Total: SE Texas Steam Cracker Is Processing Ethane from Shale Gas
(Thursday, May 23, 2013) To capitalize on the shale gas revolution in the U.S., the BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals LLC (BTP) joint venture (40% Total, 60% BASF) revamped the Port Arthur steam cracker in Texas to process ethane, found in abundance in U.S. shale gas.

Petronas Exec: Decision on $20 Bln Petrochemical Project Delayed to 1Q 2014
(Wednesday, May 22, 2013) Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional Bhd. has deferred for another three quarters a decision to proceed with what the government describes as one of the country's most important oil-and-gas projects.

Total Sanctions Antwerp Modernization Project
(Wednesday, May 22, 2013) Total announced Wednesday that it will proceed with plans at its Antwerp, Belgium facility to add a new refinery upgrading complex and to install a new plant to convert low-value refinery fuel gases into low-cost petrochemical feedstock.

Shake Up Among Kuwaiti Oil Executives
(Monday, May 20, 2013) Kuwait Petroleum stated that the reshuffle wasn't linked to the crisis over the controversial payment of a $2.2 billion penalty to Dow Chemical for scrapping a joint venture in December 2008.

Sumitomo Chemical in the Red on Sharp Fall in Demand
(Friday, May 17, 2013) A sharp drop in Asian demand and in other overseas markets has resulted in a 51 billion yen loss (S$620 million) in FY2012 by Sumitomo Chemical - the largest Japanese investor on Jurong Island.

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.

Sasol Awards Toyo FEED for La. LLDPE Project
(Thursday, May 16, 2013) Toyo Engineering was awarded a contract from Sasol North America, Inc. to provide FEED services for a 450,000 t/y LLDPE plant in Lake Charles, La.

ENI Unit Versalis Eyes Gas Imports from US
(Wednesday, May 15, 2013) The chemicals business of ENI has outlined a major transformation program that aims to shift the company's portfolio from domination by commodities toward differentiated and green chemicals, internationalize the business, and make it profitable.

Muntajat: A New Gateway to Qatar's Chemicals
(Wednesday, May 15, 2013) Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Marketing and Distribution Co. (Muntajat; Doha) will, by mid-2013, take over the marketing and distribution of all chemicals and petrochemicals produced in Qatar.

Sipchem Starts Up Ethyl Acetate Plant
(Monday, May 13, 2013) Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) announced the start-up of ethyl acetate (EA) & butyl acetate (BA) plant owned by Sipchem Chemicals Company (fully owned by Sipchem) at its complex in Jubail Industrial City on Friday.

Indian Fertilizer Giant's Investment Plan Calls for LNG Switch, New Plants
(Monday, May 13, 2013) Indian public sector fertilizer giant Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT) on Friday unveiled a "2020 Vision Plan."

Emergency Worker Who Responded to West, Texas, Blast Is Arrested
(Friday, May 10, 2013) A volunteer emergency worker who had told news reporters that he was among the first to respond to the explosion at a fertilizer depot in West, Texas, last month was arrested early Friday and charged with possessing a destructive device.

Report: Iran Plans to Triple Gas Condensate Exports
(Thursday, May 09, 2013) Managing Director of Iranian Oil Terminals Company (IOTC) Seyyed Pirouz Mousavi said the country will roughly triple its gas condensate exports in less than two years, Press TV reported.

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.

Rosneft Requests Tax Breaks for Eastern Petrochemical
(Wednesday, May 08, 2013) Rosneft said that it is working with the government on co-financing infrastructure construction and tax breaks for a planned petrochemical complex in Russia's Far East.

KBR Wins Gulf Coast Turnaround Services Contract
(Tuesday, May 07, 2013) KBR Tuesday announced it has been awarded a contract by a leading chemical company on the Gulf Coast to provide turnaround services for its pygas unit.

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.

Experts: Bottlenecks Hamper India's Chemical Industry
(Monday, May 06, 2013) India's chemical industry, including its specialty chemicals sector, has huge potential to grow. However, a number of issues are slowing the pace of growth and discouraging investments, experts said recently.

Fluor Wins EPC Contract for Dow's Freeport Facility
(Thursday, May 02, 2013) Fluor Corporation announced Thursday that it was awarded a contract by The Dow Chemical Company to execute a significant portion of its U.S. Gulf Coast investments.