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No major damage to Polish PDH plant after fire: Azoty

  • : LPG, Petrochemicals
  • 24/07/26

Polish chemical conglomerate Grupa Azoty said there is no "significant damage" to its 437,000 t/yr propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant after a fire last week, but the unit remains shut for investigation and repair.

Azoty shut the unit in Police, northwest Poland, following a leak and a fire on July 19. The company said an inspection after the fire — which was promptly put out — found no "significant damage that would prevent restart of the unit".

The unit remains shut to allow the company and the plant's general contractor to investigate the accident, fix the source of the leak and prepare it for restart as soon as possible, Azoty said. The company did not say when the unit may restart.

Last month Azoty said it is still conducting tests at the PDH unit and its integrated 429,000 t/yr polypropylene complex which both operate in commissioning-mode ahead of planned commercial start of production later in the third quarter this year.


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24/09/09

Methanex to acquire OCI’s methanol business for $2bn

Methanex to acquire OCI’s methanol business for $2bn

Houston, 9 September (Argus) — Methanol producer Methanex announced Sunday that it will acquire OCI's international methanol business for $2.05bn. As part of the transaction, Methanex will acquire four primary assets, including a 910,000 t/yr methanol facility and 340,000 t/yr ammonia facility in Beaumont, Texas. Methanex will acquire OCI's 50pc interest in the 1.7m t/yr Natgasoline methanol plant in Beaumont. The acquisition of Natgasoline is subject to a legal proceeding between OCI and Proman, the other 50pc holder in Natgasoline, over certain shareholder rights. If the dispute is not resolved within a certain period, Methanex has the option to exclude the purchase of the Natgasoline joint venture and proceed with the rest of the transaction. The transaction also includes OCI HyFuels, a producer of green methanol products such as biomethanol and bio-MTBE, and trading and distribution capabilities for renewable natural gas (RNG) and ethanol. Additionally, Methanex will acquire an idled 1m t/yr methanol facility in Delfzijl, Netherlands. The purchase price includes $1.15 billion in cash, the issuance of 9.9 million shares of Methanex valued at $450 million and the assumption of about $450 million in debt and leases. The acquisition of fertilizer producer OCI began over a year ago, according to OCI officials. "We identified Methanex as the natural owner of OCI Methanol at the outset of our strategic process, which we initiated in the spring of 2023," OCI executive chairman Nassef Sawiris said. This acquisition moves Methanex, primarily a methanol maker, into the ammonia sector. "From an operating perspective, we have a shared culture of safety and operational excellence, and we expect the OCI team will help us build new skills in ammonia while enhancing our capabilities in the evolving business of low carbon methanol production and marketing," Methanex CEO Rich Sumner said. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of the two companies and is now awaiting certain regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. The transaction is also subject to approval by a simple majority of the shareholders of OCI. The largest shareholder of OCI, has signed an agreement to vote for the transaction. By Steven McGinn Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Japan’s Astomos adds LPG-fuelled VLGC to fleet


24/09/06
24/09/06

Japan’s Astomos adds LPG-fuelled VLGC to fleet

Tokyo, 6 September (Argus) — Japanese LPG importer Astomos Energy has commissioned a very large gas carrier (VLGC) with a dual-fuel LPG engine, adding to its existing fleet of 26. Astomos on 4 September commissioned the 86,953m³ Liverty Pathfinder , which was built by shipbuilder Kawasaki Heavy Industries at its Sakaide shipyard in southwest Japan's Kagawa prefecture and is co-owned by shipping firm NYK. The VLGC is the fourth co-owned vessel with NYK, adding to Gas Capricorn in 2003, Gas Garnet and Gas Amethyst in 2024. The VLGC can use LPG as a bunker fuel from a cargo tank. It is possible to reduce more than 95pc of sulphur oxide and more than 20pc of carbon dioxide emissions when the vessel uses LPG as a marine fuel compared with conventional fuel oil, Astomos said. Japan currently imports 10mn t/yr of LPG to cover 12mn t/yr of domestic demand, according to the Japan LP Gas Association. By Reina Maeda Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Roadblocks across Colombia cut LPG supply


24/09/05
24/09/05

Roadblocks across Colombia cut LPG supply

Bogota, 5 September (Argus) — Colombia's LPG shortages are worsening as a fourth day of protests and roadblocks over higher diesel prices are limiting production and distribution. Protesters have completely blocked roads to processing plants in the key Cusiana and Cupiagua fields, preventing trucks from moving supply. Those two fields along with the Ty Gas processing plant handle 41pc of the country's LPG supply, LPG association (Agremgas) director Sara Velez told Argus . Colombia uses about 60,000 metric tonnes (t)/month of LPG. The Cusiana plant that produces about 15,000t/month of LPG is flaring 100t/d of LPG that cannot be transported, Velez said. "If Cusiana is unable to move out the LPG, it may force it to shut in, affecting natural gas as well," Velez said. Blockades are also preventing LPG produced at the 250,000 b/d Barrancabermeja and the 200,000 b/d Cartagena refineries from reaching distributors. The refineries produce 24pc of the country's LPG supply, equivalent to 14,400t/month. Adding to troubles, multiple rebel attacks have put sections of the country's 220,000 b/d Cano Limon-Covenas and the 120,000 b/d Bicentenario crude pipelines out of service for repairs, restricting crude supply to the refineries. The smaller LPG field of Capacho controlled by Canadian oil company Parex shut in 5,000 b/d of oil equivalent (boe/d), or about 10pc of its Colombian output. That reduced LPG supplies to the Arauca department, the LPG association added. The departments of Caqueta, Cundinamarca and Valle del Cauca have inventories for four days. Another 28 departments have LPG inventory for one or two days. Velez has called on the government to create a safe corridor to help LPG reach consumers. The LPG shortage is also affecting industries. Fenavi, the country's poultry association, consumes 42mn kg/yr of LPG, which is equivalent to state-controlled Ecopetrol's monthly LPG production. The LPG is used to warm the poultry, but the association also said that blockades have also cut supplies of feed and could put the chickens at risk of starvation. The country produces 1.8mn tonnes/yr of chickens and 1.6bn eggs/yr. In Colombia 1.2mn families already still cook with wood, and the current shortage will likely increase that number. By Diana Delgado Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US August ethylene contract settles higher


24/09/04
24/09/04

US August ethylene contract settles higher

Houston, 4 September (Argus) — The US August ethylene contract price settled at 33¢/lb, the highest recorded settlement since November 2022. The contract price rose by 0.75¢/lb from the prior month, or 2.33pc, which marks a fifth consecutive monthly increase. An uptick in the contract price was supported by higher US spot ethylene prices. Maintenance at Enterprise Products Partners' (EPC) cavern in Mont Belvieu, Texas, coupled with lower inventories in the second quarter, placed upward pressure on spot prices this summer. US spot EPC ethylene averaged higher month-over-month. The August spot average for front-month ethylene increased to 30¢/lb from 26.59¢/lb in July. On 3 September, Argus assessed US spot EPC ethylene at 30.31¢/lb. The US ethylene contract price is a 50/50 formula accounting for ethylene spot prices and ethane feedstock costs. The average of spot ethane prices was lower in August at 13.95¢/USG, down from 15.43¢/USG in July. Prompt month EPC ethane traded higher in September alongside natural gas. By Joshua Himelfarb Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Bridgestone, BB&G, Versalis partner on tire recycling


24/09/03
24/09/03

Bridgestone, BB&G, Versalis partner on tire recycling

Houston, 3 September (Argus) — Tire manufacturer Bridgestone has signed a joint agreement with BB&G and Versalis to develop a closed-loop tire supply chain. The companies agreed to collaborate on research and technical solutions to scale end-of-life tire (ELT) recycling for the production of new tires. In doing so, they aim to advance pyrolysis technology and market circular polymers for tires. This is part of a push to improve sustainability within the synthetic rubber sector. Technology firm BB&G transforms ELTs into renewable raw products using a thermal conversion process of pyrolysis. It inaugurated a commercial tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) unit, located in Fatima, Portugal, in July 2024. Chemical company Versalis will incorporate BB&G's pyrolysis oil over the next few months into expanding its range of products — including elastomers and polymers — derived from chemical recycling and bio-based feedstocks. With that, Bridgestone in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) looks to employ these circular elastomers into manufacturing new tires. The first batch of tires is anticipated in early 2025. "At Bridgestone, we have set a goal of working with 100pc sustainable materials by 2050, and recycling and reusing products is an important part of this," said Bridgestone's EMEA president Laurent Dartoux, which also supports initiatives "on co-creating new and environmentally responsible ways to maximize the complete lifecycle of our tires." By Joshua Himelfarb Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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