US Approval of LNG Exports Paves Way for Asian Spot Market
(Monday, May 20, 2013) Japanese LNG buyers see U.S. government approval for a Texas LNG facility to export gas to countries with which it doesn't have free-trade agreements as a step forward.

Behind Chinese Protests, Growing Dismay at Pollution
(Monday, May 20, 2013) As news spread earlier this year that China's government had approved a refinery and petrochemicals base near Kunming to process crude piped in from Myanmar, a local environmental activist named Zheng Xiejian started disseminating leaflets.

Kunming Residents Protest PetroChina Paraxylene Project
(Thursday, May 16, 2013) Residents of the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming took to the streets Thursday for a protest against the construction of a state-run chemical and petroleum refinery.

China Chemical Plant Vow Met with Skepticism
(Wednesday, May 08, 2013) Kunming moved to allay public anger over a controversial chemical project yesterday by claiming it was still in the planning stage.

Protests In At Least Two Chinese Cities Over Planned Industrial Facilities
(Monday, May 06, 2013) Tensions were running high on Saturday in at least two Chinese cities as opposition grew against planned industrial facilities, the latest examples of growing public environmental concerns over large industrial projects.

Location Is the Key to China's New Generation of Coal Chemicals
(Monday, May 06, 2013) China is in the midst of a surge in coal-to-chemicals investment, says Paul Pang, managing director of IHS Chemical China.

Chengdu Halts Ethylene Plant Work Amid Quake Fears
(Wednesday, May 01, 2013) Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province, has halted a controversial chemical plant project amid concerns over its proximity to an earthquake fault line.

Japan to Allow New Coal Power Plants to Cut Fuel Costs
(Friday, April 26, 2013) Japan's Ministry of Environment is ending an virtual ban on construction of new coal-fired power plants as the country looks to reduce its energy bill.

Japanese Minister to Visit US to Urge LNG Exports
(Thursday, April 25, 2013) Japan's industry minister will visit the U.S. next week to ask the Obama administration to approve natural gas exports and reassure the U.S. that Japan won't give up its nuclear power plants.

Japanese Companies Back New Sakhalin LNG Projects
(Thursday, April 25, 2013) Japanese companies support projects involving the construction of a third LNG plant production line in the Sakhalin-2 project and new LNG production in Sakhalin Region, said officials with Mitsui and Tokyo Electric.

China Environmental Regulator To Review Sinopec Yizheng Plant
(Thursday, April 25, 2013) China's environmental watchdog said it will re-evaluate its approval for a purified terephthalic acid project by Sinopec Yizheng Chemical Fibre Company in east China's Jiangsu province.

Ice Gas: A Step Closer to Commercial Production
(Wednesday, April 24, 2013) Could methane hydrate, or "ice gas", succeed shale gas as a source of cheap energy?

Sino-Myanmar Gas Pipeline to Hit Yunnan, Guizhou's LNG Purchase
(Wednesday, April 24, 2013) The provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou in southwest China are expected to purchase less liquefied natural gas (LNG) from other regions with the operation of the Sino-Myanmar gas pipeline, industry sources said April 16.

METI Chief Urges Gazprom to Keep LNG Plant's Spigot Open, Reasonable
(Thursday, April 18, 2013) Trade minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Wednesday called on the president of Russia-owned Gazprom to provide Japan with liquefied natural gas from its plant now being built near Vladivostok at a "reasonable price" and in a "timely manner."

Gazprom Discussing Construction of Japanese Gas Pipeline Network
(Thursday, April 18, 2013) Gazprom is discussing construction of a gas pipeline network in Japan, as well as cooperation in electricity, the Russian gas giant said in a statement following a visit to Japan by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller.

Wison Unveils Butene Oxidization and Dehydrogenation Tech
(Thursday, April 18, 2013) Wison Engineering recently introduced a proprietary butene oxidization and dehydrogenation to butadiene technology.

China's New Excise Duty Rules on Petrochemicals Have Multiple Impacts
(Friday, April 12, 2013) The short-term impacts of the new excise duty rules on liquid petrochemicals announced by State Administration of Taxation (SAT) in November 2012 have already surfaced, said Jin Dongsheng, deputy director general with the Taxation Institute of SAT.

China Methanol Usage to Surge as New Fuel Standards Take Effect
(Friday, April 12, 2013) China's methanol consumption will get a strong boost with the expected implementation of a new fuel blending standards in the country by the end of the year, industry source said on Thursday.

Chinese Refiner Says Cheap US Natural Gas Threatens Local Industry
(Thursday, April 11, 2013) Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical has warned that cheap natural gas in the United States and coal from the mainland pose serious competitive threats to mainland crude oil refiners.

Shell Awards Jacobs Contract for Hong Kong Project
(Thursday, April 11, 2013) Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. announced Tuesday it has been selected by Shell Hong Kong Limited to provide detailed design for its Transformer Oil Project located at its Tsing Yi installation in Hong Kong.