Tupras uses Honeywell technology to increase diesel fuel production at Izmit

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Honeywell announced Tupras is improving the performance of its existing Honeywell UOP enhanced two-stage Unicracking process with the addition of an external heavy polynuclear aromatics (HPNA) stripper at its Izmit refinery, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The HPNA stripper will enable Tupras to maximize conversion in the unit, increasing unit profitability through an increase in the yields of distillates and the flexibility to process heavier feedstocks.

UOP provided the basic engineering, catalysts and technical services for the project. UOP has more than 30 years’ experience in HPNA management and has commercially proven solutions for new units and existing units enabling customers to achieve near 100% conversion throughout the entire catalyst cycle life. The innovative HPNA side stripper technology applied at the Izmit refinery allows Tupras to carry out pioneering projects throughout its refinery sites and advance its production processes.

"UOP HPNA management solutions improve unit performance and profitability via increased conversion to high value products through enhanced catalyst performance due to slower catalyst deactivation,” said Bryan Glover, vice president and general manager, UOP’s Process Technologies business. “The external HPNA stripper increases the unit’s conversion efficiency by mechanically removing HPNAs that cause deactivation of the catalyst, and lets customers use heavier feedstocks."

Since UOP's Unicracking process was introduced in 1960, the technology has advanced through the development of more effective catalysts, enhanced unit designs and novel reactor internals. Available in single- and two-stage processes, the technology is designed to produce higher yields of transportation fuels that adhere to tighter regulations using a wider range of feedstocks.

Honeywell UOP has licensed more than 240 Unicracking units in more than 50 countries. Including the Tupras unit at Izmit, UOP has licensed 19 enhanced two-stage Unicracking process units, with additional operating units in China and Turkey.

The Unicracking unit at Tupras is integrated with other UOP process technologies, including coker naphtha and distillate Unionfining units. The system, whose feedstocks include straight run diesel, coker gas oil and vacuum gas oils, was designed with a common fractionation section, reducing capital costs and improving Tupras' return on investment.

As MRC informed earlier, Honeywell's performance materials and technologies unit reports third-quarter net profit of USD442 million, down 24.0% year on year (YOY), on sales down 15.6% YOY, to USD2.2 billion. Honeywell (HON) - Get Report on Friday posted third-quarter adjusted earnings that beat analysts’ forecasts and sales ahead of predictions as double-digit growth in its defense and space, warehouse automation and PPE products and services offset a drop in aerospace revenue.

As MRC informed earlier, Honeywell UOP has announced that French energy company Total will utilize Honeywell UOP’s Ecofining process technology to produce renewable fuels, primarily for the aviation industry, at its Grandpuits platform at Seine-et-Marne in north central France. Once completed, the bio-refinery will process 400,000 tons of feed per year, producing up to 170,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel, 120,000 tons of renewable diesel and 50,000 tons of renewable naphtha for production of bioplastics.

We remind, Honeywell announced Zhenhua Petrochemical Co. Ltd will use Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex technology for propane dehydrogenation to process 1 million metric tons per year of polymer-grade propylene for a proposed plant in Dongying City, Shandong Province, China.

As MRC reported earlier, in May, 2020, Honeywell announced that Enterprise Products Partners L.P. will use Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex technology in its second propane dehydrogenation plant, called "PDH 2". Located near Mont Belvieu, Texas, PDH 2 will produce 750,000 metric tons per year of polymer-grade propylene as part of Enterprise’s expansion of propylene manufacturing capacity.

Propylene is the main feedstock for the production of polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, 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

Epsilyte raises EPS resin prices

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Epsilyte (The Woodlands, Texas), a leading North American producer of expandable polystyrene (EPS), says it is increasing prices for all EPS grades, effective as of 1 January 2021 or as contracts allow, reported Chemweek.

The price rise will be USD0.06/lb. The increase is necessary “based on supply and demand dynamics, and the need for the business to achieve reinvestment economics,” the EPS producer says.

As MRC informed before, in November 2020, private equity company Wynnchurch Capital acquired Drew Foam Companies for an undisclosed sum. Monticello, Arkansas-based Drew Foam makes custom fabricated and moulded EPS products for the packaging, building products and OEM/consumer end markets. It offers both fabricated block and shape moulding capabilities across four manufacturing facilities in the Southeast US.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, October estimated EPS consumption in Russia was 10,310 tonnes versus 10,740 tonnes a month earlier. Russia's estimated EPS consumption was about 80,000 tonnes in January-October 2020, down by 4% year on year. In November, demand was moderate in the Russian EPS market, whereas in the second half of the month, there was a decrease in activity in the EPS market as compared to October. Domestic prices of Russian material were in the range of Rb98,000-111,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT.

Epsilyte is owned by private equity firm Balmoral Funds (Los Angeles, California). Epsilyte is one of North America’s leading producers of expandable polystyrene resin. The company is focused on solving customer needs for efficient, high-R value EPS. This includes reducing energy usage in buildings, ensuring safe and healthy food through innovative packaging technology, and participating in infrastructure investment both in the United States and abroad. Epsilyte is a portfolio company of Balmoral Funds LLC.
MRC

South Africa to review petroleum product supplies after refinery shutdown

MOSCOW (MRC) -- South Africa will urgently conduct an assessment of petroleum products supply, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said on Saturday after the country's second-largest crude oil refinery shut down following a fire, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The 120,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Engen refinery in Durban, majority-owned by Malaysia's Petronas, ceased operations as investigations started into the cause of the fire on Friday. Engen said it was taking measures to ensure security of supply.

The refinery shutdown comes at a crucial time for South Africa as it looks to kickstart an economy walloped by the COVID-19 pandemic. The South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA) warned in May that the country was facing a diesel shortage due to a spike in demand as restrictions on movement eased.

Africa's most advanced economy is a net importer of crude oil and petroleum products, with the local market consuming 11,142 million litres of petrol and 12,539 million litres of diesel in 2018, according to the SAPIA.

As MRC informed arlier, there was an explosion on Friday morning at Engen's oil refinery in Durban, police had not yet received reports about whether there had been injuries or deaths. An Engen spokesman told Reuters he would comment later in a statement. According to Engen's website, the Durban refinery has a crude refining capacity of 120,000 barrels per day.

As per MRC, in July, the country's third-biggest crude refinery, Astron Energy's 100,000 bpd plant, was hit by an explosion that killed two people and injured several others. The plant remains out of commission.

We remind that on 18 August, 2020, Chevron Corp reported a fire at its 112,229-barrel-per-day (bpd) Pasadena, Texas facility. "At this time, flames, smoke may be noticeable to the community. We are coordinating with local officials, and working to resolve the issue as soon as possible," the company reported on August, 19.

We also remind that US-based Phillips 66 remains open to developing another ethane cracker for its Chevron Phillips Chemical (CP Chem) joint venture, the refiner's CEO said in March 2018.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,760,950 tonnes in the first ten months of 2020, up by 3% year on year. Only high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 978,870 tonnes in January-October 2020 (calculated using the formula: production minus exports plus imports minus producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply of exclusively of PP random copolymer increased.
MRC

LyondellBasell and SUEZ increase plastics recycling capacity

MOSCOW (MRC) -- LyondellBasell, one of the world's largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies and SUEZ, a world leader in environmental services, has jointly announced the acquisition of TIVACO, a plastics recycling company located in Blandain, Belgium, as per LyondellBasell's press release.

The company will become part of Quality Circular Polymers (QCP), the companies' existing 50/50 plastics recycling joint venture. With this transaction, QCP will increase its production capacity for recycled materials to approximately 55,000 tonnes per year.

LyondellBasell and SUEZ jointly announced the acquisition of TIVACO, a plastics recycling company located in Blandain, Belgium. The acquisition will increase production capacity for recycled materials at the companies' existing 50/50 plastics recycling joint venture, Quality Circular Polymers (QCP).

"This latest investment in QCP supports LyondellBasell's ambition to produce and market 2 million tons per year of recycled and renewable source-based polymers by 2030. Extending the plastics lifecycle through recovery, recycling and reuse not only eliminates waste but also produces a product with a lower CO2 footprint," said Richard Roudeix, Senior Vice President Olefins & Polyolefins, Europe, LyondellBasell. "This innovative approach is key to unlocking additional value from existing plastics while addressing brand owners' needs for sustainable products."

"We are thrilled to take a step forward with our long-term partner LyondellBasell. With the new acquisition,?we will together speed up the use of quality circular polymers in Europe and support industrial manufacturers' efforts to reach their environmental targets," commented Jean-Marc Boursier, SUEZ Group COO. "It also confirms SUEZ's ambition to become the world leader in environmental services by 2030."

The TIVACO facility operates five production lines capable of processing approximately 22,000 tonnes of recycled plastic per year. This acquisition builds on the companies' 2018 acquisition of QCP, a plastics recycling company in Geleen, the Netherlands which is capable of processing approximately 35,000 tonnes of material per year. Today, recycled materials from QCP can be found in consumer products including Samsonite's S'Cure ECO luggage collection.

QCP is committed to ending plastic waste in the environment. The joint venture leverages the two partners' respective strengths. SUEZ will utilize its leading-edge technology solutions in sorting and recycling to improve the preparation of materials to be recovered at QCP. LyondellBasell will apply its long-standing leadership in innovative plastic production technology, vast experience in product development and deep knowledge of important end markets such as consumer goods, where the company has a strong presence.

Both SUEZ and LyondellBasell are members of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a global, cross-value chain non-profit organization committed to ending plastic waste in the environment. The Alliance brings together a diverse network of resources and expertise to create and scale innovative solutions around the world.

As MRC reported earlier, in September 2020, LyondellBasell, the world’s largest licensor of polyolefin technologies, announced that Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Company LLC (DRPIC) hds selected LyondellBasell’s world-leading PP and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) technologies for a new facility.

The new plants will comprise of a PP plant that will utilize LyondellBasell’s Spheripol PP process technology to produce 280,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) of PP and a 480-m.t./yr high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plant which will utilize LyondellBasell’s Hostalen ACP process technology and will be built in Al Duqm, Oman.once again the trust investors and operators place in our leading polyolefin expertise."

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,760,950 tonnes in the first ten months of 2020, up by 3% year on year. Only high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 978,870 tonnes in January-October 2020 (calculated using the formula: production minus exports plus imports minus producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply of exclusively of PP random copolymer increased.

LyondellBasell is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. Driven by its 13,000 employees around the globe, LyondellBasell produces materials and products that are key to advancing solutions to modern challenges like enhancing food safety through lightweight and flexible packaging, protecting the purity of water supplies through stronger and more versatile pipes, and improving the safety, comfort and fuel efficiency of many of the cars and trucks on the road. LyondellBasell sells products into approximately 100 countries and is the world's largest licensor of polyolefin technologies.
MRC

COVID-19 - News digest as of 07.12.2020

1. Shell plans to complete Convent, Louisiana, refinery shutdown in 10 days

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Royal Dutch Shell Plc plans to complete the permanent shutdown of its 211,146 barrel-per-day (bpd) Convent, Louisiana, refinery within 10 days, reported Hydrocarbonprocessing with reference to sources familiar with the company’s plans. Shell spokesman Curtis Smith declined on Thursday to comment on the company’s timeline for idling the refinery. Shell has been unable to sell the refinery since putting it on the auction block in July. The plant became unprofitable in March as fuel demand was hammered in the COVID-19 pandemic. Shell said on Nov. 5 it would shut the refinery.


MRC