Tatneft to double TANEKO's refining capacity in 2017

MOSCOW (MRC) — Russian mid-sized oil producer Tatneft plans to double the capacity of its TANEKO oil refinery to 14 MMt this year, TANEKO General Director Leonid Alekhin told Reuters.

TANEKO, located in Russia's republic of Tatarstan in the Volga-Urals region, plans to launch its second crude oil distillation unit in the coming months, allowing it to boost the capacity, but actual refining volumes will be smaller, he added.

Next year, TANEKO will start to produce gasoline, with the output seen at 1 MMt, and plans to double its diesel output to 3 MMt, Tatneft documents and Reuters calculations showed.

In total, Tatneft plans to invest around USD3.4 B in TANEKO's upgrade in 2017–2025 and is also considering plans to build the third production line at the refinery at some point, according to Alekhin and the company's documents.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russia's output of products from polymers decreased in July year on year by 2.9% despite the pressure of seasonal factors. However, this figure grew by 4% year on year in January-July 2017, reported MRC analysts.

According to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, July production of plastic pipes, hoses and fittings rose to 60,900 tonnes from 52,200 tonnes a month earlier. Overall output of these products totalled 298,300 tonnes in the first seven months of 2017, down by 1.3% year on year.

Last month's production of unreinforced and non-combined films was 96,400 tonnes, compared to 94,000 tonnes in June. Output of films products grew in January-July 2017 by 7% year on year to 601,000 tonnes.

Last month's production of porous boards, sheets and polymer films was 26,300 tonnes, whereas this figure was 24,300 tonnes a months earlier. Total production of these polymer products increased by 2% year on year in the first seven months of 2016 to 147,800 tonnes.

July production of plastic door blocks fell to 86,100 sq m versus 96,800 sq m a month earlier. January-July production of these products reached 502,000 sq. m, down 7.5% year on year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall output of chemicals increased in the first seven months of 2017 by 6.5% year on year, despite lower production in May and June, according to Rosstat.

According to the Federal Service of State Statistics, last month's production of basic chemicals grew by 0.9% year on year. However, the high growth rates in the first months of the year provided for the increase of 6.5% in the output of basic chemicals in January-July 2017.

July output of ethylene was 219,000 tonnes, compared to 257,000 tonnes a month earlier, lower production was caused by a scheduled shutdown for maintenance at Angarsk Polymers Plant and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat. Overall, over 1.74 m tonnes of this olefin were manufactured in the first seven month of 2017, up by 10.2% year on year.

Last month's production of benzene dropped to 99,000 tonnes from 106,000 tonnes in June, which was also caused by the outage at Angarsk Polymers Plant and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat. Overall output of this product exceeded 802,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 10.3% year on year.

July production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) were 87,700 tonnes (100% of the basic substance) versus 103,000 tonnes a month earlier. The decrease in production was caused by the scheduled shutdowns for maintenance at Bashkir Soda Company and SayanskKhimPlast. Overall output of caustic soda grew to 705,500 tonnes in January-July 2017, up by 9.5% year on year.

Last month's production of mineral fertilizers was 1.77 mln tonnes (in terms of 100% nutrients) versus 1.93 mln tonnes in June. Nevertheless, Russian plants produced 12.73 mln tonnes of fertilizers in January-July 2017, up by 9.8% year on year. Production of all types of fertilizers increased, with potash fertilizers, the output of which grew by 16.9%, accounted for the greatest increase.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saipem has been awarded a new contract in the onshore E&C sector worth approximately USD850 MM. Activities involve engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning for the "Feed Pipelines for New Refinery Project (NRP)" in relation to the development of the new Al Zour refinery located in the south of Kuwait.

The scope of work comprises the construction of a system of pipelines of various diameter, approximately 450 km in length, for the transportation of crude oil and gas from various KOC South Tank Farm manifolds to the new Al Zour refinery. The project also includes the realization of a network for the transportation of the refined products to the storage areas present in the refinery of Mina Al Ahmadi. These products will also be used to feed the Northern Power Station owned by the Ministerial body for water and electricity.

As MRC informed before, last year, Saipem, the Italian oil services group, filed a EUR759m claim against Gazprom following the cancellation of the South Stream project to pipe Russian gas to Europe. For the Russian state gas group, the claim highlights the cost of its attempts to build a pipeline across the Black Sea, which have twice been scuppered by political disputes in little over a year.

Saipem S.p.A. (Societa Anonima Italiana Perforazioni E Montaggi) is an Italian oil and gas industry contractor. It is a subsidiary of Italian energy company Eni, which owns approximately 30% of Saipem's shares. Saipem has been contracted for designing and constructing several pipelines, including Blue Stream, Greenstream, Nord Stream and South Stream.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Lubrizol Corporation's Engineered Polymers business has announced the launch of the new Pearlbond 1160L thermoplastic polyurethane grade for adhesive powders, webs and films. The product complements the company's current high-crystalline offering for adhesive films and PVC co-extrusion, as per GV.

Pearlbond 1160L is toluene-free and can be converted into thermobonding films, webs and powder. According to Lubrizol, the product is a lightweight and environmentally friendly alternative to competing materials. With the addition of Pearlbond 1160L, the company now offers the choice of two solutions for adhesive formulators: high-melt strength Pearlbond 1160 and the new Pearlbond 1160L, which is said to have a superior crystallisation speed and higher wettability.

"Lubrizol offers a world-class portfolio of solvent-free polymers for hot melt adhesives. Pearlbond 1160L provides a gel-free, high-performing alternative that can be easily processed and offers new possibilities for stitch-free bonding and waterproofing adhesives in a variety of applications," said Jesus Santamaria, EMEAI business director for Estane Engineered Polymers.

As MRC informed before, in February 2016, Lubrizol Corporation announced the commencement of its USD50 million chlorinated polyvinyl chloride ( CPVC) compounding plant in Dahej. This was the company's first CPVC compounding plant in the country, and it claimed that it is the first such in India by any global major. The plant has a capacity to produce nearly 55,000 tonnes of compounds annually. The company invested over USD50 million (Rs325 crore) on this facility.

The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an innovative specialty chemical company that apart from its production develops and supplies technologies to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. Lubrizol is providing innovative solutions for its customers high-performance application needs and remains committed to ongoing investment in its CPVC capabilities that support future growth. With headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, Lubrizol owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 8,000 employees worldwide. Revenues for 2013 were USD6.4 billion.
MRC