Modi says India set to double oil refining capacity in 5 years, earlier than expected

MOSCOW (MRC) -- India plans to nearly double its oil refining capacity in the next five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, offering a much more aggressive timeline than previously, despite the coronavirus pandemic blighting the economy, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The country's energy minister was quoted in June as saying India's oil refining capacity could jump to 450-500 million tons in 10 years from the current level of about 250 million tons. But addressing a petroleum university's convocation, Modi said "work is being done to nearly double the country's oil refining capacity in the next five years".

The convocation was also addressed virtually by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, whose Reliance Industries Ltd operates the world's biggest oil refinery in Modi's home state of Gujarat. Modi said India was also aiming to raise the share of natural gas in its energy-consumption mix by up to four times. The cleaner-burning fuel currently accounts for about 6% of the energy consumed in the country.

India would achieve its targets of increasing renewable energy capacity to 175 gigawatts by 2022 and 450 gigawatts by 2030 ahead of schedule, Modi added. The country had renewable energy capacity of about 75 gigawatts at the end of 2018.

As MRC informed earlier, India terminated the anti-dumping investigation on monoethylene glycol (MEG) imports from Kuwait, Oman, the UAE and Singapore. The applicant, Reliance Industries Limited, withdrew the application on anti-dumping investigation via a letter on 18 November stating that “in view of the current situation, they have withdrawn the aforesaid application with a liberty to resubmit the same”, according to a notification from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The anti-dumping investigation was launched on 9 December 2019.

MEG is mainly used in the production of polyester fibres, resins and films (around 80% of global consumption), followed by use in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin. It is also used as automotive antifreeze.

As per MRC' ScanPlast, calculated consumption of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) reached 52,71o tonnes in September 2020, down 27% compared to the same time a year before. Total consumption of PET in Russia in the nine months of 2020 reached 530,750 tonnes, down 22% than the same indicator last year.
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Japan oil refiners chief expects gasoline demand to fall and OPEC+ to delay plan to boost output

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sugimori, who chairs Japan's biggest oil refiner Eneos Holdings Inc, said that Japan's gasoline demand may fall deeper again in December and January due to the recent surge in the COVID-19 infections, reported Reuters.

Japanese gasoline demand is expected to decline only by 2% in November from a year earlier. But the drop may expand to as much as 9% in December-January, he said, matching the fall seen in August when the number of coronavirus cases spiked.

The head of the Petroleum Association of Japan (PAJ) said on Friday he expects a grouping of OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, will likely delay a plan to boost output in January and stick to existing curbs of 7.7 million barrels per day (bpd).

"Given the weaker oil demand amid the resurgence of COVID-19 infections, OPEC+ is likely to keep the current curbs ... after January," Tsutomu Sugimori, president of PAJ, told a news conference.

OPEC+, comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers, will discuss policy at a meeting on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

The 7.7 million bpd reduction was implemented earlier this year to try to counter the impact of a drop in demand triggered by coronavirus lockdowns around the world.

Sources say OPEC+ members are now leaning towards delaying a previously agreed plan to raise output in January by 2 million bpd.

Tokyo raised its coronavirus alert to the highest level on Thursday as its daily tally of new infections rose to a record 534 and its governor called for maximum caution as the year-end holiday season approaches.

As MRC informed earlier, ENEOS Corporation (formerly known as JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy) is planning to take its larger naphtha cracker in Kawasaki off-line on 1 December 2020 for repairment after a technical issue reported at the butadiene separation unit last week. The cracker is currently operating at 95% capacity and would slowly reduce the run rates to completely shut down by the beginning of December. The cracker with an annual capacity of 515,000 tons/year of ethylene, 300,000 tons/year of propylene, and 105,000 tons/year of butadiene would be shut for a month. The company’s smaller cracker at the same location is not affected by the issue.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,594,510 tonnes in the first nine months of 2020, up by 1% year on year. Only high denstiy polyethylene (HDPE) shipments increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 880,130 tonnes in the nine months of 2020 (calculated using the formula: production minus exports plus imports, excluding producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply increased exclusively of PP random copolymer.

Japan's largest refiner JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy was renamed ENEOS Corporation on 25 June, 2020, as part of a wider re-organization of the parent company JXTG Holdings. The move, which also involved renaming the parent company to ENEOS Holdings upon approval at its annual shareholders meeting in June 2020, comes as it strives to be a more comprehensive energy and materials company under its 2040 vision announced in May, 2019. JXTG Holdings was formed as a result of a merger between JX Holdings and TonenGeneral in April 2017. This followed the establishment of JX Holdings as a result of the merger between Nippon Oil and Nippon Mining Holdings in April 2010.
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Hydrogen prospectus reveals future of South Australia renewables

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The South Australia state government will today launch its hydrogen prospectus, detailing three hydrogen hubs to position the region at the forefront of global clean hydrogen production and exportation, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The three hubs are located at Port Bonython, Port Adelaide and Cape Hardy/Port Spencer. Just one of the hydrogen hubs could at least double the current installed capacity of solar and wind farms in South Australia. Minister for Energy and Mining, Dan van Holst Pellekaan said the prospectus shows that South Australia’s world class wind and solar resources can underpin our international competitiveness as an exporter of clean hydrogen to Asia and other regions.

@Hydrogen is shaping up as a game-changer in the fight against climate change and our aim is to get the cost down so that it’s a commercially attractive option for heavy transport, power generation and use by industry,” said the minister. “This prospectus reveals that South Australia can become a national and international exporter of clean power, while achieving the goal of net-100% renewable energy.

"The hub at Port Bonython in the Upper Spencer Gulf could export industrial-scale green hydrogen around Whyalla and Port Augusta. The minister will launch the Hydrogen Export Modelling Tool and Prospectus during the state government’s Clean Energy Month webinars, and said the announcement will continue the spotlight on the Marshall government’s ambitions in the green hydrogen and renewable energy sectors.

“This is a key step in our plan to make South Australia a consumer and exporter of clean hydrogen. “This Prospectus and tool builds on the government’s Hydrogen Action Plan, which was released at the International Conference on Hydrogen safety in September 2019."

South Australia already has Australia’s largest electrolyser at Hydrogen Park SA at Tonsley. “This new Prospectus and modelling tool cements our credentials as a world-class place to do business and leading renewable hydrogen producer and supplier to the world."

As MRC informed previously, global oil demand may have already peaked, according to BP's latest long-term energy outlook, as the COVID-19 pandemic kicks the world economy onto a weaker growth trajectory and accelerates the shift to cleaner fuels.

Earlier this year, BP said the deadly coronavirus outbreak could cut global oil demand growth by 40 per cent in 2020, putting pressure on Opec producers and Russia to curb supplies to keep prices in check.

And in September 2019, six world's major petrochemical companies in Flanders, Belgium, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and the Netherlands (Trilateral Region) announced the creation of a consortium to jointly investigate how naphtha or gas steam crackers could be operated using renewable electricity instead of fossil fuels. The Cracker of the Future consortium, which includes BASF, Borealis, BP, LyondellBasell, SABIC and Total, aims to produce base chemicals while also significantly reducing carbon emissions. The companies agreed to invest in R&D and knowledge sharing as they assess the possibility of transitioning their base chemical production to renewable electricity.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,594,510 tonnes in the first nine months of 2020, up by 1% year on year. Only high denstiy polyethylene (HDPE) shipments increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 880,130 tonnes in the nine months of 2020 (calculated using the formula: production minus exports plus imports, excluding producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply increased exclusively of PP random copolymer.
MRC

North American primary plastics machinery shipments continue recovery in third quarter

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Shipments of primary plastics machinery – injection molding and extrusion – in North America increased by double-digits in the third quarter, according to statistics compiled and reported by the Washington, DC-based Plastics Industry Association’s committee on equipment statistics (CES), said Canplastics.

The preliminary estimate of shipments value from reporting companies totalled US$306.7 million – a 15.8% increase, following a 4.5% increase in the second quarter. Compared to the third quarter last year, plastics machinery shipments were 4.6% higher. The value of shipments of single- and twin-screw extruders grew 27.4% and 17.5%, respectively, in the third quarter. Shipments of injection molding equipment were up 15.0% from the previous quarter and 7.9% above the third quarter last year.

Plastics machinery exports in the third quarter totalled US$298.8 million, the report said, which is a 3.4% increase from the previous quarter. Imports rose by 16.2% to US$754.6 million, resulting in a US$455.8 million trade deficit, 26.4% larger than the previous quarter. Canada and Mexico remained the top export markets for U.S. equipment suppliers in the third quarter. The combined exports to the USMCA trade partners totalled US$124.5 million, which represents 41.7% of total U.S. plastics machinery exports in the third quarter.

"Shipments of plastics machinery have increased for two consecutive quarters,” said Perc Pineda, chief economist for the trade association. “The double-digit increases in the third quarter are in sync with the quicker-than-expected turnaround in other plastics end-markets in addition to healthcare and consumer essentials."

Most likely, shipments of machinery will also increase in the final quarter of 2020 as the economy continues to recover, Pineda added. The CES also surveys plastics machinery suppliers every quarter about present market conditions and expectations. In the coming quarter, 76.0% of respondents expect conditions to either improve or hold steady compared to a year ago – higher than the 36.0% that felt similarly in the second quarter. “As for the next 12 months, 89.8% expect market conditions to be steady-to-better, significantly above the 48.0% in the previous quarter’s survey,” CES said.

"It appears that the second quarter was the trough of the business cycle, as the economy slowed due to the pandemic,” Pineda said. “Recent data point to an industry that’s moving towards the pre-COVID-19 level of activity. The industrial production index on plastics products manufacturing rose for five consecutive months through September."

“The plastics industry is an essential industry, and businesses stayed open to ensure uninterrupted supply for products in the healthcare sector,” Pineda continued. “The pace of economic recovery, however, is not without risks, and its path will depend to a great extent on the containment of the coronavirus. Nevertheless, the overall outlook for plastics machinery and the industry has turned more favorable in recent months."

As MRC informed earlier, Swedish polymer product and component maker Nolato Group has completed its acquisition of U.S. medical technology company GW Plastics. First announced in August 2020, the deal sees GW Plastics’ seven global manufacturing facilities joining Nolato’s 25-plus facilities around the world. Bethel, Vermont-based GW Plastics has also subsequently rebranded to Nolato GW Inc.

We remind that Russia's output of chemical products rose in September 2020 by 6.7% year on year. At the same time, production of basic chemicals increased by 6.1% year on year in the first nine months of 2020, according to Rosstat's data. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, polymers in primary form accounted for the greatest increase in the January-September output. Last month's production of primary polymers decreased to 852,000 tonnes from 888,000 tonnes in August due to shutdowns in Tomsk, Ufa and Kazan. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 7,480,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 16.4% year on year.
MRC

America plastic makers invite collaboration with Congress to create circular and sustainable systems

MOSCOW (MRC) -- As part of its recognition of America Recycles Day, America’s plastic makers called on Congress to work with industry to prioritize recycling legislation in 2021, said Americanchemistry.

"The plastics industry has set an ambitious goal of reusing, recycling or recovering 100% of plastic packaging in the U.S. by 2040,” said Joshua Baca, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council (ACC). “All of us have an interest in ensuring that plastics are collected and recycled into new and valuable products instead of ending up in our environment, and success will require many forms of collaboration. We look forward to working with Congress on ways to create more circular solutions for plastics. Last month we released a Roadmap to Reuse, a framework that outlines steps to grow recycling and recovery in the U.S., and guiding principles for eliminating plastic waste that can help shape legislation and other actions to help grow recycling and recovery of plastics."

Multiple approaches are outlined in our guiding principles to help grow and modernize plastics recycling domestically, including: National standards for recycling programs, education, and plastic bales, to harmonize best practices and greatly scale buying and selling of recycled plastics;

Multi-material packaging fees and higher disposal fees to support funding for basic collection, access to infrastructure and consumer education;

Recycled content legislation, which would help facilitate greater use of recycled plastics in new packaging and other goods;

Earlier in 2020, ACC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Energy to support innovations in plastics recycling and recovery technologies and strengthen domestic supply chains while improving economic and environmental outcomes. ACC also works closely with other partners including The Recycling Partnership, Closed Loop Partners and the Association of Plastic Recyclers on a variety of plastics recycling projects.

As MRC informed earlier, Swedish polymer product and component maker Nolato Group has completed its acquisition of U.S. medical technology company GW Plastics. First announced in August 2020, the deal sees GW Plastics’ seven global manufacturing facilities joining Nolato’s 25-plus facilities around the world. Bethel, Vermont-based GW Plastics has also subsequently rebranded to Nolato GW Inc.

We remind that Russia's output of chemical products rose in September 2020 by 6.7% year on year. At the same time, production of basic chemicals increased by 6.1% year on year in the first nine months of 2020, according to Rosstat's data. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, polymers in primary form accounted for the greatest increase in the January-September output. Last month's production of primary polymers decreased to 852,000 tonnes from 888,000 tonnes in August due to shutdowns in Tomsk, Ufa and Kazan. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 7,480,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 16.4% year on year.
MRC