Fuels and octane
Overview
Among the list of high-octane components are reformate, alkylate, MTBE, ETBE, toluene, xylenes, ethyl benzene, and others. Some of these components primarily see demand from the chemical market but could be diverted to the gasoline pool when octane prices are high.
MTBE is a high-octane component for gasoline blending, but only used in some countries. MTBE demand has been led by growth in Asia, Middle East, and Latin Markets. Other regions have focused on increased biofuel usage which includes ethanol and ETBE.
Argus’ experts will help you determine what trends to track and how to stay competitive in today’s ever-changing global markets.
Latest fuels and octane news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global fuels and octane industry.
'World first' electric cracking plant starts in Germany
'World first' electric cracking plant starts in Germany
London, 17 April (Argus) — Chemical companies BASF, Sabic and Linde have started two electrically-heated steam cracking furnaces at BASF's Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, the world's first demonstration of the technology beyond pilot scale. The demonstration plant is fully integrated into the existing crackers at Ludwigshafen and will produce propylene, ethylene and potentially heavier olefins, according to a statement from the companies. It is designed to test the continuous operation of electric furnaces and collect data to support further development. The furnaces each employ a different electrical heating technology. By using renewable electricity instead of conventional fuels, the companies estimate it can reduce CO2 emissions by 90pc. The two furnaces will process roughly 4 t/hour of hydrocarbon feedstock and consume 6MWh of energy. The companies first announced their collaboration in 2021 , with BASF and Sabic contributing their expertise in operating steam crackers and Linde providing its intellectual property and expertise in steam cracking furnace technologies. By George Barsted Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australian petchem firm Qenos enters administration
Australian petchem firm Qenos enters administration
Singapore, 17 April (Argus) — Australian olefins and polyethylene (PE) producer Qenos has entered into voluntary administration following a cash liquidity crunch. Australian advisory firm McGrathNicol has been appointed as voluntary administrators, with its first meeting with creditors, including employees, expected to be held on 30 April. A follow-up meeting will be held for the administrators to present the results of their investigation into the Qenos Group and offer recommendations. Qenos was formerly a joint venture between China's state-controlled ChemChina and US private equity group Blackstone. Qenos' new owner LAOP BidCo will provide funding to the voluntary administrators, employee wages and other necessary costs to shut the Botany plant in New South Wales. Qenos was "unable to confirm whether there will be sufficient assets available to meet employees' pre-appointment claims", in a circular released to employees. Qenos operates a 250,000 t/yr ethane cracker, a 90,000 t/yr low-density PE plant and a 130,000 t/yr linear low-density PE/high-density PE (HDPE) swing plant at Botany. Qenos stopped its ethylene and PE production at Botany in February 2023 after damage to a cooling water tower at its olefins complex. Qenos earlier planned to restart its Botany ethylene and PE plants in phases from late January this year but this failed to materialise. It separately in 2021 closed and mothballed one of its two ethylene units and one of its two 100,000 t/yr HDPE units in Altona, Victoria. This came after the closure of ExxonMobil's 90,000 b/d Altona refinery in August 2021 that supplied feedstock to Qenos' Altona cracker. No decision has been made on Qenos' ethylene and PE plant in Altona. Qenos' distribution arm eXsource will continue to operate normally. It supplies a range of polymers manufactured by Qenos, Bluestar, LyondellBasell and others within the domestic Australian market. By Yee Ying Ang Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Dow restarting Freeport polyethylene unit
Dow restarting Freeport polyethylene unit
Houston, 15 April (Argus) — Dow today began the start up of its Polyethylene 4 unit in Freeport, Texas, following an earlier shutdown, according to a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The restart is expected to continue through 18 April, resulting in some ethylene emissions. The shutdown occurred following a decomposition reaction at the unit. It was not immediately clear how long the unit has been down or whether there has been a loss of production. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Dow has approximately 1.685mn t/yr of total PE capacity at its Freeport plant. By Michelle Klump Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Sabic to begin Geleen cracker closure this week
Sabic to begin Geleen cracker closure this week
London, 11 April (Argus) — Saudi state-owned petrochemicals company Sabic will begin work at the end of this week to disconnect and permanently close one of the two steam crackers at its petrochemicals site in Geleen, Netherlands. The steam cracker to be closed, Geleen 3, cracks naphtha/condensate feedstock with a small flexibility to crack propane and butane. The steam cracker has a nameplate ethylene production capacity of 550,000 t/yr and chemical grade propylene capacity of 260,000 t/yr. Five other units will also be shut down at the site during a three-month maintenance period, the company said, although it did not give further details. Sabic said that the closure is "part of the strategic reorientation of the site based on careful evaluation and market conditions and enables Sabic to prepare the Geleen site for future success in a competitive market". Sabic operates two steam crackers at Geleen. The other, Geleen 4, has a capacity of 675,000 t/yr of ethylene and 485,000 t/yr of propylene. Both crackers are over 40 years old. Sabic also operates derivative capacities at the site, including 300,000 t/yr of HDPE, 470,000 t/yr of LDPE and 600,000 t/yr of polypropylene. The site also has a 130,000 t/yr butadiene extraction unit. Sabic is also expected to restart its steam cracker in the future at its Wilton site in Teesside in the UK with the company investing in the site to convert the cracker to 100pc ethane feedstock. The cracker was shut in 2020, when it had a capacity of 786,000 t/yr of ethylene production. This is expected to decrease to 450,000 t/yr capacity when the plant restarts production. By George Barsted and Will Collins Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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