Al Waha successfully completed its performance test before commercial production on April 1

(Arabian Oil and Gas) -- Sahara Petrochemicals Company has said in a statement that its subsidiary Al Waha Petrochemicals Company, successfully completed its performance test on Wednesday March 23, paving the way for commercial production to begin next month.

⌠After the successful completion of the performance test of the PDH unit, which is regarded as the last unit to undergo this test, we expect the commercial operations of Al Waha Petrochemicals Company to start on April 1, 2011, the statement read.

Esam Himdy, Sahara's managing director, appreciated the teamwork spirit of all personnel who participated in the test programme. He also referred to the support received by Saudi Aramco, RCJU, Marafiq, SEC, HCIS, PIF and all participant banks.

The world-scale petrochemical complex in Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia has a capacity of 467 KTa of propylene utilising Oleflex technology, which serves as a feedstock for the 450 KTa Polypropylene Unit. The plant is considered to be largest, producing high-quality polypropylene using LBI's technology, sphereizone.

Al Waha Petrochemicals Company is owned by Sahara Petrochemicals Company, which holds 75% of its share capital with LyondelBasell owning 25%.

MRC

(BASF) -- BASF is to present once again at the international packaging fair, Interpack, in Dusseldorf from May 12 to 18. The company's solutions are presented in five neatly divided themed areas: cost reduction, sustainability, differentiation at the point of sale, content protection and convenience. Among the following BASF highlights Hexamoll Dinch, an innovative plasticizer made specially for sensitive applications such as toys, medical devices and food-contact products. Hexamoll Dinch is ideally suited for products such as cling film and O-rings for screw closures.

Aurora special effect film opens up a variety of optical effects for product designers, packaging and label manufacturers. The film is high-luster with intriguing reflections and comes in a wide range of colors. Aurora can be used for a variety of applications and in combination with a range of matrix materials such as paper and carton.

As the leading supplier of additives and pigments to the plastics industry, BASF offers its packaging customers a wide variety of products and solutions that enhance the appeal and functionality of packaging. With its unique industry platform approach, its broad product portfolio, and its extensive technical know-how, BASF is able to generate synergies and deliver extra value.

BASF offers a broad portfolio of light stabilizers such as Chimassorb, Tinuvin and Uvinul designed to protect not only the plastic packaging itself from rapid aging but also its valuable contents from the harmful effects of ultra-violet radiation.

With its high elasticity and resilience coupled with very high transparency and luster, BASF Styroflex, SBC block copolymer from the styrene plastics family, is used for applications including stretch hoods and thin film.

MRC

(ICIS) -- ExxonMobil Chemical is planning to increase development of new premium products for Asia by opening a USD 90m (EUR 64m) technology centre it completed over two years in fast-growing China, the company said on Wednesday. The Shanghai Technology Center (STC), inaugurated by ExxonMobil Chemical president Stephen Pryor, aims to help deliver innovative customer solutions, the company said in a statement.

The 27,000sqm facility contains advanced analytical and testing laboratory equipment and commercial-scale product processing equipment, including blown and cast-film extrusion, injection moulding, compounding, and packaging.

The facility is ExxonMobil Chemical's third-largest technology centre in the world. The company has two major technology centres in the US and Europe.

ExxonMobil sees China's petrochemical demand growth outpacing GDP expansion in the next five years. The company plans to continue to invest in the centre in Shanghai to meet future technology-growth needs in the region.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Co. and two Egyptian government companies plan to invest 7 billion Egyptian pounds (USD 1.18 bln) in an ethylene venture. Sidi Kerir has a license to build a plant with capacity to produce 460 KTa of ethylene, will hold a 20% stake in the new company. The project, scheduled for completion in three years, will be financed by local banks, including National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr SAE, Commercial International Bank SAE, National Societe Generale Bank SAE, and Arab African Bank, the oil ministry said on its website.

MRC

(ICIS) -- India's Essar Energy has signed a $1.3bn (┬923m) deal to acquire Shell's 270,000 bbl/day Stanlow refinery in the UK, the companies said on Tuesday. The agreement follows Essar's formal offer from February to acquire the refinery near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. The deal includes oil products and chemicals manufacturing and rights to certain distribution terminal assets, as well as commercial bulk fuels and local marine fuels businesses associated with the refinery.

Not included are Shell's higher olefins plant and alcohols units at Stanlow, a lubricant oils blending plant and Shell's lubricants marketing business.

Also excluded are Shell's UK retail sites; its aviation operations at airports; Shell's non-local marine business; marine lubricants; Shell's commercial road transport marketing businesses; its bitumen marketing business, and its technology centre at Thornton.

The companies expect to complete the transaction in the second half of 2011. Shell said the total consideration for the deal was expected to be $1.3bn. Essar said the purchase price for the refinery would be $350m. On completion, it would make a separate payment for crude oil, refined products and other inventory at the Stanlow refinery site, it said. In February, Essar estimated that payment at about $780m.

MRC