KBC establishes Energy and Sustainability Co-Pilot hub in Singapore

MOSCOW (MRC) -- KBC (A Yokogawa Company) announced the launch of a new Energy and Sustainability Co-Pilot hub in Singapore to address the Singapore government’s environmental sustainability initiatives, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The new Singapore-based Co-Pilot hub and team will build and adapt energy management and optimization systems, conduct research and development to create the next generation of energy analytics applications, and deliver KBC’s cloud-based solutions.

The first solution to come from the Energy and Sustainability Co-Pilot hub is KBC’s Energy and Sustainability Co-Pilot service. Co-Pilot securely connects KBC’s energy and carbon emissions management software to data sources in an industrial plant creating its ‘digital twin’. Through a combination of rigorous analytical technology and human expertise, it determines how to help the plant reduce energy usage and emissions without affecting production goals.

Co-Pilot is available immediately and will enable a plant to simultaneously optimize the supply, demand and re-use of energy. It has a modest set-up cost and a monthly subscription, which results in a risk-free cashflow positive program for customers. It will reduce site energy use and carbon emissions by around 10 percent leading to significant economic returns of between 5 and 10 times the investment, driven primarily by lower operating costs.

The impetus behind the Energy and Sustainability Co-Pilot hub is to enable Energy and Chemical companies in Singapore to comply with legislative requirements around energy and carbon emission reduction. KBC’s parent company, Yokogawa, has a long history of co-innovation with industry in Singapore and a strong commitment to supporting achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and providing solutions to improve the energy and environmental performance of the industries it serves.

The Singapore Government has a strong philosophy of environmental sustainability. “Singapore is accelerating efforts to reduce carbon emissions and encourage energy efficiency across industries, as part of our commitment towards climate change. KBC’s new Energy and Sustainability Co-Pilot hub will complement our sustainability goals, combining the latest digital technologies and their operational know-how to partner businesses along this journey,” said Mr Lim Kok Kiang, assistant managing director, Singapore Economic Development Board.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global specialty materials company, will increase November list and off-list selling prices for Ateva EVA polymers in Asia and the Americas, as per the company's press release.

The price increases below will be effective for orders shipped on or after November 1, 2018, or as contracts otherwise allow, and are incremental to any previously announced increases.

Thus, the company's EVA prices will go up by USD110/mt for Asia, by USD0.05/mt - for USA & Canada and by USD110/mt - for Mexico & South America.

As MRC wrote before, Celanese Corporation has raised October list and off-list selling prices for Vinyl Acetate Ethylene (EVA) emulsions sold in China and Asia Outside China (AOC). The price increases were effective as of 5 October, or as contracts otherwise allow, and were incremental to any previously announced increases. Thus, Celanese raised VAM list and off-list selling prices by RMB200/mt for China and by USD50/mt - for AOC.

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Celanese employs approximately 7,600 employees worldwide and had 2017 net sales of USD6.1 billion.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Molson Coors recently broke ground in the City of Longueuil for what will be the company’s most modern brewing facility and distribution center to date, as per Businessfacilities.

The new brewery and distribution center is one of the largest investments in Molson Coors’ 230-year history in Canada and demonstrates its ongoing commitment to Greater Montreal.

For Frederic Landtmeters, president and CEO, Molson Coors Canada, this project connects the company’s storied past to the industry’s future.

"Molson Coors Canada is the oldest continuously operating brewer in North America, and Canada’s second oldest company," said Landtmeters. "I’m confident that this new integrated distribution center and brewery will enable the company to support more efficiently Quebec’s direct store delivery model, to meet the challenging demands of Quebec markets and remain competitive."

"The project will be our most modern and forward-looking production facility and distribution center," added Matthew Hook, chief supply chain officer, Molson Coors Canada. "The new brewery will be equipped with improved technologies that will allow us to reduce our energy consumption, CO2 emissions and carbon footprint, such as optimized equipment layouts to reduce beer loss and waste, and a state-of-the-art CO2 recovery system."

"Molson’s arrival is a milestone in Longueuil’s business history and proves without any doubt that our city has established itself as a partner of choice for a company of this magnitude, while also serving as a testament to our economic vitality," said Longueuil Mayor Sylvie Parent.

The location, with an area of more than 140 acres, offers access to high quality water, highways, ports, Hydro-Quebec services, natural-gas conduits, as well as a nearby wastewater treatment plant. As such, it meets all of the essential criteria for modern brewing operations.

Molson Coors Canada will seek LEEDS certification for the facility, which is consistent with the brewer’s drive for optimal performance standards related to sustainability and respect for the environment. It will be one of the few certified industrial sites in Canada.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The end of the maintenance period at the largest plants and a seasonal decrease in demand led to a reduction in high density polyethylene (HDPE) prices in the Russian market in the second half of October, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

September and the first half of October is traditionally a period of peak HDPE prices in the Russian market. This year was no exception, scheduled shutdowns for turnarounds at the two largest producers and strong demand in the first month of autumn led to a record increase in HDPE prices. As expected, prices began to gradually roll back in the second half of October.

Kazanorgsintez, Russia's largest HDPE producer, was the first to shut its production capacities for scheduled maintenance, the turnaround started on 26 September and lasted slightly less than one month. Stavrolen, Russa's second largest producer, took off-stream its production for 10 days on 1 October.

In order to compensate for the temporary outage at the two largest manufacturers, Nizhnekamskneftekhim switched to HDPE production in the third decade of September. But this factor did not help to balance the market situation.

By mid-September, prices for a number of HDPE grades had reached their peak. Thus, in a number of cases, deals for film grade polyethylene (PE) reached Rb118,000/tonne FCA, including VAT, and higher. Prices of black PE 100 reached Rb124,000/tonne FCA, including VAT.

High prices, to which it was difficult for some converters to adapt, and seasonal factors began to put pressure on demand in the second half of September. Demand continued to subside in the first half of October, with some converters deliberately limiting their purchases, waiting for prices to fall with the launch of two plants after the turnarounds.

Prices of imported HDPE accounted for the greatest reduction last week. Thus, prices of Uzbek film grade and blow moulding PE dropped to Rb109,000-111,000/tonne FCA, including VAT, and Rb108,000-109,000/tonne FCA, including VAT, respectively.

Restrictions on shipments of certain HDPE grades from some producers remained, but they were not critical for the market.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Total and CNOOC1 have signed an amendment to their existing sale and purchase agreement (SPA) for liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply to further strengthen their cooperation in the LNG business, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The partners have increased the contract volume from 1 million tons per annum (Mtpa) to 1.5 Mtpa of LNG, sourced from Total’s global LNG portfolio, and have extended the term of contract to 20 years.

The initial long-term LNG SPA was signed in 2008, with an annual contract volume of 1 Mtpa for a period of 15 years.

"We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with CNOOC to expand our presence in the Chinese LNG market, which grew by 50% over the first half of 2018 and will continue to drive the increase of LNG demand over the next decade," commented Philippe Sauquet, President Gas, Renewables and Power.

With a portfolio of 15.6 million tons managed in 2017, Total is one of the world’s leading players in the sector, with solid and diversified positions across the LNG value chain. Through its stakes in liquefaction plants located in Qatar, Nigeria, Russia, Norway, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Australia, Angola and Yemen, the Group sells LNG in all global markets.

Following the acquisition of Engie’s LNG business, Total became the second-largest Private global LNG player among the majors, with an overall LNG portfolio of around 40 Mtpa by 2020 and a worldwide market share of 10%.

LNG development is a key element of the Group strategy, which is strengthening its upstream positions in the major production regions with projects in Russia, the Middle East, the U.S. and Australasia, as well as its downstream positions in all markets.

MRC