Petlin sets date for maintenance work at LDPE plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Petlin Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Petronas has set the maintenance shutdown date at its sole LDPE plant in Kertih, Malaysia on 22 August 2019, said Commoplast.

The unit is expected to remain off-line for 30 days, a source close to the company said.

The LDPE plant has an annual capacity of 250,000 tons.

Meanwhile, it is reported that the company is operating its HDPE plant at a lower rate due to a mechanical issue.

As MRC informed earlier, in July 2013, Petlin shut its low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant for maintenance turnaround.
MRC

PE imports to Ukraine rose by 9% in H1 2019

MOSCOW (MRC) - Imports of polyethylene (PE) into Ukraine increased to about 131,100 tonnes in the first six months of 2019, up 9% compared to the same period of 2018. The high density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the main increase in imports, according to MRC's DataScope report.

Last month's PE imports to Ukraine dropped to 19,800 tonnes from 21,100 tonnes in June, shipments of HDPE decreased. Overall PE imports reached 131,100 tonnes in January-June 2019, compared to 120,500 tonnes a year earlier. Import deliveries of HDPE and linear polyethylene increased, while imports of other types of ethylene polymers decreased.

The supply structure by PE grades looked the following way over the stated period.
Last month's HDPE imports fell to 6,800 tonnes from 8,700 tonnes in June, with pipe grade PE accounting for the reduction in shipments. Overall HDPE imports reached 48,800 tonnes in the first six months of 2019, compared to 37,200 tonnes a year earlier.

June imports of low density polyethylene (LDPE) into Ukraine were about 5,700 tonnes against 5,100 tonnes a month earlier. Overall LDPE imports reached 37,400 tonnes over the stated period, down 5% year on year.

Last month's imports of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) were about 6,400 tonnes, compared to 6,500 tonnes in May. In general, January - June LLDPE imports into Ukraine increased to 38,800 tonnes compared with 36,900 tonnes year on year.

Imports of other grades of polyethylene, including EVA for the period under review reached about 6,200 tonnes against 7,000 tonnes a year earlier.


MRC

Output cuts boost Asia oil refining margins to highest since Sept 2017

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Asia oil refining margins have more than tripled in the past four weeks to hit their highest since September 2017, data showed after refiners cut output and tightened fuel supplies, reported Reuters.

The complex refining margin for a typical Singapore refinery had rebounded to USD9.37 a barrel at the close of Asia’s markets on Thursday, up from USD2.74 a barrel on June 21, the lowest for June since 2003.

Profits for gasoline, naphtha, diesel, jet fuel and high-sulfur fuel oil rose this month after several refiners across Asia either reduced output or shut down plants for maintenance from late in the second-quarter after refining margins slumped to their lowest for the season since 2003.

Refinery shutdowns in China also propped up the market as state oil majors cut back exports.

Refineries globally have also started to scale down high-sulfur fuel oil production six months ahead of a switch to lower sulfur marine fuel.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will require ships to burn fuel with 0.5% sulfur instead of the current 3.5% from the start of next year.
MRC

Ex-owner of Russian largest independent oil refinery arrested

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A former owner of the debt-laden Antipinsky refinery, Russia’s largest independent oil-processing plant, was arrested in Moscow, reported Reuters with reference to his company's statement.

New Stream group said its head, Dmitry Mazurov, was arrested by the Investigative Committee on Saturday at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport when he arrived back in Russia.

A court in Moscow ruled on Monday that Dmitry Mazurov, the former owner of Russia’s largest independent oil-processing plant, would be held in custody until September 12 pending trial on suspicion of embezzling 1.8 billion roubles (USD28.75 million).

Authorities were not immediately available for comment.

Last month, SOCAR Energoresurs, a joint venture between Russia’s largest lender, Sberbank, and a group of investors, acquired an 80% stake in the Antipinsky refinery. Sberbank is the plant’s main creditor.

The plant, which has an annual capacity of 9 million tonnes, filed for bankruptcy in May, weeks after a London court ordered its assets to be frozen in response to a lawsuit from a trading house.

Court data showed there were 346.5 billion roubles (USD5.5 billion) of claims against the refinery.

JSC Antipinsky Refinery was founded in July 2004 on the territory of one of the major oil and gas producing constituents of the Russian Federation - Tyumen Region, where most of Russian oil (64%) and natural gas (91%) reserves are concentrated.
MRC

Sasol celebrates opening of new alkoxylation plant

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sasol Limited, an international integrated chemicals and energy company, has announced the opening of its new alkoxylation plant in Nanjing, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This facility the company’s largest expansion project in China - will more than double its alkoxylation production capacity in the region and will be supported by growing research and development and technical customer support capabilities.

Mr Bongani Nqwababa, Joint President and CEO of Sasol, Ms. Debora Balatseng, Charge’d Affairs of South African Embassy in China, and Ms. Mpho Hlahla, Consul General Shanghai, South African Consulate-General, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate this milestone achievement. Chinese government officials in attendance at the ceremony included Mr. Zhou Jinliang, Executive Deputy Director of Nanjing Jiangbei New Area Administrative Committee, and Mr. BIAN Zhongwu, Director of Nanjing Jiangbei New Materials High-Tech Park, along with other Sasol executives and employees, business partners and customers.

"Our expansion in China underpins our chemicals business ambitions to diversify geographically, participate in high-growth markets and grow in differentiated applications. For more than 25 years, we have been active in providing high-quality surfactants in China, where we see ongoing shifts towards high value and differentiated segments," said Nqwababa.

"I am confident this expansion will enable us to better support local customer requirements and our pursuit for continued long-term growth in the world’s most important emerging market," he added.

Located at the Nanjing Jiangbei New Material Hi-Tech Park (formerly known as Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park), construction of this 35-acre site commenced in June 2017 and the plant reached beneficial operation in April this year. The plant will expand Sasol’s current alkoxylation capability to approximately 150 kilotons per annum (ktpa), with additional facilities for the production of anionic surfactants.

The new plant can operate using either branched or linear alcohols to meet the differentiated customer requirements in applications such as detergents, personal care, textile and leather, metalworking and lubrication, inks, paints and coatings, as well oil and gas, enhanced oil recovery and industrial cleaning.

As the first fully Sasol-owned production facility in Asia, Sasol has been a producer of surfactants, including non-ionic alcohol ethoxylates as well as anionic alcohol ether sulfates, in China since 1992. The project is not only a significant expansion of Sasol’s current operational footprint in the market, but also the first step towards a robust, differentiated expansion strategy for Sasol’s Performance Chemicals business throughout the broader Asian region.

"Comprising state-of-the-art process technology, the plant will operate to the highest standards of operational safety, reliability and flexibility. Furthermore, this technology allows us to minimise environmental impacts in full compliance with stringent environmental protection measures set by the government," said Shentu Hongxing, Vice President Operations China and Managing Director Sasol China.

"We look forward to making a larger contribution to both the regional economy and a greener environment - all while continuing to serve our customers with high quality tailored solutions."

As MRC informed before, in May 2019, Sasol Ltd., the world's biggest maker of fuel from coal, said the cost of its giant Lake Charles chemicals project in Louisiana will balloon to as much as USD12.9 billion, or about 50% more than initially planned.
MRC