Formosa to pay nearly USD3 mln for Clean Air Act violations

Formosa to pay nearly USD3 mln for Clean Air Act violations

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Formosa Plastics Corp., part of Formosa Petrochemical - the world's petrochemical major, has agreed to pay nearly USD3 million in civil penalties for violating the Clean Air Act, reported Reuters with reference to the US Department of Justice announced.

The Texas plastics company also agreed to improve its risk management program at its petrochemical plant in Point Comfort.

The US Environmental Protection Agency began investigating Formosa after a series of fires, explosions and accidental releases at the plant in Point Comfort, a city on the Gulf Coast about 105 miles (170 kilometers) southwest of Houston.

Workers suffered burns and inhaled chlorine as a result of those accidents, which happened from 2013 to 2016, the DOJ said.

“Formosa repeatedly failed to comply with the chemical accident prevention provisions of the Clean Air Act at the Point Comfort plant, repeatedly placing their workers, neighbors and the environment in danger,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

The company said it has added a team of health and safety professionals to help ensure similar accidents don't happen in the future. Formosa has also increased staffing in its process safety management department, according to Ken Mounger, executive vice president.

In 2019, Formosa agreed to pay USD50 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Texas residents over allegations that the company spilled tons of pellets into waterways near the Gulf of Mexico.

As MRC informed previously, Formosa Plastics USA partially restarted its Baton Rouge operations, which include a 513,000 mt/year polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant, post-Ida on September 7, 2021. Meanwhile, the company is awaiting full restoration of normal industrial gas feedstock supply.

We remind that Formosa Plastics USA has postponed the start-up of its expanded PVC production capacities at its existing plant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Q4 2022. Initially, the company planned to launch the expanded capacities at its 513,000 mt/year of PVC plant in Q4 2021. Formosa did not respond to inquiries about the delay. The company intends to debottleneck production at this plant, adding 130,077 mt/year of PVC capacity, according to permitting documents.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall production of unmixed PVC totalled 580,500 tonnes in the first seven months of 2021, up by 4% year on year. At the same time, one producer reduced its output.

Formosa Petrochemical is involved primarily in the business of refining crude oil, selling refined petroleum products and producing and selling olefins (including ethylene, propylene, butadiene and BTX) from its naphtha cracking operations. Formosa Petrochemical is also the largest olefins producer in Taiwan and its olefins products are mostly sold to companies within the Formosa Group. Among the company's chemical products are paraxylene (PX), phenyl ethylene, acetone and pure terephthalic acid (PTA). The company"s plastic products include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resins, polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and panlite (PC).
MRC

Indian Srichakra Polyplast commissions food-grade plastic recycling facility

Indian Srichakra Polyplast commissions food-grade plastic recycling facility

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Srichakra Polyplast has commissioned a food-grade quality recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pellet facility and a new polyolefins recycling facility to produce deodorised bottle-to-bottle grade quality polyolefin pellets, according to The Hindu BusinessLine.

The Hyderabad-based plastic recycling and waste management company has invested USD10 million to strengthen its recycling capabilities for high grade recycled plastic to customers in India and global markets such as Europe and the United States.

The company’s new facility features US Food and Drug Administration-approved technology provided by Starlinger.

The company produces food-grade quality PET pellets, which can be used to produce food and beverage packaging such as water, carbonated soft drink and juice bottles as well as takeaway containers, and high quality deodorised polyolefin pellets, which can be used in home and personal care product packaging such as lotion, shampoo and detergent bottles.

Ravindra Venkata, CEO and Co-founder of Srichakra, said, “The new facility enables us to produce food-grade quality recycled plastic for customers and also gives locally-sourced plastic a new life, preventing it from entering the environment.”

We remind that, as MRC reported earlier, in October 2020, ALPLA Group, a global specialist for packaging solutions and recycling, acquired a facility in Western India for the production of preforms for PET bottles from the packaging company Amcor. ALPLA Group had taken over a plant for rigid plastics in India from the global packaging specialist Amcor with effect from September 28, 2020. The plant in Alandi, West India, is in the immediate vicinity of the metropolis of Pune. It manufactures preforms for the production of PET bottles for the beverage industry. Customers include Coca-Cola and the Indian dairy company Amul.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PET consumption totalled 411,200 tonnes in the first six month of 2021, up by 12% year on year. Russian companies processed 62,910 tonnes in June, compared to 85,890 tonnes a month earlier.
MRC

Axalta Coating Systems completes acquisition of U-POL

Axalta Coating Systems completes acquisition of U-POL

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, has announced that it has successfully completed the previously announced acquisition of U-POL Holdings Limited (U-POL), as per the company's press release.

The acquisition of U-POL, a leading supplier of paint, protective coatings and accessories primarily for the automotive aftermarket, strengthens Axalta's global refinish leadership position and supports its broader growth strategy.

"The acquisition of U-POL is another step in Axalta's growth strategy and strengthens our global leadership position in the refinish coatings segment," said Robert Bryant, Axalta's Chief Executive Officer. "The addition of U-POL's team, industry expertise, and operations strengthen our capabilities and provide a strong platform for future growth. We'll work to make the integration of U-POL as seamless as possible, while maintaining high levels of service to our customers. I'm pleased to welcome our newest team members to the Axalta family and look forward to all we can accomplish together as one Axalta."

U-POL's portfolio of high-quality automotive refinishing products and accessories include fillers, coatings, aerosols, adhesives, and paint related products as well as other automotive aftermarket protective coatings. The addition of these offerings will expand Axalta's addressable market into the important and growing mainstream and economy refinish segments. Axalta will accelerate the growth of U-POL's product portfolios by increasing market access through Axalta's existing sales and distribution channels while leveraging U-POL's distribution channels to extend the reach of Axalta's refinish coatings portfolio to new customers.

As MRC reported earlier, Wanhua Chemical, a global leader in the production and marketing of polyurethanes, petrochemicals and fine chemicals, has recently received the inaugural “Excellence Award” from Axalta. The Excellence Award is given to suppliers, who exhibit progressively exceptional overall quality, service, technology and total capacity performance for three consecutive years or longer. The Excellence Award winner also demonstrates an exceptional commitment to helping Axalta achieve its strategic initiatives.

We remind that in January, 2020 Wanhua Chemical Group disclosed plans for a second ethylene cracker project at its Yantai, China, site with local government officials. The project will include a 1.2-million metric tons/year (MMt/y) ethylene unit; pyrolysis gasoline hydrogenation; aromatics extraction; and production facilities for butadiene, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene (PE) plastomers and elastomers, polypropylene (PP), and other derivatives. Timing and other details were not disclosed. The second ethylene project will use naphtha and C4s as feedstock.

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.

Axalta is a global leader in the coatings industry, providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable coatings solutions. From light vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, building facades and other industrial applications, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enhance durability. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the global team at Axalta continues to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in over 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology.
MRC

Axalta breaks ground on new coatings facility in China

Axalta breaks ground on new coatings facility in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Axalta, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, broke ground for construction of a state-of-the-art coatings facility in Jilin City, Jilin Province, North China, said the company.

The 46,000-square-meter new plant will produce mobility coatings to support growing customer demand in China for light vehicles, commercial vehicles, and automotive plastic components. "Our new plant in Jilin is another building block supporting our ambitious growth strategy for our mobility business in China," said Nicolas Franc de Ferriere, Vice President, Mobility, Asia Pacific at Axalta.

As the largest and one of the fastest growing automotive markets in the world, China is a key growth driver for Axalta and its Global Mobility business unit. The new plant is scheduled to open in 2023 and will mainly produce basecoats, primers, and clearcoats used in Axalta's eco-friendly processes such as high solids technology. Formulated to reduce VOC emissions, high solids coatings can help lower environmental impact while providing superior finishes and improved productivity for automotive OEMs.

"Axalta came to Jilin province in 1984 to serve the burgeoning automotive industry in China and has since established a strong presence across the APAC region supporting major OEMs," said Hadi Awada, Senior Vice President of Axalta's Mobility Business. "With this new investment in the province, we are further committing to our customers in China while supporting our ambitious growth plans in Asia."

Since entering the Chinese market, Axalta has remained committed to promoting growth by increasing investment, emphasizing innovation and sustainability, and focusing on customers to help China build a sustainable and prosperous future. The Jilin plant marks another noteworthy achievement for Axalta in pursuit of its growth objectives in China. In what continues to be an exemplary year for the leading global coatings company, Axalta has announced a variety of significant accomplishments in 2021, including the expansion of a waterborne coatings plant in Shanghai, the opening of a new Refinish Training Center in Guangzhou, and the acquisition of a leading Chinese producer of high-quality wire enamels.

As MRC reported earlier, Wanhua Chemical, a global leader in the production and marketing of polyurethanes, petrochemicals and fine chemicals, has recently received the inaugural “Excellence Award” from Axalta. The Excellence Award is given to suppliers, who exhibit progressively exceptional overall quality, service, technology and total capacity performance for three consecutive years or longer. The Excellence Award winner also demonstrates an exceptional commitment to helping Axalta achieve its strategic initiatives.

We remind that in January, 2020 Wanhua Chemical Group disclosed plans for a second ethylene cracker project at its Yantai, China, site with local government officials. The project will include a 1.2-million metric tons/year (MMt/y) ethylene unit; pyrolysis gasoline hydrogenation; aromatics extraction; and production facilities for butadiene, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene (PE) plastomers and elastomers, polypropylene (PP), and other derivatives. Timing and other details were not disclosed. The second ethylene project will use naphtha and C4s as feedstock.

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.

Axalta is a global leader in the coatings industry, providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful, and sustainable coatings solutions. From light vehicles, commercial vehicles, and refinish applications to electric motors, building facades and other industrial applications, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enhance durability. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the global team at Axalta continues to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in over 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology.
MRC

Sasol, Haldor Topsoe expand licensing to grow sustainable synthetic fuels

Sasol, Haldor Topsoe expand licensing to grow sustainable synthetic fuels

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Haldor Topsoe and Sasol have expanded collaboration to jointly license and develop their technologies for sustainable liquid fuels and chemicals production through Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology, said the company.

Sasol and Topsoe currently offer integrated end-to-end solutions to produce synthetic fuels and chemicals. Topsoe's SynCOR™ and Sasol's Low Temperature Fischer-TropschTM technologies have been licensed into Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) ventures, most recently Uzbekistan GTL, which is in the final stages of construction.

Building on this solid technology and operational foundation, Sasol and Topsoe now offer integrated end-to-end solutions to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals, specifically Power-to-Fuels or e-Fuels, utilising sustainable carbon sources or CO2, green hydrogen and renewable energy.

"We need to make cleaner alternatives for the future transportation fuels. This new initiative builds on an already successful partnership with Sasol, and we are excited, that we are now taking it to the next level by offering our technologies together in an integrated way as a single point license for the production of sustainable synthetic fuels," says Fei Chen, SVP Clean Fuels & Chemicals Technology, Haldor Topsoe.

Marius Brand, Executive Vice President for Sasol 2.0 Transformation added: "Sasol and Haldor Topsoe's technology relationship spans more than two decades, through which a number of world first technologies were deployed, world-scale units were built and successfully operated. We believe this platform provides a solid foundation to offer solutions to the world and drive towards a sustainable future, specifically for the hard to abate sectors, such as the aviation industry. This technology collaboration is a key element supporting our purpose to innovate for a better world. Our partnership and Sasol's undisputed leadership in FT technology, positions us well to grow a low carbon products business globally, harnessing renewable resources to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals."

In addition, new technologies are being developed, such as Topsoe's electrified reforming platform (e-Reforming and e-Reverse Water Gas Shift), solid oxide electrolysis and Sasol's next generation FT catalyst to further maximise desired product yields, enhance carbon and hydrogen conversion efficiency, ultimately helping to eliminate fuel and chemical greenhouse gas emissions.

This gives potential customers access to an integrated solution across the entire value chain, from renewable feed sources to liquid fuels. As single-point licensor, Sasol and Topsoe will offer customers all the necessary technology licenses for complete sustainable fuels solutions. This also includes basic engineering, catalyst, hardware and specialised technical support to ensure a bankable and successful project.

As per MRC, Topsoe and Sasol announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to jointly license their GTL technologies. For many years, the two companies have worked together on numerous GTL projects and technologies, and Topsoe’s SynCOR™ technologies and Sasol’s Fischer-Tropsch technologies have been licensed into several world-scale GTL ventures.

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.

Sasol is an international integrated chemicals and energy company that leverages technologies and the expertise of our 31 270 people working in 32 countries. The company develops and commercialises technologies, and builds and operates world-scale facilities to produce a range of high-value product stream, including liquid fuels, petrochemicals and low-carbon electricity.
MRC