Sibur lays the first foundations for its Zap Sib Neftekhim process plant: This facility for deep hydrocarbon to polyolefin processing in the Tyumen Region of Western Siberia is the biggest investment project in Sibur's history, the company states.

Lab automation enables efficient handling of numerous samples. However, the challenge lies in how to make good use of ‘big data’. Therefore, current initiatives aim for standardization - but can that achieved? Discover the chances and challenges for laboryatories in the digital age...

Shell’s base chemicals operation in the United States of America (USA) Gulf Coast region has taken advantage of changing hydrocarbon market dynamics to strengthen its advantaged feedstock processing capability and simplify its business. The turnaround in performance and competitive positioning achieved is vital to the success of Shell’s chemicals business in the USA and for future security of supply to customers in North American heartland markets.

Technip was awarded by JBF Petrochemicals, a wholly–owned subsidiary of JBF Industries, an important contract for a 1.25 million tons per year latest-generation purified terephthalic acid (PTA) unit, to be located in the Special Economic Zone in Mangalore, India. PTA is the primary feedstock for polyesters used in textiles and packaging.

Heidelberg Cement presented its preliminary and unaudited figures for sales volumes, revenue, operating income before depreciation (OIBD) and operating income (OI) for the fourth quarter and full year 2012, together with an Outlook for 2013. Revenue and operating income rose in comparison to the previous year and in line with the outlook given in the 2011 Annual Report.

Nearly two-thirds of refiners plan to increase their investments in digital technologies over the next three to five years, although digital is not one of the top plant investment areas for refiners today, according to new research from Accenture.

Keeping in view the recent unique and peculiar situation arising out of environmental considerations in the Punjab area in particular, a slew of bioethanol refineries; as many as twelve have been planned and the general contract has been awarded to Praj who has expertise in this field of bioethanol refineries with a global footprint.

The grinding stage in a cement plant is extremely energy-intensive, consuming almost half the plant’s total electric power requirement. An expert system, designed especially for cement production and based on components from the advanced process control (APC) library of the Simatic PCS 7 control system, uses real-time plant data to make precise statements about the plant’s quality parameters, and can be integrated into the existing control system with no additional hardware requirements.

The market for Isopropylbenzene or Cumene, a main precursor of intermediates for phenol and acetone production, could grow by respectable 4%: Asia-Pacific has rapidly emerged as the largest global consumer of cumene over the last decade, thanks to changes in the petrochemical industry, states a new report by GBI Research.

BASF and Sinopec will expand the capacity of existing propionic acid production with an additional 30,000 metric tons annually at their state-of-the-art Verbund site in Nanjing.