The American Chemistry Council in a response to the virtual G20 summit states that leaders must increase access to life saving products and equipment which are needed to fight coronavirus.

An explosion on March 4 at a naphtha cracker of the South Korean chemical company Lotte Chemical had serious consequences. At least 31 people were injured in the resulting fire. Production in the affected cracker was suspended until further notice.

The mega package is part of a turnaround strategy to reduce India’s dependence on China; states Prashant Khadayate, Pharma Analyst, Global Data. Three API manufacturing parks will also be set up in different parts of the country to enhance production.

Digital assistant for the control room — A battle for supremacy rages in the consumer world of voice-controlled digital assistants. Google, Amazon, Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft are the trailblazers on this market and want to make their assistant an integral part of our everyday life. But when you look to industrial applications, the search still comes up empty. This is about to change, because useful applications are manifold and a prototype is now entering the pilot phase.

Lödige Process Technology will present a Ploughshare mixer at its Ifat booth (A4.441) in Germany. The mixer is an example of the manufacturer’s sturdy, durable process engineering systems for mechanical, chemical and thermal processing of sludges, sewage sludges, ashes, dusts and other waste materials.

The specialty chemicals group Altana has completed the acquisition of the overprint varnish specialist Schmid Rhyner.

Chevron has decided to reduce its 2020 capital spending plan by 4 billion dollars and Permian production guidance by 20 %. These measures are expected to protect the dividend, prioritise long-term value, and support the industry leading balance sheet.

The Muroran Institute of Technology has introduced a technology that makes use of highly selective zeolite catalysts to decompose waste plastics into specific monomers. In the joint research, the institute will create more sophisticated catalysts and Sumitomo Chemical will support the R&D of this technology.

With expansion capabilities of up to eight liquefaction trains and approximately 45 mtpa of capacity, the Port Arthur LNG project is claimed to become one of the largest LNG export projects in North America. Under the terms of the agreement, Bechtel’s subsidiary Bechtel Oil, Gas, and Chemicals will carry out detailed engineering, procurement, construction for the project.

Promoting the circular economy concept, Sekisui Chemical will combine its production technology for transforming waste into ethanol with Sumitomo Chemical’s technological know-how for chemically recycling waste into polyolefin.