Vopak turns strong profits into $2 Billion in investor returns
Vopak, a tank storage company, announced on Wednesday that it will return 1.7 billion Euros ($2.0 billion) in dividends to shareholders over the course of the next five-year period. Profits surged by 61% on the back a strong cash flow last year.
South Korea approves its first petrochemical restructured deal as glut of supply weighs
The South Korean industry ministry announced on Wednesday that it had 'approved' the first petrochemical sector restructuring project in the country. It offered a package of support worth over 2 trillion won ($1,39 billion)…
US Chemical Safety Board blames Pemex for fatal 2024 accident
According to the 'U.S. Department of Homeland Security,' the lack of a standard identifier for idle equipment at Pemex Deer Park refinery in Texas led to a poison gas release that killed two workers. Chemical Safety and…
Executives warn that Europe could lose its nascent green hydrogen industry to China
The fledgling green hydrogen industry in Europe is calling on the EU to introduce "made-in-Europe" requirements for spending public money on the sector. They warn that without the support needed to scale up quickly, the…
BP does not intend to honor the National Oil Bargaining Agreement, says union
The union representing hundreds of workers in BP's Whiting Refinery, the.largest refinery.in the Midwest, announced?on.Friday that the British oil giant does not intend honoring the national oil bargaining agreements.
Shell misses profit expectations, but keeps buyback pace
Shell's fourth-quarter profits missed expectations on Thursday, with an 11% decline to the lowest levels since early 2021 due to lower oil prices. However, it kept its massive share buyback program. Oil majors are used to large buybacks.
Eni, the Italian biorefinery company, has teamed up with Q8 in Sicily to build a biorefinery.
The two companies announced on Tuesday that they had agreed to "jointly" build and operate a biorefinery at Priolo in Sicily. This is a "major" step in the conversion of former chemical facilities. Eni is reorganizing its?chemical division, which has been losing money.
Union rejects Marathon's Contract Offer
United Steelworkers rejected a comprehensive offer from Marathon Petroleum during talks to create a national model agreement for U.S. workers at refineries and chemical plants, the union said on Wednesday. USW and Marathon…
Houston, the US oil capital, is buzzing as industry prepares for Venezuelan oil rush
Matthew Goitia explains his idea in a bar downtown Houston. He wants to build and refurbish marine terminals for Venezuela that will allow crude oil to be blended and exported, and chemical products shipped. Matthew Goitia…
Australian state approves Kimberley fracking plan, drawing anger
The state's environmental protection agency approved a controversial fracking proposal in Western Australia's remote, ecologically sensitive Kimberley region on Tuesday. This angered environmental campaigners. Bennett Resources…
UAE's ADNOC weighs Venezuela gas investment, Bloomberg News reports
Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported that the?state oil company of Abu Dhabi, ADNOC, is considering entering Venezuela's energy industry. It could also seek a partnership to participate in Venezuela's gas projects with?another?
S&P closes at record high as growth stocks surge
U.S. stock prices rose on Tuesday, and the S&P 500 closed at a record high. A flurry economic data including a reading for economic growth drove bond yields up and elevated "growth names". Commerce Department reported…
Minister says South Korea's petrochemical companies are on track to reduce their output by up to 3.7 million tons.
South Korea's petrochemical companies are on course to reduce up to 3.7 metric tons of production under a voluntary program to overhaul the oversupplied industry and improve flagging profits margins, said the?industry? minister on Monday.
DL Chemical plans to shut down Yeochun NCC No. 1 plant under restructuring
DL Chemical, a South Korean petrochemical firm, announced on?Monday the closure of?Yeochun NCC Co.'s No. According to an emailed announcement, the No. 1 plant with a capacity of 900,000.000 metric tonnes should be closed as part of a restructuring plan.
VCI Germany expects the chemical industry to stagnate by 2026
VCI, the German chemicals lobby group, expects sales and orders to stagnate in 2019. This is due to high regulatory uncertainty, uncompetitive manufacturing costs and a long approval process. The ?association, which represents around 2…
Germany's VCI predicts a "difficult road" and a stagnant chemical industry in 2026
VCI, the German chemicals lobby, expects that orders and sales will stagnate by 2026 due to high regulatory uncertainty, uncompetitive?production costs, and slow approval process. The ?association, which represents around 1…
Industry group: China's coal demand will fall for the first time in 8 years.
An industry group said that China's coal usage is expected to decline for the first time since 2017, as the power sector reduces its use. However, consumption could grow modestly next year. The China Coal Transportation…
Sources say Exxon will permanently close one steam cracker plant in Singapore by March.
Four sources familiar with the situation said that ExxonMobil will cease operations in March at the older steam cracker on Singapore's Jurong Island. This is part of the global trend of the petrochemicals industry to reduce capacity due to losses.
Exxon freezes plans for major hydrogen plant amid weak customer demand
Exxon Mobil has halted plans to build one of the largest hydrogen production plants in the world due to low customer demand, CEO Darren Woods said in an interview with Business Insider on Friday. The project's suspension…
China's first coal-to-chemicals project with green hydrogen begins commercial operations
According to a report by state-run CCTV, China's first project for coal-to chemicals that integrates green hydrogen began commercial operations on Friday. Cao Guoan, station manager at CCTV, said that the project, operated…