15th January: Refining and petrochemicals update

Azerbaijan

SOCAR is apparently troubleshooting problems at the Heydar Aliyev refinery. The company is looking at the plant’s catalytic reforming unit in particular.

China

It has been reported by Reuters that a unit of Xinjiang International Industry Co. Ltd is looking to set up a commercial bank in Kyrgyzstan. The company are currently involved in petrochemicals and property.

India

Kuwait Petroleum Corp is showing interest in purchasing a stake in the ONGC Dahej petrochemical plant in Gujarat as well as a chemical plant in Mangalore. The company are looking to purchase a 26% share in the former.

Oman

After shutting down for repairs at the end of December last year, the Sohar refinery is now running normal operations. A water treatment unit was worked on during the maintenance period.

Turkey

Tupras and Opet have submitted verbal defences as part of an investigation launched over allegations that they violated competitive rules. The investigation began in the middle of 2012 by the Turkish Competition Board. The investigation is looking particularly at alleged exploitative and exclusionary behaviour during 2008 by Tupras and the relation between the company and Opet.

Ukraine

The Ukraine is in talks with China to build two refineries. The Kherson and Odesa regions are being considered as locations for the plants, according to the Ukranian energy and coal industry minister, Eduard Stavysky.

USA

A body of a man has been found in a ditch between the Phillips 66 refinery and Interstate 9 in Yellowstone County, California. The man reportedly drowned and there are no signs of foul play.

Fire investigators are now being given access to the Regina coop refinery after an explosion at the plant on Christmas Eve. Access was not allowed to the site due to instability in the construction. Noone was hurt in the blast.

Edited from various sources by Claira Lloyd.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/15012014/15th_jan_petrochemicals_refining58/