels, advertising and printed products. These films preserve their reflective and barrier qualities through printing and heat-sealing, and on top of that they are also recyclable.

The new unit will provide an import substitution product for domestic clients and cater to Siberia's growing demand for quality packaging.

"The launch of the metallisation unit strengthens the competitive advantage of the Tomsk business and adds high value-added products to its range of grades. In addition, the release of Tomsk-manufactured metallised films to the markets of Siberia and neighbouring regions will enable redirecting similar grades produced at SIBUR's other sites to the European part of Russia and the EU countries," said Victor Lushnikov, Executive Director of BIAXPLEN T.

"This is currently BIAXPLEN's most powerful and efficient film metallisation unit. It has an upgraded design based on the knowledge and experience gained at the Company's other production sites. After its launch, we were able to make good time on the ramp-up to regular operations and to the target product quality," said Dimitry Povervit, Head of BIAXPLEN's Production Capacity Upgrade, Improvement and Streamlining function.
MRC

Prices for caustic soda increased in China

MOSCOW (MRC) - The deficit of solid caustic soda began to be felt in the domestic market of China, caused by the shutdown of a number of producers.

The restrictive measures taken by the Chinese government in the framework of environmental programs began to affect the chloralkali segment of the country's chemical industry.

So, several sources reported an increase in contract prices for caustics of USD100/tonne for supplies in February.
Spot prices for domestic and export markets in China grew in the third decade of January.

The increase in contract prices for the domestic market will also affect the export prices for Chinese caustic soda, supplied to Russia. Taking into account of the upcoming New Year holidays in China, this is not the latest price increase.

MRC previously reported the price offers of Chinese producers in December were heard in the range of USD600-615/tonne FOB Northeast Asia (NEA). In the second week of December, caustic soda prices in Asia were at the level of USD610-630/tonne, FOB SVA.
MRC

PE production in Russia remained last year at the level of 2016

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's production of polyethylene (PE) virtually remained last year at the level of 2016, totalling 1,700,000 tonnes. The linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) segment accounted for the greatest increase in the output, according to MRC's ScanPlast report.

December PE production grew to 153,400 tonnes, whereas this figure reached 139,600 tonnes a month earlier. Russian producers of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) increased their capacity utilisation. Overall PE production reached 1,700,000 tonnes in 2017, which is virtually equal to the previous year's figure. Output of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and LLDPE increased, whereas HDPE production decreased.

The structure of PE output by grades looked the following way over the stated period.


December HDPE production rose to 73,700 tonnes from 63,700 tonnes a month earlier, Stavrolen and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat shut their production capacities for maintenance in November. Russian plants' overall HDPE output reached 898,000 tonnes in 2017, down by 10% year on year.

December LDPE production grew to 61,100 tonnes from 50,100 tonnes in November, Tomskneftekhim increased its output. Overall LDPE production exceeded 661,300 tonnes over the stated period, up by 4% year on year.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Russia's only LLDPE producer, almost doubled its output, its total LLDPE production exceeded 141,200 tonnes last year, whereas this figure did not exceed 73,700 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC

BASF introduces Boroflex FCC catalyst for superior bottoms upgrading

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF catalysts announced today the commercial launch of Boroflex™, the latest evolution of its residuum (resid) oil Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalysts for the refining market, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Boroflex is based on BASF’s unique Boron-Based Technology (BBT), and is designed to optimize refiners’ bottoms upgrading and distillate yields by providing maximum nickel contamination passivation.

Boroflex commercial trials have confirmed its ability to deliver better bottoms upgrading and high distillate yields that increase refiners’ profitability to meet market demand for refined products. It is proven to deliver other BBT-related benefits, such as nickel passivation, and lower coke and hydrogen.

“It is unique to introduce real step-change technologies into the FCC market. Thanks to our BBT platform, we are able to expand the portfolio for our customers with such innovative products,” said Detlef Ruff, BASF Senior Vice President, Process Catalysts. “Boroflex, the latest evolution of this technology, demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering innovative catalyst solutions for improved FCC unit performance, which results in more value for our customers."

“Boroflex is an example of BASF’s ability to accelerate our speed to market with new product innovation,” said Jim Chirumbole, BASF Vice President, Refining Catalysts. “In our refinery trials, Boroflex showed the capability to increase yields and to exceed the bottoms upgrading performance of other products in the resid cracking market. We are really glad to offer now another innovative FCC catalyst that can make refiners all over the world more successful."

Boroflex for superior bottoms upgrading is the third BBT product successfully introduced to optimize global refinery operations since the introduction of the innovative platform. BoroCat™, presented in 2016, enables maximum conversion for gasoline in FCC Units with high resid feed metals via improved metals passivation and operational flexibility. The product was awarded the 2017 Hydrocarbon Processing Award for best catalyst technology and the 2017 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award for outstanding environmental contributions. In 2017, BASF introduced Borotec™ to provide refiners maximum conversion and high operating flexibility for use in FCC units with moderate resid feed metals or changing feed quality.
MRC