6th November: Global downstream roundup

China
At a summit for entrepreneurs held in Nanjing yesterday, representatives from the petrochemical industries in Taiwan and China have confirmed that the two nations are keen on collaborating. Political factors have previously caused problems where working together on petrochemical projects have been concerned.

India
Modernisation projects are currently being carried out at the Guwahati refinery, owned by Indian oil. It has recently been announced that the INDAdept-G project will be onstream in November 2015. The project is based on technology for converting heavy gasoline to a blendable fuel by removing the sulfur. Studies are also underway to construct a paraffin and microcrystalline wax unit.

Kuwait National Petroleum Company, Qatar Petroleum and Emirates National Oil Company have all shown interest in a 26% stake in a soon to be commissioned petrochemicals complex. The ONGC facility will be built in the Mangalore Special Economic Zone. The aromatics complex is e expected to produce 0.9 million tpy of paraxylene and 0.3 million tpy of benzene.

Kazakhstan
Rominserv, part of the Rompetrol Group is to provide consultancy services for the modernisation of a refinery in Kazakhstan. The Shymkent refinery will undergo US$ 1.6 billion worth of work and the Rominserv contract is worth approximately US$ 8 million. The company will provide consultancy services for the project management, engineering, procurement and supervision of construction until the end of 2015. This is Kazakhstan’s newest refinery and provides 30% of the country’s processing capacity.

Pakistan
The delays in deciding on the construction of a refinery is causing unrest amongst the Khattak Ittehad. The local rights organisation are calling for a decision to be made and have demanded that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak decide immediately. The oil refinery in question is likely to be classed as a mega project.

USA
Three rail cars have derailed at the Valero Benicia refinery. The incident occurred on Monday but thankfully none of the potentially toxic petroleum coke cargo spilled. It has been reported that the facility has only just applied for a permit to increase inbound rail shipments of crude oil by 70 000 bpd. The train was 11 cars long and the three cars landed upright.

Wales
Murco has denied all rumours that the Milford Haven refinery is to close. The plant employs approximately 400 people and has been on the market for three years. The Sunday Times originally reported the rumour that owners Murphy Oil were seeking to close the facility, however, a statement has been released by the company stating that the refinery is still running operations and was not in discussions with the Welsh Government over possibly closing the plant.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/06112013/6th_nov_downstream_news/