Petrobras launches largest ever startups call

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Petrobras took first place in the Oil and Gas category of the Top Open Corps ranking, which awards companies that most interact with the open innovation ecosystem in the country, said Bnamericas.

The company has been betting on this segment, through the Petrobras Connections for Innovation Program, which, this year, launched a public notice with investments in the amount of R$ 22 million. The research that supports the ranking shows that the number of open innovation relationships between corporations and startups has doubled this year compared to 2020. The five companies in the Oil and Gas category best placed in the category were responsible for 67% of these interactions.

The survey considers the number of open innovation relationships based on data provided by companies and startups, relative to the previous year, which are audited. Each form of interaction is given a weight, according to the forms of relationship, from the first contact to the provision of services. According to the organization of the award, compared to last year, corporations with contracts with startups increased from 1,968 to 3,334, recording a growth of 69%.

“I am very proud of this recognition in light of everything we are doing in our innovation ecosystem. Our Open Innovation Program is enabling us to achieve incredible results for the company. We are a reference in what we do, but we want to go even further”, celebrated the director of Digital Transformation and Innovation at Petrobras, Nicolas Simone.

The Petrobras Connections for Innovation Program is the largest program focused on open innovation in the country and is part of Petrobras' objective of stimulating the generation of innovations with a high potential for impact and efficiency gains in areas of interest to the sector. For this, just in the notice of the Startups module, in the analysis phase of the submitted proposals, the company will invest in solutions of up to R$ 500 thousand and up to RD 1.5 million, depending on the category of the challenge (soft or deep tech). In addition to the Startups module, the company launched the Solution Testing modules, aimed at startups and other innovative companies that have technological solutions and wish to test them quickly; Challenges, with opportunities mapped from internal demands that are periodically disclosed and Ignition, in partnership with PUC-Rio.

Petrobras relates to the innovation ecosystem not only through startups, but also in partnerships with universities, Science and Technology Institutions (ICTs), in Brazil and abroad, and other companies.

As MRC reported earlier, Petrobras has announced the sale of its second facility. The state-owned company has signed a contract with Ream Participacoes, which belongs to the distributor Atem, for the sale of the Isaac Sabba (Reman) refinery and the associated logistics facilities in the state of Amazonas. The sale value is USD189.5 million. Of this, USD28.4 million will be paid upon signature of the contract and the remaining USD161.1 million upon closing of the transaction. Atem is a distributor in the north of the country.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Petrobras is an integrated energy firm. Petrobras' activities include exploration, exploitation and production of oil from reservoir wells, shale and other rocks as well as refining, processing, trade and transport of oil and oil products, natural gas and other fluid hydrocarbons, in addition to other energy-related activities.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Oil prices increased and were on track to post big gains for the week on worries about supply disruptions as energy companies began shutting production in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of a possible hurricane forecast to hit on the weekend, reported Reuters.

Brent crude futures were USD1.22, or 1.7%, higher at USD72.29 a barrel at 1355 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed USD1.36, or 2%, to USD68.78 a barrel.

For the week, Brent was on track for a rise of 11%, its biggest weekly jump since June 2020. WTI was headed for a weekly gain of more than 10%, also the strongest since June 2020.

"Energy traders are pushing crude prices higher in anticipation of disruptions in output in the Gulf of Mexico and on growing expectations OPEC+ might resist raising output given the recent Delta variant impact over crude demand," Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA, said.

Companies started airlifting workers from Gulf of Mexico oil production platforms on Thursday and BHP and BP said they had begun to stop production at offshore platforms as a storm brewing in the Caribbean Sea was forecast to barrel through the Gulf on the weekend.

Gulf of Mexico offshore wells account for 17% of US crude oil production and 5% of dry natural gas production. Over 45% of total US refining capacity lies along the Gulf Coast.

The prospect of US Gulf supply outages helped turn the market around from losses on Thursday, which had been partly spurred by output returning at a Mexican oil platform following a fatal fire.

"The market may have more immediate concerns, with a storm building in the Caribbean. It's expected to become a powerful hurricane and potentially wreak havoc in the Gulf of Mexico and Texas early next week," ANZ Research said in a note.

As MRC informed earlier, BP raised Aug. 3 its 2025 oil price assumption by USD5/b to USD60/b to reflect an expected supply constraint, while promising a recovery in its own production volumes following a maintenance-related slump in the second quarter.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras, formally known as Petroleo Brasileiro SA, said it had failed to secure a buyer for the Abreu e Lima (RNEST) refinery after the interested firms declined to offer a bid, reported Reuters with reference to the company's file.

Petrobras said it would end the sale process, and analyze its next steps.

As MRC wrote before, last week, the company signed a contract to sell the REMAN refinery in the northern state of Amazonas for USD189.5 million to Ream Participacoes S.A., a subsidiary of distributor Atem. For the REMAN refinery, the second it has agreed to sell of eight that were put up for sale, Petrobras said it would receive US28.4 million upfront with the rest paid when the deal closes. The REFAP, REGAP, LUBNOR, and SIX units are still trying to attract buyers, Petrobras said.

Besides, earlier this month, Petrobras hired JPMorgan Chase & Co as an advisor to sell its stake in the petrochemical company Braskem SA.

We remind that Braskem is no longer pursuing a petrochemical project, which would have included an ethane cracker, in West Virginia. And the company is seeking to sell the land that would have housed the cracker. The project, announced in 2013, had been on Braskem's back burner for several years.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Petrobras is an integrated energy firm. Petrobras' activities include exploration, exploitation and production of oil from reservoir wells, shale and other rocks as well as refining, processing, trade and transport of oil and oil products, natural gas and other fluid hydrocarbons, in addition to other energy-related activities.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- ExxonMobil announced its majority-owned affiliate, Imperial Oil Ltd., is moving forward with plans to produce renewable diesel at a new complex at its Strathcona refinery in Edmonton, Canada, reported Reuters.

When construction is complete, the refinery is expected to produce approximately 20,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel, which could reduce emissions in the Canadian transportation sector by about 3 million metric tons per year. The complex will utilize locally grown plant-based feedstock and hydrogen with carbon capture and storage (CCS) as part of the manufacturing process.

Renewable diesel has the potential to reduce annual CO2 emissions by about 3 million metric tons compared to conventional fuels.

“Canada’s proposed low-carbon fuel policies incentivize the development of lower-emission fuels that can make meaningful contributions to the hard-to-decarbonize sectors of the economy, including transportation,” said Ian Carr, president of ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Company. “The Strathcona project is an example of how well-designed policies allow us to leverage our existing global facilities for capital efficiency, utilize our proprietary catalyst technology, and bring our decades of processing experience to develop low-emission fuels.”

The renewable diesel production process will utilize blue hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage. Production of blue hydrogen has been shown to have substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventionally produced hydrogen. Approximately 500,000 metric tons of CO2 are expected to be captured each year utilizing CCS. The blue hydrogen and biofeedstock will be combined with a proprietary catalyst to produce premium low-carbon diesel fuel.

A final investment decision will be based on several factors, including government support and approvals, market conditions and economic competitiveness. Imperial will lead the project, which is expected to create about 600 direct construction jobs. Renewable diesel production is anticipated to start in 2024.

The Strathcona renewable diesel project is part of ExxonMobil’s plans to provide more than 40,000 barrels per day of low-emissions fuels by 2025. In the United States, the company has agreed to purchase up to 5 million barrels of renewable diesel annually from Global Clean Energy to supply markets in California. Chemically similar to petroleum-based diesel, renewable diesel can be readily blended for use in engines on the market today.

In March, ExxonMobil established a Low Carbon Solutions business to commercialize low-emission technologies, including CCS, biofuels and hydrogen. In June, Imperial announced its participation as a founding member of the Oil Sands Pathways to Net Zero Alliance. The goal of this unique alliance, working collectively with the broader oil and gas industry and the federal and Alberta governments, is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from oil sands operations by 2050 to help Canada meet its climate goals, including its Paris Agreement commitments and 2050 net-zero aspirations.

We remind that, as MRC informed earlier, ExxonMobil and SABIC have announced that their joint venture, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures located near Corpus Christi, Texas, has reached mechanical completion of a monoethylene glycol (MEG) unit and two polyethylene (PE) units. Project startup is expected to begin ahead of schedule, likely in the fourth quarter of 2021.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

ExxonMobil is the largest non-government owned company in the energy industry and produces about 3% of the world's oil and about 2% of the world's energy.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik Industries AG has successfully issued a first green hybrid bond with a nominal volume of EUR500 million, as per the company's press release.

This bond is the specialty chemical company's first green finance issuance and follows the publication of Evonik’s Green Finance Framework on August 24, 2021, which integrates sustainability even more closely into Evonik’s finance strategy.

As a globally active specialty chemicals company, responsibility and long-term economic success are two sides of the same coin. Sustainability has developed into a growth driver at Evonik. The demand for products with market-superior sustainability benefits - Next Generation Solutions - is developing dynamically. The majority of proceeds will therefore be used to finance investments in Next Generation Solutions. These include, for example, biosurfactants, sustainable food packaging, innovative insulation materials and membranes for gas filtration. Evonik plans to further increase the proportion of sales it generates from Next Generation Solutions in the coming years from 35 percent now.

At the same time, Evonik will further reduce its own ecological footprint. To this end, the company continuously invests in its processes along the entire value chain. The proceeds from the green hybrid bond help Evonik minimize its own resource requirements, for example by financing initiatives to reduce its own CO2 footprint.

“Evonik aims to be a best-in-class specialty chemicals company and our Sustainability Strategy 2020+ is an expression of this aspiration. With the publication of our Green Finance Framework and with this green hybrid issuance we are reflecting our strong commitment to sustainability, also in financing,” said Ute Wolf, chief financial officer of Evonik.

The green hybrid bond was significantly oversubscribed and generated strong interest from a broad circle of institutional investors. Evonik benefited from its good debt capital markets reputation, its attractive sustainability profile and the favorable market environment.

The green hybrid bond has a formal lifetime of 60 years. Evonik has a first redemption right in 2026. It is subordinated to other financial liabilities. In addition to the new green hybrid bond, Evonik announced a tender offer on August 24, 2021 to repurchase its outstanding hybrid bond of EUR500 million, which has an interest rate of 2.125 percent per year. Results of the tender offer will be published on 2 September 2021.

By combining the issuance of a new green hybrid bond with a repurchase offer, Evonik can refinance its outstanding hybrid bond at an early stage and offer current investors an attractive opportunity to reinvest in Evonik's hybrid capital with a sustainability focus. The annual interest rate on the green hybrid bond is 1.375 percent per year. This results in interest savings of €3.8 million per year compared to the repurchased hybrid bond.

As MRC reported earlier, in February, 2020, Dow and Evonik entered into an exclusive technology partnership. Together, they plan to bring a unique method for directly synthesizing propylene glycol (PG) from propylene and hydrogen peroxide to market maturity.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The focus on more specialty businesses, customer-oriented innovative prowess and a trustful and performance-oriented corporate culture form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. They are the lever for profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company. Evonik benefits specifically from its customer proximity and leading market positions. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world with more than 33,000 employees.
MRC