Formosa to restart Mailiao aromatics unit after blast
Taiwan's private-sector Formosa Chemical & Fibres (FCFC) is poised to resume operations at its No.3 aromatics unit in Mailiao over the next few days, after an explosion on 7 April forced a shutdown.
The unit can produce up to 870,000 t/yr of paraxylene (PX) and 510,000 t/yr of benzene.
The April explosion hit the upstream reforming facilities at the site, which are not scheduled to restart until early July. The PX/benzene unit was not damaged during the explosion, enabling production to be restarted ahead of the reformer.
FCFC has been actively purchasing isomer-grade mixed xylenes (MX) for June and July delivery as a replacement feedstock for the No.3 aromatics unit, although volume details could not be confirmed.
The company has also scaled back purchases of benzene for its downstream phenol and styrene monomer facilities ahead of the restart of the Mailiao aromatics unit. FCFC has bought 30,000-40,000t of benzene to sustain production at its downstream units since No.3 shutdown in early April. Formosa typically bought around 6,000-9,000 t/month of benzene before the blast.
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Singapore's MPA, IEA unite on maritime decarbonisation
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Japan’s Idemitsu builds stake in refiner Fuji Oil
Japan’s Idemitsu builds stake in refiner Fuji Oil
Tokyo, 17 April (Argus) — Idemitsu has agreed to buy an additional stake in fellow Japanese refiner Fuji Oil from domestic power producer Jera, adding to their existing partnership. Idemitsu on 16 April said it will buy Jera's entire 8.75pc share of Fuji, raising its stake to 21.79pc, for ¥2.5bn ($16.2mn). It is unclear when the companies will complete the deal. Jera declined to disclose the reasons for selling its stake. Idemitsu in March also bought domestic petrochemical producer Sumitomo Chemical's stake in Fuji to boost its share to 13.04pc from 6.58pc, becoming its main shareholder. It aims to further optimise fuel oil production and sales including refinery operations, while promoting decarbonisaton of its businesses. Idemitsu is enhancing its partnership with Fuji in the face of shrinking domestic oil and petrochemical demand and growing consumption in overseas, especially in southeast Asia. Idemitsu owns the 190,000 b/d Chiba refinery in the Keiyo industrial complex in east Japan's Chiba prefecture where Fuji operates the 143,000 b/d Sodegaura refinery. Their refineries are connected to Sumitomo Chemical's Chiba plant. Idemitsu's refineries also include the 150,000 b/d Hokkaido in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, the 160,000 b/d Aichi in Aichi prefecture in central Japan and the 255,000 b/d Yokkaichi in Mie prefecture in the country's west. Idemitsu's subsidiary Toa Oil operates the 70,000 b/d Kawasaki refinery in east Japan's Kanagawa prefecture. By Nanami Oki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US Gulf lowest-cost green ammonia in 2030: Report
US Gulf lowest-cost green ammonia in 2030: Report
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Overseas companies get US FDA polymers certifications
Overseas companies get US FDA polymers certifications
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