The downstream rundown: In case you missed it 7/1

In case you missed any downstream news, this piece will give you a summary of some of the top stories from last week.

BASF and MAN Energy Solutions enter into partnership for construction of one of the world’s largest heat pumps in Ludwigshafen

This project is intended to make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, establishing the use of low-CO2 technologies in chemical production and reducing the site’s natural gas consumption.

Exxon on brink of shut down at French Fos refinery due to strike

Exxon Mobil said on Friday that a strike by workers over pay was forcing it to gradually shut down operations at its Fos refinery plant in southern France.

ExxonMobil announces sale of interests in Montney and Duvernay Canadian assets

ExxonMobil said that its Canadian affiliates, Imperial and ExxonMobil Canada, have entered into an agreement with Whitecap Resources Inc. for the sale of XTO Energy Canada.

Oriente crude exports suspended, Napo flowing amid force majeure

Exports of Ecuador's flagship Oriente crude remain suspended under a force majeure declaration as the spread of anti-government protests hurts oil output.

New alliance announces nuclear subs for Australia

Renewables – not fossil fuels – are strongest link in the energy supply chain, new study finds

RESEARCHERS have developed a method to thoroughly assess the risks associated with fuel supply chains, showing in a UK case study that renewables are less risky than fossil fuels and nuclear power, in contrast to previous studies which imply that renewables carried a greater risk.

Industry majors discuss using Houston as major CCS hub

ELEVEN chemicals, energy, and power companies – including Chevron, Dow, ExxonMobil, and Ineos – are considering large-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) that could capture nearly 75m t/y of CO2 in the US, by 2040.

Clean Cells to build new production facility

BIOPHARMACEUTICAL company Clean Cells has invested €13m (US$15.3m) in a new production facility in France that would quadruple its analysis and production capacity.

UK Government props up industry to prevent CO2 shortage

THE UK Government has been forced to step in and pay for industry to keep producing CO2 after a rapid rise in energy prices forced fertiliser manufacturers to shut down operations.

ARENA releases investment plan for low-emissions technologies

THE Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has launched an investment plan setting out how it will support the technologies needed to transition to zero emissions.

Ineos announces investment for hydrogen upgrade at Grangemouth

INEOS has announced plans to invest more than £1bn (US$1.4bn) towards reducing emissions at its site at Grangemouth in Scotland.

Shell sells Permian business to ConocoPhillips

SHELL has announced the sale of its Permian assets to ConocoPhillips for US$9.5bn.

Successful UK trial blends hydrogen in gas network

HYDEPLOY has announced the first successful UK trial of blending hydrogen into the gas network.

Eneos and Petronas study clean hydrogen supply chain

PETRONAS and Japanese oil company Eneos have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a competitive clean hydrogen supply chain between Japan and Malaysia, and to explore other hydrogen opportunities.

Partners share open-source PFAS-free packaging technique

FOLLOWING nine months of collaboration, partners Solenis and Zume have open-sourced a recipe and method for manufacturing non-plastic PFAS-free food and consumer packaging.

Partnership to produce polypropylene from CO2

BIOTECHNOLOGY company LanzaTech and clean technology company Twelve – formerly Opus 12 – have joined forces to produce polypropylene from captured CO2.

UK regulator relaxes effluent rules as water treatment firms begin running out of chemicals

A SHORTAGE of chemicals used to treat wastewater in the UK has led the Environment Agency to relax rules and allow facilities to release untreated effluent. A lack of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers is causing chemicals supply chains to fail, an industry group has warned.

IChemE co-creates chemical engineering TV programme

ICHEME and ITN Productions’ Industry News are working to co-create Serving Society, a unique, news-style programme to improve understanding of global issues and raise awareness of the vital role of chemical engineers in delivering responsible solutions to benefit society.

Ineos Styrolution joins U.S. Plastics Pact

STYRENICS supplier Ineos Styrolution has joined the U.S. Plastics Pact, a collaborative initiative helping to move towards a circular plastics economy in the US, by 2025.

UK funds projects to boost production of biomass

THE UK Government has awarded £4m (US$5.5m) across 24 projects to increase biomass production that can be used for green energy.

Glencore and Britishvolt enter long-term supply agreement

GLENCORE and Britishvolt have signed an agreement for the mining company to supply responsibly-sourced cobalt for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries.

Trial successfully produces glass using hydrogen power

A TRIAL has shown that a glass furnace can successfully be powered with hydrogen instead of natural gas.

Fire at Leamington Spa plastics facility

A FIRE and subsequent explosions occurred at a plastics facility in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, UK on 27 August. One worker is still unaccounted for.

Mitsubishi develops 20,000 t/y plastics recycling plant in Japan

MITSUBISHI Chemical Corporation (MCC) will develop a 20,000 t/y HydroPRS plastics recycling facility in Japan. This is the company’s first HydroPRS project following a licensing agreement for the technology, signed in June.