SOCAR Heydar Aliyev refinery signs agreements with French Axens for its FCC unit

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SOCAR HQ held a ceremony to sign licensing and design agreements for the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit between the Heydar Aliyev oil refinery (HAOR) and the French company Axens as part of the HAOR modernization and reconstruction project, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The ceremony was attended by SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, Axens CEO Jean Sentenac and other officials.

A signing ceremony was eventually held with the parties participating. The documents were signed by Bakhtiyar Mammadov, SOCAR HAOR Director and Fabien Lundy, Axens Process Licensing Global Commercial Director. It is worth noting that SOCAR and Axens have a long-term co-operation. At present, the diesel hydrotreatment, gasoline hydrotreatment and C4 (butane-butylene) hydrogenation units as part of the Heydar Aliyev refinery reconstruction project, as well as the C3 (propane-propylene) hydrogenation unit as part of the reconstruction works carried out at Azerkimya PU, the naphtha hydrotreatment, diesel hydrotreatment and kerosene hydrotreatment units at the STAR refinery built in Turkey are licensed by Axens.

The cooperation between SOCAR and Axens encompasses the training of engineers either in IFP School or in Axens in order to contribute to the successful implementation of the Heydar Aliyev refinery modernization projects including the operation of the licensed process units. These trainings aims also at developing skills in energy efficiency and sustainability. Some time ago, the AR-GE Research Centre of SOCAR Turkey, Axens and IFPEN started jointly to expand AR-GE Research capabilities, and identify subjects of common interest.

Rovnag Abdullayev, SOCAR President said, "The HAOR reconstruction and modernization project is progressing successfully. The project involves the design and construction of a number of new units at the refinery. In this respect, substantial work has been undertaken to license and implement design services for these units. Based on the research and detailed evaluation of the FCC unit, the French company Axens has been selected as the licensor. Under the agreements signed today, the preparation of the process design package for the unit will commence shortly. On this occasion, I congratulate Axens's leadership and wish our partners every success in their work."

As MRC reported earlier, Technip Energies (Paris, France) announced in April, 2021, that its work on the Azerikimya modernization project in Azerbaijan had been completed on time. The overhaul of the Socar petrochemical complex near the nation’s capital, Baku, was complete and the plant was handed over and was fully in operation. It had been producing ethylene and propylene on demand since October 2020.

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 2,265,290 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2021, up by 14% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Wacker Chemie has opened a laboratory in Moscow for research and development (R&D) on water-repellent silicone additives for cement and concrete, said the company.

Financial details on capital expenditure (capex) for the site were not disclosed. The additives are used in cementitious materials to provide protection against moisture, salts, or unwanted chemical reactions. The company thus aims to tap into the petrochemicals-intensive construction industry in Russia.

The Moscow laboratory is part of Wacker’s Innovation Hub for Cement and Concrete. “Our new lab in Moscow will give us our first ever opportunity for systematically studying and testing a wide range of raw materials used in cement and concrete,” said Thomas Koini, head of Wacker’s Performance Silicones division.

As per MRC, Wacker Chemie AG is moving forward with “Shape the Future,” its efficiency program initiated last November. The Munich-based chemical company has recenly announced that company management and employee representatives have agreed on a framework for the planned job cutbacks.

As MRC reported earlier, Wacker Chemie operates a 90 ktpa EVA compounding plant at the Ulsan site, consisting of two lines. The second line with a capacity of 40 thousand tons of products per year was launched in 2013.

Wacker Chemie manufactures and markets EVA dispersions under the VINNAPAS brand name. VINNAPAS polymer dispersions are used in a wide range of industries: for the production of complex thermal insulation systems, building and tile adhesives, plaster, building mixtures and mortars, cement sealing slurries and nonwovens.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Scientific Design Company announces that PKN Orlen has selected Scientific Design’s EO/EG technology for olefins expansion project in Plock, Poland, said the company.

Scientific Design was awarded the project as part of the Hyundai Engineering and Tecnicas Reunidas EPC consortium.

The award includes the license of process technology, the provision of a process design package, technical assistance and start up services and the initial charge of Scientific Design’s ethylene oxide catalyst. Completion of the project is scheduled for 2024, with production expected to begin early 2025.

As it was written earlier, PKN Orlen is exploring ways to produce polymers using carbon dioxide. New technology to capture, store, reuse or replace carbon pollution is being explored around the world, with some companies working on methods of converting the greenhouse gas into products such as plastic, soap, or fabric.

Under its 2030 strategy, Orlen plans to reduce CO2 emissions from existing refining and petrochemical assets by 20% and by 33% from its power generation business. It has also set a 2050 target date for achieving a net zero carbon footprint.

Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen S.A. (PKN Orlen) is the largest Polish oil and gas company and one of the largest oil and gas companies in Europe. In Plock, the nominal capacity of the polypropylene (PP) line is 400 thousand tons per year. PKN Orlen owns a controlling stake (63%) in the Czech polyolefin producer Unipetrol. In addition, the largest Czech chemical manufacturer Spolana is also part of the Polish group PKN Orlen. The enterprise produces PVC, caprolactam, sulfuric acid, mineral fertilizers.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) has shut its No. 2 linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant in Map Tai Phut complex last week after encountering an unexpected technical issue, according to CommoPlast with reference to market sources.

At present, it is unclear on the restart schedule for this plant with the production capacity of 400,000 mt/year LLDPE.

The company also operates No. 1 LLDPE plant at the same site, which has an annual output of 410,000 mt/year.

Overall, PTT has a total capacity of 800,000 mt/year of high density polyethylene (HDPE), 345,000 mt/year of LDPE and 800,000 mt/year of LLDPE at the same site.

As MRC reported earlier, PTTGC was in plans to undertake a brief shutdown for maintenance at its LDPE plant in October, 2021. However, the exact dates of the turnaround were not given.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, November LLDPE shipments to Russia grew to 51,770 tonnes from 31,110 tonnes a month earlier. Producers raised their PE output, at the same time, imports increased. LLDPE shipments to the Russian market were 451,070 tonnes in January-November 2021, up by 12% year on year.

PTT Global Chemical is a leading player in the petrochemical industry and owns several petrochemical facilities with a combined capacity of 8.45 million tonnes a year.
MRC

1. Crude oil prices go down, though supply concerns still dominant

MOSCOW (MRC) - Crude oil edged lower on Thursday, posting slim losses after several days of strength that pushed benchmarks to seven-year highs due to concerns about tight supply, reported Reuters. Brent crude futures settled down 6 cents to USD88.38 a barrel. The global benchmark rose to USD89.17 on Wednesday, its highest level since October 2014; the benchmark is up 13% on the year so far.US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for February delivery lost 6 cents to USD86.90 a barrelon the last day of the contract's life. WTI is up 15% so far this year. The more active March WTI contract settled at USD85.55 a barrel, down 25 cents.Crude stocks rose by 515,000 barrels last week while gasoline inventories rose by 5.9 million barrels, boosting those inventories to their highest in a year, according to the US Energy Department.

MRC