Air Liquide signs a new long-term contract with Covestro for the supply of hydrogen

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Air Liquide and Covestro, a world-leading supplier of high-tech polymer materials, have signed a new long-term contract for the supply of hydrogen at Covestro’s production site in the port area of Antwerp, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Air Liquide will invest 80 million euros in the construction of a "new generation" hydrogen production unit. This state-of-the-art plant will be fitted with a new Air Liquide proprietary technology that improves energy efficiency and the overall environmental footprint of the production process. The hydrogen produced will also enable Air Liquide to supply customers in this industrial basin in Europe.

In connection with this new long-term contract, the hydrogen will be used in the production of aniline, which is one of the base chemicals of the polyurethanes found in many applications in the sectors of construction, automotive or home appliances.

Air Liquide will design, build and operate a “next-generation” hydrogen production unit - SMR-X™1- producing hydrogen with an increased energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint. Overall natural gas consumption to produce hydrogen, as well as CO2 emissions will be reduced by around 5% compared with conventional SMR. At the same time, part of the CO2 generated during the production process will be captured by Covestro and used as a feedstock in its production process. By capturing carbon and upgrading the recovered CO2, this model is part of a circular economy system.

Expected to start operation in 2020, this new SMR-XTM unit will offer optimal performances in terms of energy efficiency, safety and reliability. The new plant will also support the development of the Covestro production site in Benelux and will strengthen Air Liquide’s existing network for the supply of hydrogen in the Antwerp industrial area.

Guy Salzgeber, Executive Vice-President and member of the Air Liquide group’s Executive Committee supervising industrial activities in Europe, said: "We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Covestro, a strategic customer of the Group. With this next-generation hydrogen plant, Air Liquide demonstrates its ability to meet its customers’ needs thanks to solutions offering an increased energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint. This project illustrates our innovation capacity and enable us to reinforce our presence in one of the most dynamic industrial basins of northern Europe."

Volker Weintritt, Managing Director of Covestro in Antwerp, said: “We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Air Liquide. Thanks to this new investment, not only will a reliable and flexible supply of raw materials to our site be guaranteed, but also the new facility and its capacities could open up new perspectives for our Antwerp site."
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MOSCOW (MRC) – BASF Corporation entered an exclusive distribution agreement with Nalco Water, an Ecolab company, to provide gas treatment solutions to the U.S. gas processing and refining industries, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Under the agreement terms, Nalco Water will combine BASF’s gas treating amines portfolio with its industry-leading technology and on-site expertise to offer customers solutions to drive operational efficiency and value.

"As a leader in water and energy technologies and services, Nalco Water is an ideal partner to support our midstream and refining customers with amine systems,” said Heidi Alderman, Senior Vice President, Intermediates, for BASF Corporation. “Nalco Water’s expertise and comprehensive network of industry technical consultants will help ensure customers receive consistent delivery of services and support."

"This combined offering will enable gas processors to improve their amine systems' operational performance and efficiency by benefiting from the advanced technologies and customer-focused service model that comes with BASF’s extensive experience in gas treatment,” said Jeff Bulischeck, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Global Heavy Industry and Mining, for Nalco Water. “Through this agreement, we will provide customers with a step-change in amine unit reliability and performance."

With more than 40 years of experience, BASF offers its customers efficient solutions for the treatment of various gases such as natural gas, synthesis gas and biogas. Worldwide, these solutions have been proven and demonstrated in more than 400 reference plants. BASF markets its range of technologies, gas treatment agents and complete technical services under the brand OASE - Gas Treating Excellence by BASF.
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MOSCOW (MRC) - AFPM: The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers’ (AFPM) President and CEO Chet Thompson testified before the U.S, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment involving the challenges and opportunities of high octane fuels and high-efficiency vehicles.

AFPM believes that a transition in the United States from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to a fuel-neutral, 95-RON octane performance standard could better address the needs of all stakeholders, most importantly consumers.

Thompson testified, “U.S. fuel and transportation policy is at a crossroads. The auto industry faces enormous challenges in meeting increasing fuel efficiency targets, the refining industry is dealing with an expensive, inefficient and unworkable Renewable Fuel Standard, and fuel marketers and the biofuel industry are faced with constant uncertainty and never-ending debates about the RFS, making for a very challenging business environment.

“A 95-RON octane performance standard, if done correctly—with a sunset of the RFS, a reasonable phase-in and robust market competition—has the potential to benefit consumers and all stakeholders, compared to the status quo.

“Although we believe this option has the most potential, we know that it would raise many challenges and require a significant investment for our industry, which is why it cannot be considered in addition to the RFS. We are, however, committed to better understanding and exploring all of these issues and welcome the opportunity to start the conversation with other stakeholders to move forward on this path.”
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- ExxonMobil announced it has signed a new distributor agreement with Zestcor, an experienced sales, procurement and supply chain management company in South Africa, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The agreement is designed to support an efficient and reliable supply of high-quality base stocks in South Africa and the sub-Saharan region.

Zestcor has a distinct local business footprint in the South African petrochemicals industry as a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Company. This commercial relationship will expand ExxonMobil’s global presence and provide local customers additional access to base stocks capable of meeting a broad range of blending needs.

“We are committed to providing a reliable supply of high-quality products to our valued customers around the world,” said Julia Ruessmann, EAME Basestocks and Specialties Sales Manager at ExxonMobil. “Zestcor not only complements ExxonMobil’s position in South Africa by providing local supply chain solutions but supports our long-term commitment to meeting customer demands in country."

Zestcor is uniquely equipped to receive bulk ExxonMobil shipments and handle both truck loading and delivery, as well as pipeline transfers, with their strategically placed bulk onshore tank storage facilities at Bidvest Tank Terminals in Island View, Durban.

“At Zestcor, product integrity and quality control are at the forefront of what we do,” said Nic Dunn, Director at Zestcor. “Partnering with a global leader like ExxonMobil, who not only shares these values, but promotes them as a pillar of their business operations, makes perfect sense for us. We also believe that South Africa will benefit by having additional local access to high-quality base stocks."

As a distributor of ExxonMobil base stocks, Zestcor must adhere to the company’s product integrity systems to ensure product quality and consistency.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Fluor Corporation announced that it was selected by a division of Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) to execute the engineering and procurement scope for MPC’s South Texas Asset Repositioning (STAR) program at its Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City, Texas. Fluor booked the undisclosed contract value into backlog in the first quarter of 2018, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

“This project will continue the development of MPC’s Galveston Bay refinery into a world-class refining complex,” said Mark Fields, president of Fluor’s Energy & Chemicals business in the Americas. “Fluor and MPC have a proven track record of delivering similar programs, most recently in Detroit and Garyville, Louisiana. Fluor values its strong working relationship with MPC and is excited to be part of the STAR program.”

The STAR program further integrates MPC’s former Texas City refinery into the adjacent Galveston Bay refinery, which is now the second largest refinery in the U.S. It will improve the refinery’s efficiency and reliability by increasing the residual oil processing capabilities, upgrading the crude unit and integrating facility logistics.

Fluor has been engaged in the STAR program since 2013, performing the feasibility studies and early engineering work. The program is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

Fluor is also currently providing engineering, procurement and construction management services on the reconfiguration that will enable the Galveston Bay refinery to achieve updated U.S. Environmental Protection agency Tier 3 gasoline sulfur standards.
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