At the middle of the year BASF will change the management of its Oil & Gas division. For this reason Mario Mehren will also head the BASF subsidiary Wintershall.

Despite their fundamental differences, compressed air and vacuum technology do have some things in common: expensive technology is required in order to generate high or low pressures. Variable-speed drives are the technology of choice for compressors and vacuum pumps alike in order to keep operating costs in check. The demand for contracting quotations is also increasing.

BASF’s facility is expected to cater to the fast-growing pharmaceutical market in South Asia, with a strong focus on generic drug manufacturing.

American engineering specialist Jacobs will once again work on BASF's second largest "Verbund" site at Antwerp/Belgium: The Company will provide process, piping and electrical/ instrumentation engineering services for the seaside facility, speakers explained.

How modern insulation systems increase energy efficiency—What works for people, also works in this particular case for chemical plants as well: Without the right clothing, energy consumption for heating or cooling to the ideal temperature increases. Potential annual savings of 16124 GWh are there for the taking in the energy-intensive chemical industry. What do companies need to do? PROCESS finds out from insulation manufacturers, industry associations and the chemical industry.

Saudi Arabia ventures further into the downstream business: Regulatory authorities had recently approved plans of the joint–venture company Saudi Butanol Company (Sabuco), to build the world’s largest butanol plant in Jubail...

Future chemicals could be generated from shale gas, biomass, residual materials and waste gas — In fact, chemical companies and institutes around the world are working on the material use of CO2 and other effluents. Are projects like Carbon2Chem bringing about a new era of recycling management?

BASF started the construction of a new plant for the production of the base material DHDPS (dihydroxy diphenyl sulfone) in Ludwigshafen, Germany in mid January this year.

Whether coal, gas or even biomass will replace petroleum as the chemical raw material of the future is not yet clear. However, one thing is certain. Alternatives will be needed in the long term despite that fact the even pessimists predict that oil will be available for the next forty years. High prices, increasing consumption in Asia and the chaotic political situation in the oil producing countries add an element of urgency to the discussion on diversification of the raw material base. The industry is looking for an intelligent mix and an evolutionary approach to the supply of raw materials.

BASF will modernize and service its acetylene facility at the Ludwigshafen Verbund site. In the course of these efforts the company will also perform routine maintenance at its facility producing 1,4-butanediol (BDO), which is based on acetylene.