The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) ‘Mid-Year Outlook’ report has stated that the U.S. chemical industry output is declining and that the sector is expected to have a potential rebound in 2021.

Capable of producing 400,000-tonnes per year, the Shanghai-based adiponitrile facility is expected to cater to the growing demand of nylon 6,6 chemical intermediates in China and the Asia Pacific region. ADN production at the plant is scheduled to start in 2022.

As energy grids become increasingly renewables led, Dow and Shell intend to work together to develop an innovative E-cracker technology which aims to electrify ethylene steam crackers and thus, decarbonise the chemicals industry.

Zibo Qixiang Tengda Chemical Company (QXTD) is the first company to make use of Dow’s LP Oxo Technology for producing sustainable isononyl alcohol (INA). The process technology will be utilised at the firm’s new manufacturing facility in China which is expected to have an annual capacity of 200,000 metric tonnes.

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) recent market report ‘Gas 2020’ has predicted that the global gas demand is expected to fall by 4 % in 2020. This is twice the amount lost after the 2008 financial crisis.

The mega project, Hydrogen to Humber Saltend (H2H Saltend), is expected to produce hydrogen from natural gas and will also utilise the carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. With this project, the UK aims to develop the world’s first net zero cluster by 2040.

The comprehensive restructuring process has led to the formation of Mc Dermott’s new Board of Directors. Under this process, David Dickson, President and Chief Executive Officer will continue in his role while Nils Larsen has been appointed as Lead Director of the firm.

With an aim to reinvent BP, the company has agreed to the sale of its petrochemicals business – including global aromatics, acetyls and related businesses – to Ineos. The move is expected to strengthen BP’s finances and also deliver its 15 billion dollar target for agreed divestments ahead of schedule.

Invista expects all pre-turnaround construction of its US-based adiponitrile retrofit project to be completed this year so that it can carry out the final checks and complete the project by 2021.

Under the ‘Carbon2ProductAustria’ project, Lafarge, OMV, Verbund and Borealis have come together to develop a carbon capture plant in Austria by 2030. The project aims to reduce emissions from cement production and use the CO2 as feedstock on an industrial scale.