BP chooses hte to test commercial refining catalysts

MOSCOW (MRC) -- hte - the high throughput experimentation company has been selected by BP to evaluate commercial catalysts for both naphtha reforming and hydrocracking applications using high throughput technology under commercially relevant conditions for its refineries around the world, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

BP selected hte for the evaluation study in order to benchmark commercial naphtha reforming and hydrocracking catalysts and compare their performance against incumbent catalysts. The resulting testing program at hte will provide BP with the data to make selections for its upcoming naphtha reforming and hydrocracking catalyst change-outs. The overall aim of both projects is to measure activity, yields, and stability. In naphtha reforming, these performance parameters will be determined at constant octane operation, whereas in hydrocracking, the catalysts will be tested under various process conditions including the evaluation of product qualities. The two projects will start in the third quarter of 2018.

"We selected hte as a partner for our qualification project because of its reputation in independent catalyst testing and its ability to provide experimental services across the major refining processes," says Belma Demirel, Senior Engineer at BP Refining Technology and Engineering in Naperville, USA.

"We are very pleased to be selected as a partner for independent commercial catalyst testing by BP," says Wolfram Stichert, CEO at hte. "Our focus here is to help refineries to be cost-effective in the catalyst selection process. We are looking forward to continuing our reliable and long-lasting partnership with BP."

As MRC reported earlier, British oil and gas company BP will increase investment in the United States after the lowering of tax rates under President Donald Trump, Chief Executive Bob Dudley said in early February 2018.
MRC

Twin leaps forward for Algerian downstream

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Algerian NOC Sonatrach took two major steps forward in early May on the fresh development path promised by the reformist new CEO on his accession last year, said Yourpetrochemicalnews.

The traditionally conservative company acquired its first overseas refining asset and signed a firm deal with an IOC major to proceed with a long-mooted multi-billion dollar petrochemicals project at home.

Meanwhile, the slow-moving drive to improve domestic refining provision also saw progress in the form of a technology supply contract on the planned upgrade of the country’s largest existing plant.

On May 9, Sonatrach signed a deal of undisclosed value to acquire the 175,000 bpd Augusta refinery in Sicily from Esso Italiana, the Italian subsidiary of US super-major ExxonMobil.

Also covered are fuel terminals at Augusta, Palermo and Naples, with associated pipelines. The acquisition is the Algerian firm’s first international downstream investment, cohering with a new overseas expansion policy instigated by incoming CEO Abdelmoumen Ould Kaddour when he was appointed to the role in March 2017. The deal is anticipated to close by year-end pending local regulatory approvals.

However, while other major Middle Eastern oil producers have purchased refining assets abroad primarily to secure market share for their crude in regions of fast-growing oil products demand, Sonatrach’s maiden foreign venture remains driven by domestic supply imperatives and the refinery’s closeness to the home market. The facility is envisaged processing Algeria’s Sahara Blend crude and residual products from the Skikda refinery – Algeria’s largest – on the northeast coast into higher-grade fuels for re-export to fill gaps in local provision and thereby reduce the burgeoning bill for product imports.

As Ould Kaddour explained in an interview shortly before the deal, the timing for such acquisitions is opportune for Algiers – as Western majors look to reduce their exposure to the oversupplied European refining sector.
MRC

Sepro names Raul Scheller as managing director in North America

MOSCOW (MRC) -- France-based robotic automation maker Sepro Group has appointed Raul Scheller as its managing director of Sepro operations in North America, as per Canplastics.

"For more than a decade, we have been expanding in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and have enjoyed great success,” Jean-Michel Renaudeau, CEO of Sepro Group, said in a statement. "Now it is time to prepare the organization for the next 10 years and beyond, and Raul Scheller will play a key role."

Scheller has almost 30 years of international business management experience. Before joining Sepro, he served as chief operating officer at Team Technologies, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based contract engineering and manufacturing services firm. Prior to that, he spent 13 years as general manager, Americas for Clariant’s performance packaging business unit; and seven years with a Chicago private equity group, eventually becoming president of its Los Angeles-based injection molding firm.

Scheller will be relocating to the Greater Pittsburgh area in summer 2018.

Sepro America was launched as a joint venture with Conair in 2007, and became a wholly-owned daughter company of Sepro Group in 2008. The company’s Canadian division, Sepro Canada, is headquartered in Montreal.

Sepro manufactures 3, 5, and 6-axis robots for injection molding machines.
MRC

Arkema to build new adhesives plant in Japan

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Arkema has announced the proposed acquisition by the Bostik-Nitta joint-venture of the industrial adhesives of Nitta-Gelatin Inc., as well as the construction of a new world-scale adhesives plant in Japan, as per the company's press release.

These operations will enable Bostik (part of Arkema) to supply its Japanese customers in the buoyant nonwoven markets for hygiene applications and in the packaging, labelling, transportation and electronics industrial markets.

The Bostik-Nitta JV, majority-owned by Bostik, will strengthen its adhesives business in the Japanese market.

This acquisition, representing sales of some EUR30 million, will help step up the development of these activities in fast-growing markets such as electronics and automotive. The acquisition is due to be completed this summer subject to approval by anti-trust authorities.

The Bostik-Nitta JV will also invest in the construction of a new world-scale plant that will include several production lines dedicated on the one hand to adhesives for the nonwoven market for hygiene applications, and on the other to the industrial adhesives markets.

The new facility, to be located in Nara, Japan, should come on stream early 2020. It will enable the Bostik-Nitta JV to support the strong growth of its customers in the Japanese hygiene market and to reinforce the production of some industrial adhesives product lines.

With this operation, Arkema is actively pursuing its strategy to develop its adhesives, which represent one of the major drivers of its long-term growth.

As MRC informed before, in March 2017, Arkema completed the sale to INEOS of its 50% stake in Oxochimie, their oxo alcohols manufacturing joint venture, and of the associated business.

Arkema is a leading European supplier of chlorochemicals and PVC. Kynar and Kynar Flex are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc.
MRC

PE imports to Russia rose by 8% in Jan-Apr

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall imports of polyethylene (PE) into the Russian market increased in the first four months of 2018 by 8% year on year to 187,300 tonnes. Imports of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) grew significantly, according to MRC's DataScope Report.

April PE imports to the Russian market were 48,800 tonnes, compared to 52,200 tonnes a month earlier, local companies increased their purchasing of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and EVA. Overall PE imports reached 187,300 tonnes in the first four months of 2018 versus 173,300 tonnes a year earlier. The HDPE and EVA segments accounted for the increase in imports, whereas LLDPE and LDPE segments accounted for the decrease in imports.

The structure of PE imports looked the following way over the stated period.


April HDPE imports fell to 21,000 tonnes from 22,300 tonnes a month earlier, local companies reduced their purchasing of film grade HDPE in Uzbekistan. Overall HDPE imports reached 80,000 tonnes over the stated period versus 60,900 tonnes a year earlier; shipments of film grade and blow moulding PE increased significantly.

Last month's LLDPE imports were 12,600 tonnes, compared to 14,600 tonnes in March, local companies reduced their shipments of film grade PE. LLDPE imports totalled 48,300 tonnes in January-April 2018 versus 58,700 tonnes a year earlier, Nizhnekamskneftekhim's increased output was the main reason for lower dependence on imports.

April LDPE imports virtually dropped to 7,100 tonnes from 7,700 tonnes a month earlier, shipments of PE for paper lamination were reduced. Overall LDPE imports totalled 28,380 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 29,400 tonnes a year earlier.

Last month's EVA imports exceeded 3,900 tonnes, compared to 3,800 tonnes in March; demand for EVA for compounds production increased. Imports of this ethylene copolymer grade grew by 30% in January-April 2018 to 15,200 tonnes.

Imports of other ethylene polymers were 14,500 tonnes over the stated period, compared to 12,500 tonnes a year earlier.

MRC