BP licenses Innovene technology for Sasol Polymers polypropylene expansion BP and Sasol Polymers announced the signing of an agreement to license BP’s Innovene polypropylene process technology for the expansion of Sasol’s polypropylene facilities located in Secunda, Republic of South Africa. The new plant will have an annual capacity of 300,000 MT/year, produce homopolymers, random…
Major polyolefins producers Dow, ExxonMobil, Nova, and DuPont report earnings Dow Chemical Dow Chemical Company reported fourth-quarter sales of $8.3 billion, up 20% from fourth-quarter 2002 sales of $7.0 billion, with a 12% increase in price and an 8% increase in volume. Net income rose to $929 million, compared with a loss of $809…
ExxonMobil Chemical develops a new cost-effective PE resin for wire and cable applications ExxonMobil Chemical announced a new linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) resin, LL 4004EL, for low-voltage power cable insulations. According to the company, the resin provides the cable manufacturer with a balance of crosslinking speed and ease of processing for cost-competitive cable constructions.…
Basell’s PE process technology licensing activity on the rise Basell announced that Salavatnefteorgsintez, a Russian petrochemical company controlled by Gazprom, has signed a licensing agreement to use Basell’s Hostalen technology for a new 120,000 MT/year high-density polyethylene plant at Salavat, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia. The plant is scheduled to be completed in 2006. In…
ExxonMobil develops new PP resin grades in Europe ExxonMobil Chemical announced the availability of an advanced polypropylene resin grade – ExxonMobil PP5122E1-designed to provide the high transparency and stiffness required for demanding sheet and thermoforming applications. ExxonMobil PP5122E1, available only in Europe, is a clarified polypropylene using proprietary ExxonMobil Chemical formulation processes. ExxonMobil PP5122E1…
NOVA and BP in agreement with Grace Davison to supply new NOVACAT™T Ziegler-Natta polyethylene catalyst NOVA Chemicals and BP Petrochemicals announced that they have entered into a long-term supply arrangement with the polyolefin catalyst business of Grace Davison for the manufacture of NOVACAT T advanced Ziegler-Natta catalysts. These catalysts, which are designed for gas-phase…
Basell to license Spheripol technology to National Petrochemical Industrial Company, Saudi Arabia National Petrochemical Industrial Company (NATPET) and Basell have signed a license agreement for a new 400 KT polypropylene plant based on Basell’s Spheripol process. NATPET, a joint stock company owned by Alujain Corporation, Xenel Industries Limited, and other private investors, will utilize…
BP to sell over 50% of petrochemicals business and prepares for IPO BP announced that it plans to consolidate the Olefins and Derivatives (O&D) division of its petrochemicals business into a stand-alone entity able to operate separately from the BP Group. The new O&D business will incorporate more than half of the $13 billion…
Westlake Chemical Corporation files registration statement for Initial Public Offering Westlake Chemical Corporation announced that it has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet…
Borealis to debottleneck PP plant & expand ethylene capacity in Norway Borealis announced its plans to debottleneck its PP plant at Rønningen. The company will also expand its Noretyl ethylene cracker capacity by 100,000 MT/year at its joint venture with Hydro Polymers. The two Norwegian projects will be completed in the autumn of 2005.…