The UK’s largest manufacturing exporter i.e. the chemical industry has voiced relief over the recent agreement between the UK and the EU. The vital sector has proved to be strong in a Covid-19 scenario and is looking forward to this year.

Exxon Mobil’s new business – Exxon Mobil Low Carbon Solutions will initially focus on CCS in order to achieve the Paris Agreement climate goals. The newly created segment is already advancing plans for over 20 new CCS opportunities to assist large-scale emission reductions.

Neste has acquired a minority stake in Alterra Energy and with this move, both the companies will work together to commercialize Alterra’s proprietary thermochemical liquefaction technology in Europe which proves useful for the production of polymers and chemicals from waste plastics.

Emerson’s Asco 141 Series Advanced Redundant Control System is claimed to be the only safety system in the industry with individual valve isolation for online maintenance without process interruption.

Anup Kothari has been selected to spearhead Division Nutrition & Health, Lampertheim at BASF from February 1, 2021 while Thomas Kloster will take charge of the firm’s Performance Chemicals business.

A 50-50 joint venture has been established by Lyondell Basell and Sinopec to manufacture propylene oxide and styrene monomer in China. The newly created joint venture firm is expected to construct two new units in Zhenhai Ningbo, China which will have 275 KTA capacity of propylene oxide and 600 KTA capacity of styrene monomer respectively.

Under the terms of the agreement, Air Products will build, own and operate numerous onsite gas production facilities including an air separation unit in China in order to meet Binhua’s oxygen and nitrogen demand. With this, Air Products will support Binhua’s flagship chemical project situated in Shandong Province, China.

One of the world’s largest plastic-to-plastic molecular recycling facilities is to be built at Eastman's site in Kingsport, USA. Through methanolysis, this world-scale facility will convert polyester waste that often ends up in landfills and waterways into durable products, creating an optimized circular economy.

Ineos Styrolution has entered into a joint development agreement with Polystyvert to convert post-consumer polystyrene plastic into a new, high quality, polystyrene raw material resin. Polystyvert will make use of its patented advanced recycling technology for this purpose.

Kemira has successfully completed the first phase of a two-stage capacity expansion of its water treatment chemicals production in the UK. With this, the company expects the output of the product line in Ellesmere Port to increase by more than 30.000 tonnes annually.