U.S. recycled less plastic

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The U.S. plastics recycling rate fell to its lowest level in half a decade, new figures from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show, said Canplastics.

The plastics recycling rate decreased from 9.0% in 2015 to 8.4% in 2017, the EPA said – the 2017 figure covers plastics used in both durable and nondurable products. The last time it was this low was in 2011, EPA said, when the recycling rate was 8.3%.

In terms of plastic packaging, a category of nondurables, the rate decreased from 14.6% in 2015 to 13.0% in 2017. The data showed relative strength in the recycling rate for PET and HDPE natural containers but a significant drop in the rates for “other plastics containers” and films.

Overall, the U.S. used and discarded more plastic but recycled less of it in 2017, the figures show. The weight of plastic generated was 35.4 million tons in 2017, an increase of 2.6% over 2015. The weight recycled in 2017 totaled 3.0 million tons, down 5.1% from 2015. The weight burned for energy recovery in 2017 was 5.6 million tons, up 4.9% from 2015. The weight landfilled was 26.8 million tons, up 3% over 2015.

Across all municipal solid waste (MSW), the U.S. national recycling and composting rate increased from 34.7% in 2015 to 35.2% in 2017, EPA said.

Total weight recycled increased from 91.0 million tons in 2015 to 94.2 million tons in 2017, EPA said, which was up 3.5%. Weight burned for energy recovery increased from 33.6 million tons in 2015 to 34.0 million tons in 2017, up 1.4%. Weight landfilled increased from 137.6 million tons in 2015 to 139.6 million tons, up 1.4%.

In a statement responding to the EPA’s latest figures, The American Chemistry Council (ACC) blamed the recent decline, in part, on the widespread impacts of China’s “National Sword” policy, which has curtailed Asian markets for U.S. recyclers. “At the same time, we’re heartened that one consequence of China’s policy has been a wave of new announcements and investments in domestic recycling here in the United States,” Steve Russell, vice president of ACC’s Plastics Division, added in the statement. “These announcements are coming from across the value chain, from plastics makers and consumer brand companies, to traditional and advanced recyclers, which are adapting quickly and decisively to the new landscape. Data show that domestic markets for recycled plastics are increasing, and we expect this trend to accelerate."

We remind that, Russia's output of chemical products rose in October 2019 by 5.4% month on month.
However, production of basic chemicals increased by 3.9% in the first ten months of 2019. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, the largest increase in production volumes on an annualized basis accounted for mineral fertilizers and polymers in primary form. Thus, 210 ,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in October, compared to 200,000 tonnes a month earlier. Limited production was a result of scheduled shutdowns of several large producers in September-October.
MRC

Implico acquires Dutch cloud specialist Brainum

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The international software and consulting company for the oil and gas sector, Implico, further expands its position in the tank storage market, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Implico acquires the Dutch IT solutions provider Brainum. The merger brings together the innovation programs of both companies, especially in the future-looking areas of cloud and digitization.

The acquisition of Utrecht-based Brainum marks a big step in the global growth strategy of Implico. Henceforth, both partners will bundle their competencies.

With OpenTAS, Implico offers a particularly feature-rich automation software for tank farms and refineries. In addition, Implico develops the SAP downstream solutions. With QINO, Brainum has a powerful cloud-based terminal management system in its portfolio.

After the merger, Brainum will continue to operate autonomously. The acquisition will give Implico better access to the important Benelux market, especially the Netherlands, where numerous oil and gas companies are located.

"The two firms complement each other perfectly," says Tim Hoffmeister, CEO of Implico. "Together with our Dutch colleagues, we will further extend our position as thought leader of digital transformation in downstream. Implico has unique expertise in data communications and web services. Brainum has exceptional knowledge of cloud technologies and tank terminal management. The fusion of this know-how allows for new, future-looking solutions and services."

Martin Keulemans, Managing Director of Brainum, adds: "With Implico as a strong partner by our side, we will proceed on our innovation course. The interest in Brainum is a sign of great appreciation for our team and our work. We are proud and happy to be part of the international Implico family now."
MRC

China’s Sinopec gets green light to develop Weirong shale gas field

MOSCOW (MRC) -- China’s Sinopec has received approval from the ministry of natural resources to develop shale gas at the Weirong gas field in the southwestern province of Sichuan, reported HellenicShippingNews with reference to the refiner's statement.

The company plans to build 166 wells at the gas field with total production capacity of 3 billion cubic metres (bcm) each year.

The first phase of construction is underway, with two testing wells reaching daily output of 313,000 cubic metres and 253,000 cubic metres, respectively, the company said.

China’s shale gas production of about 10.9 bcm in 2018 accounted for less than 7% of total gas output. But a top researcher at PetroChina expects shale gas output could reach 280 bcm by 2035.

As MRC informed before, Sinopec Guangzhou Petrochemical, part of China's petrochemical giant - Sinopec, plans to restart operations at its cracker in early December, 2019. A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company started maintenance at the plant on October 12, 2019. Located in the Guangzhou province of China, the cracker has ethylene production capacity of 260,000 mt/year and propylene production capacity of 150,000 mt/year.

Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polyprolypele (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,589,580 tonnes in the first nine months of 2019, up by 7% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. The estimated PP consumption in the Russian market was 976,790 tonnes in January-September 2019, up by 4% year on year. Shipments of PP block copolymer and homopolymer PP increased.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation or Sinopec Limited is a Chinese oil and gas company based in Beijing, China. Sinopec's business includes oil and gas exploration, refining, and marketing; production and sales of petrochemicals, chemical fibers, chemical fertilizers, and other chemical products; storage and pipeline transportation of crude oil and natural gas; import, export and import/export agency business of crude oil, natural gas, refined oil products, petrochemicals, and other chemicals.
MRC

U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions rose in 2018 for first year since 2014

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Total U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2018 rose to 5.27 B metric tons, 2.7% more than its 2017 level, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The primary reasons for the increase were higher natural gas-related emissions resulting from more extreme summer and winter weather and growth in transportation-related petroleum emissions, linked to a strong economy. U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions declined in 6 of the past 10 years and were 12% lower in 2018 than in 2005, according to a data series published in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Monthly Energy Review.

Coal-related CO2 emissions declined by 4% in 2018, making coal the only fossil fuel with lower CO2 emissions in 2018 compared with 2017. Total U.S. emissions from natural gas first surpassed emissions from coal in 2015. Natural gas consumption has increasingly displaced coal consumption in the electric power sector in recent years.

Natural gas consumption and emissions increased in 2018 largely because of colder winter and hotter summer weather. Natural gas is both the most prevalent home heating fuel and the most prevalent fuel used to generate electricity. Because both heating and cooling demand were higher in 2018, total natural gas emissions increased by 10%.

U.S. petroleum consumption also increased in 2018, contributing to a 1.9% increase in energy-related CO2 emissions from petroleum. Relatively strong economic growth spurred growth in diesel consumption, which resulted in a 6% increase in related CO2 emissions.

As MRC informed earlier, American Chemistry Council (ACC) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes started the fourth quarter on mixed note, with no change in October.

We remind that, Russia's output of chemical products rose in October 2019 by 5.4% month on month.
However, production of basic chemicals increased by 3.9% in the first ten months of 2019. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, the largest increase in production volumes on an annualized basis accounted for mineral fertilizers and polymers in primary form. Thus, 210 ,000 tonnes of ethylene were produced in October, compared to 200,000 tonnes a month earlier. Limited production was a result of scheduled shutdowns of several large producers in September-October.
MRC

Overhaul of Bosnian oil refinery to be completed in mid-2020

MOSCOW (MRC) -- An overhaul of Bosnia's sole oil refinery Brod could be completed in mid-2020, past the previous plans, reported Reuters with reference to a regional energy minister's statement on Tuesday, which dismissed speculation that the debt-laden plant might be closed down.

The refinery, majority owned by Russia's Neftegazinkor, a unit of state-owned oil company Zarubezhneft, was shut in January after it had been hit by a blast which killed one worker and injured nine.

Petar Djokic, the energy minister of Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic, where the refinery is located, had said the operations could restart in a year.

On Tuesday, Djokic told the region's parliament that Russian energy and prime ministers have said the Russian companies would not pull out of Bosnia but would restart production at the refinery in mid-2020.

Auditors warned the refinery, which processed 1.2 million tonnes of crude annually, may face liquidity problems after it piled up losses and its liabilities exceeded assets, but Brod has dismissed those claims.

Oil demand has since been covered through imports from Serbian oil company NIS, majority owned by Russia's Gazprom Neft.

As MRC wrote before, in October 2017, Russian oil producer Gazprom Neft, through its subsidiary Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), started construction of a new deep conversion complex (DCC) at its Pancevo Refinery in Serbia with an investment of over EUR300m. The new complex will be equipped with delayed coking technology. It is anticipated to be ready in 2019 and will help NIS to start production of petroleum coke (pet coke) which is currently not done in the country.

The Gazprom subsidiary holds 56% in NIS, an oil and gas company in which the Serbian government is a major shareholder.
MRC