Refinery delivers first IMO-spec fuel oil

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinopec Corp’s Jinling refinery in the eastern province of Jiangsu produced its first cargo of low-sulfur marine fuel of 4,200 tons, reported Reuters with reference to the state oil and gas group.

The Sinopec statement did not give further details, but a refinery executive told Reuters the fuel meets the new International Maritime Organization (IMO) emission standards, with sulfur content lower than 0.5 percent.

The plant becomes one of China’s first refineries making marine fuel able to meet the IMO specifications, following Sinopec subsidiaries such as Shanghai Petrochemical Corp and the refinery in Hainan that rolled out pilot productions in small qualities.

IMO will ban ships from using fuel oil with a sulfur content above 0.5 percent, compared with 3.5 percent now, unless they are equipped with exhaust "scrubbers" to clean up sulfur emissions, starting in 2020.

As MRC informed earlier, in September 2018, Sinopec Corp joined a group planning to build an oil refinery in Alberta, an enterprise that would strengthen demand for the Canadian province's heavily discounted crude. Thus, state-owned Sinopec, formally known as China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, along with an Alberta indigenous group, China State Construction Engineering Corp and Alberta management company Teedrum, plan to build a refinery to process 167,000 barrels per day of crude into gasoline and other products.

Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest scale integrated energy and chemical company with upstream, midstream and downstream operations. Its principal business includes: exploring, developing, producing and trading crude oil and natural gas; producing, storing, transporting and distributing and marketing petroleum products, petrochemical products, synthetic fiber, fertilizer and other chemical products. Its refining capacity and ethylene capacity rank No.2 and No.4 globally. Sinopec listed in Hong Kong, New York, London and Shanghai in August 2001.
MRC

MOL Group enters recycled plastic compounding by acquiring Aurora Group

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Hungary-based MOL Group has announced that it has signed a sales-purchase agreement to acquire Aurora, a recycled plastic compounder with production plants located nearby automotive manufacturing and plastics conversion clusters in Baden-Wu?rttemberg, Germany, as per Eppm.

Aurora is a medium-size German company, headquartered in Neuenstein, with a unique and lean closed loop concept assuming collection of post-industrial plastic waste, regrinding and compounding. The company’s portfolio largely consists of engineering plastics and polypropylene recyclate-based compounds.

With this investment, MOL will be able to offer a wide range of high-quality polyamide, polypropylene and other recyclate-based compounds, complementing its existing portfolio of virgin polypropylene and polyethylene. Leveraging on Aurora’s knowhow and loop logistic system, MOL will enable customers to reach higher recycled material contents in their products.

Ferenc Horvath, MOL Group Executive Vice President of Downstream, said: “In line with our MOL 2030 strategy, we have reached yet another milestone on our transformational journey to become the leading chemical player in the CEE region. This partnership will enable us to grow and add value to our petrochemical business as well as to increase our footprint in the automotive supplier market. As an established polymer player, we plan to use the strength of our integrated business model, while keeping the flexibility of Aurora as an independent compounder. At the same time, Aurora’s operations profile complements our initiatives in the recycling sector and reaffirm our commitment to sustainability and circular economy."

Gerhard Schweinle, Founder and Member of the Management Board of Aurora, added: “In MOL Group, we have found a partner with the same drive for sustainable development and innovation. We are confident that MOL is the ideal partner for our company to advance our ambitious goals with regard to sustainability and environmental protection, even more intensively than before… Aurora will continue to expand its expertise in the processing of engineering plastics."

One of the cornerstones of MOL Group 2030 strategy is to expand the company’s petrochemicals value chain. Compounding and recycling are among the key areas defined in MOL’s 2030 Strategy and the automotive industry is a strategic sector, where both MOL and Aurora recognise a growing demand for recycled materials.

The transaction is subject to the relevant merger control approvals.
MRC

GEA to supply thomas zement turnkey plant for the reduction of NOx in flue gas

MOSCOW (MRC) -- GEA has received an order from thomas zement for a turnkey plant for the reduction of NOx in flue gas, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The order comprises two new reactors for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) including handling of the flue gas transport by induced draft (ID) fans and integration into the Erwitte production site. The contract also includes engineering services as well as the supply, installation and commissioning of steel structures, SCR catalysts, ID fans, heating circuits, duct connection and adaptation of NH3 injection from existing storage tanks. Production can continue during the installation of the SCR unit. Another very important advantage for the customer: Only a short changeover time is required.

With this investment, thomas zement is supplementing the existing non-catalytic technology. After installation, this will create one of the most environmentally friendly cement production plants in Europe.

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a technique for the reduction of nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases from industrial plants. The chemical reaction at the SCR catalyst is selective. This means that the nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) are preferably reduced, while undesirable side reactions such as the oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide are largely suppressed. SCR technology reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) in the the catalyst passing gas flow upto 95 percent. The core is the catalyst, which makes it possible to reduce the reaction temperature from around 1000°C to a range of 230°C to 400°C. High reduction rates can thus be achieved with a minimum of ammonia slip.

Due to an adequate low sulfur concentration and a sufficient temperature level, the SCR unit is installed low-dust behind the existing fabric filters. This arrangement has already proven itself in three successfully operated plants with the lowest NOx and NH3 emissions. Analyses of catalyst samples consistently show no loss of the high reactivity of the selected material and thus a long catalyst life.

GEA has more than 120 years of experience in exhaust gas purification for industrial applications such as cement, glass, iron and steel, non-ferrous and chemical industries and is a world leader in the provision of process technology, equipment and services.
MRC

Fire breaks out at Lukoil refinery in Perm

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A fire broke out at a refinery of Russian oil producer Lukoil in Russia’s Urals region of Perm on Sunday but has been extinguished, reported Reuters with reference to local emergency services' statement.

There were no injuries, they said.

Lukoil did not reply to a Reuters’ request for comment.

As MRC informed before, on 10 May 2017, a fire erupeted at a refinery of Russia's No. 2 oil producer Lukoil in the city of Perm in the Urals region. The fire was localised at around 0300 GMT and an open combustion was extinguished two hours later.

Lukoil is one of the leading vertically integrated oil company in Russia. The main activities of the company include operations for exploration and production of oil and gas, production and sale of petroleum products. Lukoil is the second largest private oil Company worldwide by proven hydrocarbon reserves. In Lukoil structure includes one of the largest Russian and Ukrainian petrochemical industries Stavrolen and Karpatneftekhim.
MRC

Unilever aims for 50 per cent recycled content in N. American products

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Consumer packaged goods provider Unilever North America has pledging that its plastic packaging in North America will contain 50 per cent recycled content by the end of this year, as per Canplastics.

The Netherlands-based company’s new three-part plan – unveiled as part of retail giant Walmart Inc.’s sustainability meeting in Bentonville, Ark. – is designed to provide better choices for plastic packaging, add clear recycling instructions on packages, and launch a shopper education program in partnership with Walmart.

"We know that the response from the consumer goods industry is critical in determining the speed that positive change takes place around plastic packaging, and using less, better or no plastics is a priority at Unilever,” Amanda Sourry, president of Unilever North America, said in a statement. “Today, we are significantly accelerating our plastic packaging commitments in North America and are thrilled to be working alongside other industry leaders like Walmart to push these initiatives forward."

In addition to reaching 50 per cent recycled content in plastic packaging this year, the Unilever North America announcements include adding “How2Recycle” labels on all packaging by 2021 as a way to reduce confusion about complex recycling systems; and partnering with Walmart on the “Bring it to the Bin” shopper education program, which incentivizes and educates customers about recycling all packaging, including products used in the bathroom, when it launches later this year.

"These Unilever initiatives are important steps, but we can’t create a circular economy for plastic packing in isolation,” Sourry said. “We need collective action to take the problem at the source."

Unilever is one of the world’s largest suppliers of beauty & personal care, home care, and foods & refreshment products with sales in over 190 countries. In Canada and the U.S., Unilever’s portfolio includes Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Dove, Hellmann’s, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Love Beauty and Planet, Magnum, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond’s, Popsicle, Pure Leaf, Q-tips, Seventh Generation, Simple, Sir Kensington’s, St. Ives, Suave, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TAZO, TIGI, TRESemme, and Vaseline.
MRC