Sinopec starts up two technology units based on Dupont technology

MOSCOW (MRC) -- DuPont Clean Technologies (DuPont) has announced successful performance tests for the STRATCO alkylation units at the Zhenhai Refining and Chemical Company (ZRCC) refinery in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China and the Yangzi Company (YPC) refinery in Nianjing, Jiangsu, China, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

These performance tests certify the STRATCO alkylation units are meeting performance guarantees. The ZRCC and YPC STRATCO alkylation units both process MTBE raffinate feeds and are designed to produce 7,700 bpsd (300 kmta) and 7,500 bpsd (300 kmta) of alkylate, respectively.

The STRATCO alkylation units will enable Sinopec to generate low-sulfur, high-octane, low-Rvp alkylate with zero olefins that meets the criteria of the China VI standard. The STRATCO alkylation technology is a sulfuric acid-catalyzed process that converts low-value, straight-chain olefins (propylene, butylene and amylene) into high-value, branched components called alkylate. Alkylate is known for its superior blending properties and is a key component for clean gasoline.

The STRATCO alkylation technology helps refiners safely produce cleaner-burning gasoline with high octane, low Reid vapor pressure, low sulfur, zero aromatics and zero olefins.

As MRC wrote previously, Sinopec Engineering (Group) and ExxonMobil (Huizhou) Chemical (EMHCC) have just entered into a BEPC (basic design, engineering, procurement and construction) contract for the proposed Huizhou Chemical Complex Project (Phase I). The main units of the project include a 1.6 million tonnes/year ethylene flexible feed steam cracker, downstream polymer and derivative units and utilities. The main product units include two performance polyethylene (PE) lines and two differentiated performance polypropylene (PP) lines.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated polyethylene (PE) consumption totalled 356,370 tonnes in the first two month of 2021, down by 9% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) increased. At the same time, polypropylene (PP) shipments to the Russian market was 246,870 tonnes in January-February 2021, up by 30% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased.

China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group) is a super-large petroleum and petrochemical enterprise group established in July 1998 on the basis of the former China Petrochemical Corporation. Sinopec Group"s key business activities include the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, petrochemicals and other chemical products, oil refining.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Maire Tecnimont's subsidiaries NextChem and MET Development have signed an MoU with MC TAIF JSC (TAIF) to co-develop a new bio-degradable polymer plant in the Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation), using NextChem’s know-how and MET Development’s project development capabilities, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

TAIF is the largest industrial investment company in Tatarstan, engaged in Oil and Gas, Chemistry, Petrochemistry and Energy. Under the agreement, TAIF and Maire Tecnimont Group’s subsidiaries will jointly assess and evaluate the biopolymer plant opportunity in order to establish the fundamentals of the joint development collaboration between the Parties. NextChem will be selected to provide its expertise and know-how to carry out the FEED (Front End Engineering Design) and EPC activities for the realization of the biopolymer plant. Maire Tecnimont Group will bring technological solutions and the best know-how for project development and execution, relying on its portfolio of technologies as well as its strong capabilities as an end-to-end developer of large-scale complex projects.

Pierroberto Folgiero, Maire Tecnimont Group and NextChem Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Our Group can boast a very long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation with TAIF, which dates back to the 1970s. Today, we are enthusiastic to put our technological and entrepreneurial mindset at the service of such a prominent partner, to support the industrialization of the green economy in Tatarstan. This agreement is another tangible achievement of our project development strategy in green chemistry, as we are best equipped to assist our clients at the very early stage of their strategic investment initiatives in the energy transition sector, also by leveraging on our Group’s synergies”.

As per MRC, subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. signed a EUR1.2 billion contract for engineering, procurement and on-site services (EPSS) for the planned Amur Gas Chemical Complex (Amur Gas Chemical Complex) of SIBUR, the largest petrochemical holding in Russia and Eastern Europe. The agreement was signed with Amurskiy GKhK, a subsidiary of SIBUR.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 215,390 tonnes in the first month of 2020, up by 23% year on year. Shipments of all grades of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) increased due to higher capacity utilisation at ZapSibNeftekhim. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 127,240 tonnes in January 2020, up by 33% year on year. ZapSibNeftekhim's homopolymer PP accounted for the main increase in shipments.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Shell Catalysts & Technologies will supply ethylene oxide catalyst to Jiangsu Dynamic Chemical after demonstrating high selectivity, desired reliability and advantageous lifetime of its catalyst, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This will help to maximize returns for the company which manufactures chemical new materials and fine chemicals. An additional key element of the agreement includes providing technical services utilizing Shell’s upstream and downstream expertise.

“We are pleased that Jiangsu Dynamic Chemical is turning to Shell Catalyst & Technologies’ market-leading ethylene oxide catalysts as the key to maximize their returns,” said Peace Chen, China Head of EO Catalysts Business with Shell Catalysts & Technologies. “Our high-performance ethylene oxide catalysts offer both high selectivity and advantageous lifetimes, allowing customers to manage their units in their preferred way and to stay profitable.”

Jiangsu Dynamic Chemical, located in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, is the leading company specialized in researching and manufacturing ethylene oxide derivatives and fine chemicals in China. The total ethylene oxide capacity of units one and two is 180 kilo tons per annum.

As MRC informed earlier, Royal Dutch Shell Plc restarted the small crude distillation unit (CDU) on 2 April at its 318,000-bpd joint-venture Deer Park, Texas, refinery. The 70,000-bpd DU-1 CDU was shut on Feb 14 by a pump seal failure. All other units were shut the following day by severe cold weather. DU-1 is the last unit shut in February to restart at the refinery.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 241,030 tonnes in January 2021 versus 217,890 tonnes a year earlier. Only shipments of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 141,870 tonnes in January 2021 versus 123,520 tonnes a year earlier. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased.

Royal Dutch Shell plc is an Anglo-Dutch multinational oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the biggest company in the world in terms of revenue and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors". Shell is vertically integrated and is active in every area of the oil and gas industry, including exploration and production, refining, distribution and marketing, petrochemicals, power generation and trading.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In Qatar, Sika, a producer of construction chemicals, has expanded its production capacity for concrete admixtures and has started manufacturing epoxy resins, as per the company's press release.

Epoxy resins are key components in high-quality floor coverings and adhesives. With its enlarged portfolio and its local production capacity, Sika wants to exploit market potential and drive forward the focused expansion of its business in the region.

This latest investment in expansion in Qatar’s capital, Doha, will help Sika to continue building its business in this fast-growing region so that it can benefit from the dynamic development in the construction market. The sector is being boosted in particular by major projects and for the expansion of energy and utilities infrastructure, as well as stimuli induced by government tenders.

Thanks to its local production facilities, Sika is able to comply with the terms applicable to construction projects in the country: Qatar’s state sourcing policy stipulates that preference must be given to domestically manufactured products.

In the medium term, Qatar’s construction industry will be focusing on major investments in the energy and utility infrastructure such and on reservoirs to ensure adequate supplies of potable water in this desert country. According to estimates, the construction industry will grow by 2.6% in 2021 after a slowdown in the past year owing to COVID-19.

As MRC informed earlier, in November 2020, Sika commissioned a manufacturing facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), which produces epoxy resins aimed at flooring solutions. Sika has decided to invest in the expansion of its manufacturing facilities at the Dubai site in order to increase flexibility in production, shorten delivery times, optimize cost structures, and reduce inventories.

We remind that Russia's output of chemical products rose in February 2021 by 5.3% year on year. Thus, production of basic chemicals increased year on year by 7.5% in the first two months of 2021, according to Rosstat's data. February production of polymers in primary form was 861,000 tonnes versus 196,000 tonnes in January. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 1,770,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 8.4% year on year.

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protecting in the building sector and motor vehicle industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 101 countries around the world and manufactures in over 200 factories. Its more than 20,000 employees generated annual sales of CHF 7.09 billion in 2018.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global chemical and specialty materials company, has declared a quarterly cash dividend of USD0.68 per share on its common stock, payable May 10, 2021, as per the company's press release.

The dividend is payable to stockholders of record as of April 26, 2021.

As MRC informed previously, Celanese Corporation has recently initiated a capital-efficient expansion of its vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) production unit at the company’s world-class chemical industrial park in Nanjing, China in a move to solidify its global VAM capabilities.

This expansion will support the continued growth of its global acetyls business and serve the needs of customers in the Asia region and globally, the company said in its statement.

According to MRC's DataScope report, February EVA imports to Russia rose by 1,44% year on year to 3,14 tonnes from 3,10 tonnes a year earlier, and overall imports of this grade of ethylene copolymer into the Russian Federation grew in January-February 2021 by 0,68% year on year to 6,230 tonnes (6,190 tonnes a year earlier).

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Celanese employs approximately 7,700 employees worldwide and had 2020 net sales of USD5.7 billion.
MRC