Exxon Mobil Corp. and SABIC advance plans to build massive petrochemical pl

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Exxon Mobil and Saudi Arabia’s top chemical company confirmed they are advancing plans to build a massive new petrochemical plant north of Corpus Christi in San Patricio County, said Fuelfix.

Plans for the multibillion-dollar project at the preferred site, which is being opposed by some local communities, are moving forward for the joint venture between Exxon and the Saudi Basic Industries Corp., known as SABIC.

If the plans fall through, Exxon and SABIC could still select from three other sites they were considering - one near Victoria and two in Louisiana.

"San Patricio County is the preferred site," said SABIC spokeswoman Susan LeBourdais. "However, the three other potential locations are still under consideration.” The companies also added, “The project is advancing study of the San Patricio site." They have filed applications to proceed with the county and the Gregory-Portland Independent School District.

Portland’s City Council voted in December to encourage Exxon and SABIC to build elsewhere, but the site is just outside of the city limits so the vote wasn’t binding. The 1,400-acre site is in an open area, but it’s still less than two miles from the public high school.

The plant would include the world’s largest ethane cracker, which turns a component of natural gas into ethylene, the primary building block of most plastics. The project also would include plastics manufacturing.

The project would create about 11,000 construction jobs and at least 600 permanent positions. The effort is another part of Saudi Arabia’s ambition to diversify more globally, including growing along the Texas Gulf Coast.

The chemical and plastics plant is the first U.S. joint venture for SABIC and Exxon Mobil, two of the world’s biggest energy companies. The plant could come online as early as 2020 if construction begins this year. The plan is to take advantage of cheap and ample shale natural gas available here to make chemicals and plastics.

The companies in the joint venture, which is dubbed Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, are proposing to build new roads and upgrade others near the site to accommodate the increased traffic. They also are saying the site will include "buffer zones" to keep the actual plant as far away from homes and road as possible to lessen any environmental and aesthetic harm.

The plant would receive its industrial water from Corpus Christi and its drinking water from the small cities of Portland and Gregory.

ExxonMobil and SABIC have worked together for 35 years in major chemical joint ventures in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) ranks among the world's top petrochemical companies. The company is among the worldпїЅs market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.

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) -- BASF is broadening its portfolio of UV resins to include five new standard epoxy acrylates from the Laromer EA product family, said the producer on its site.

The binders are used for UV-curable coatings for the furniture and flooring industry as well as for overprint varnishes and printing inks. They are characterized by high reactivity and chemical resistance and make coatings and printing inks particularly durable. BASF is going to present these products as well as other innovations at its booth 523 in hall 7A at the European Coatings Show 2017, which will take place in Nuremberg from April 4 to 6, 2017.

"With the new UV resins we continue to focus on radiation-curing technologies and offer our customers an even broader range of products for the formulation of coatings and printing inks," says Ulf Neidlein, Vice President, who is responsible for BASF’s resin and additive business in Europe. To meet the increasing demand for UV acrylates, BASF had announced its expansion of existing production facilities in Europe in June 2016.

The five new UV resins include:

- Laromer EA 9138 (75% standard epoxy acrylate in 25% TPGDA);
- Laromer EA 9143 (75% standard epoxy acrylate in 25% GPTA);
- Laromer EA 9124 (80% standard epoxy acrylate in 20% HDDA);
- Laromer EA 9082 (70% standard epoxy acrylate in 30% TPGDA);
- Laromer EA 9145 (70% standard epoxy acrylate in 30% DPGDA).

As MRC reported before, in June 2016, BASF announced the extenstion of its existing production facilities for Laromer UV/EB acrylates, which are part of BASF’s C3-Verbund system, at its Ludwigshafen site in Germany. By significantly increasing its production capacities, BASF is responding to the rising demand for high-quality UV/EB acrylates and strengthening its position as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of UV/EB resins used as binders for energy-curable coatings and inks. The additional capacities were available as of the 3rd quarter of 2016.

BASF is the largest diversified chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries. BASF generated sales of more than EUR70 billion in 2015.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- With Ucrete MF40AS BASF has launched a new heavy-duty antistatic flooring system that is based on a polyurethane cement technology, as per the company's press release.

It complements the BASF product portfolio of chemical solutions for construction, which is bundled under the Master Builders Solutions brand.

Ucrete MF40AS offers numerous advantages in terms of a safe and aesthetic working environment, robustness and durability: Thanks to its antistatic properties, the flooring system protects electrostatic-sensitive devices and can be used in explosion hazard areas.

"Our customers’ demand for antistatic flooring systems is growing. This is a result of the EU ATEX (ATmospheres EXplosibles) directives that state requirements in the field of explosion protection, as well as the growing number of electronic components that are being used throughout industry. With the launch of Ucrete MF40AS we aim to meet this increasing demand and further strengthen our portfolio of industrial flooring solutions," says Philip Ansell, European Marketing Manager for Ucrete Industrial Flooring at BASF. Ucrete MF40AS’s combination of chemical resistance, durability and antistatic features represents a unique offering for a safe working environment - especially for customers in the food, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries.

Thanks to its new technology, Ucrete MF40AS is also available in the new colors, cream and bright yellow, in addition to the standard range. Like all Ucrete flooring solutions, the new system is dense and impervious, meeting the highest hygienic standards and withstanding extreme thermal, mechanical and chemical impact - thus offering a long service life.

Ucrete is the world’s toughest floor. It was launched in 1969 and has since then been used in various industries - including the food and beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Thanks to its good cleanability as well as chemical, thermal and mechanical resistance, Ucrete flooring is well-suited for spaces where a robust, hygienic and durable floor is required.

As MRC informed before, in April 2016, BASF celebrated the inauguration of its new facilities for the production of Ucrete in Bukit Raja, Klang/Malaysia. It is the first manufacturing hub in Asia Pacific to produce all components of Ucrete.

BASF is the largest diversified chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries. BASF generated sales of more than EUR70 billion in 2015.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A Nigerian oil labor union is set to stage a three-day strike at Chevron and Exxon Mobil fuel depots from Wednesday in a protest over sackings pending the outcome of talks with the government, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) said it would make its final decision on the matter after its leaders meet officials from the ministries of petroleum and labor, as well as the state oil company, on Tuesday in the capital, Abuja.

"There will be a total shutdown of production terminals, distribution and filling stations. We are talking about the downstream sector," said Tokunbo Korodo, who chairs the union's southwestern Lagos zone, of the planned walkout. He said 10,000 workers would go on strike.

Chika Onuegbu, a senior figure in another labor union -- Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) -- said his members would await the outcome of government talks before deciding whether or not to strike.

Exxon Mobil and Chevron could not immediately be reached for comment.

Nigerian labor unions have criticized oil companies for sacking workers in recent months. Last week NUPENG held a strike at Total's fuel depots in a row over sackings but it was suspended after one day because an agreement was reached. No details have emerged about the deal.

The OPEC member has been hit by low crude prices and a wave of militant attacks in its southern Niger Delta oil hub throughout 2016 which has hampered production capability.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Supervisory Board of BASF SE has appointed Saori Dubourg (45) and Dr. Markus Kamieth (46) to the Board of Executive Directors effective May 13, 2017, said the producer on its site.

Dubourg has been head of BASF’s Health & Nutrition division since 2013. Kamieth has led BASF’s Coatings division since 2012.

Margret Suckale (60) will retire with the expiration of her contract following the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on May 12, 2017. At the same time, Dr. Harald Schwager (56) will leave BASF’s Board of Executive Directors in support of long-term succession planning. Schwager has been with BASF for 28 years. He was appointed to the Board in 2008 and is currently responsible for the divisions Construction Chemicals; Crop Protection; Bioscience Research; and Region Europe. Suckale joined BASF in 2009 and has been on the Board since 2011. She is Industrial Relations Director and responsible for the divisions Engineering & Maintenance; Environmental Protection, Health & Safety; European Site & Verbund Management; and Human Resources.

Following these changes, the Board of Executive Directors has decided to redistribute its responsibilities effective May 13, 2017:

-Dr. Kurt Bock (58), Chairman, Ressort I
Legal, Taxes, Insurance & Intellectual Property; Corporate Development; Corporate Communications & Government Relations; Senior Executive Human Resources; Investor Relations; Compliance;
-Michael Heinz (52), Industrial Relations Director, Ressort II
Engineering & Maintenance; Environmental Protection, Health & Safety; European Site & Verbund Management; Human Resources;
- Dr. Hans-Ulrich Engel (57), Chief Financial Officer, Ressort III
Finance; Oil & Gas; Procurement; Supply Chain Operations & Information Services; Corporate Controlling; Corporate Audit;
- Dr. Markus Kamieth (46), Ressort IV
Care Chemicals; Nutrition & Health; Performance Chemicals; Advanced Materials & Systems Research; Region South America;
- Saori Dubourg (45), Ressort V
Construction Chemicals; Crop Protection; Bioscience Research; Region Europe;
- Dr. Martin Brudermuller (55), Vice Chairman and Chief Technology Officer, Ressort VI
Petrochemicals; Monomers; Intermediates; Process Research & Chemical Engineering; Corporate Technology & Operational Excellence; BASF New Business;
- Wayne T. Smith (56), Ressort VII located in North America
Catalysts; Coatings; Performance Materials; Market & Business Development, Site & Verbund Management North America; Regional Functions & Country Platforms North America;
- Sanjeev Gandhi (49), Ressort VIII located in Asia
Dispersions & Pigments; Greater China & Functions Asia Pacific; South & East Asia, ASEAN & ANZ.

We remind that, as MRC reported earlier, in July 2016, BASF and Xinjiang Markor Chemical Industry Co. started up a new polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF) facility in Korla, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in China. The 50,000-t/y PolyTHF facility, operated as a joint venture between BASF and Markor under the name BASF Markor Chemical Manufacturing (Xinjiang) Co., complements BASF's existing Asian production facilities in Shanghai, China and Ulsan, Korea. BASF also produces PolyTHF in Geismar, La., and Ludwigshafen, Germany, and has a total global PolyTHF capacity of 350,000 t/y.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas.
MRC