More Job Cuts

Injuries

Austin Powder Co.’s plant explosion injured four works. The blast, at the company’s plant near McArthur, Ohio, was in a building where workers make detonating cord used in commercial blasting. All four injured workers were conscious and taken to hospitals. The cause of the explosion and identities of the injured are not available.

Lawsuit Settled

American Indians have settled a lawsuit against Continental Carbon Co. over a carbon black plant in Ponca City, Oklahoma for $10.5 million. The Ponca Tribe and about 1,800 land owners agreed to the settlement that was approved by a federal judge in Oklahoma City. Tribal members blamed the plant for polluting their property with a black dust. The plant produces a product used in tires and ink. Attorneys for the plant owners have argued the ConocoPhillips oil refinery in the area is responsible for the dust.
 

Plant Closure

Teijin Ltd. will shut down one of two polyester film plants in the U.S. that it is jointly operating with DuPont. The Florence, South Carolina plant will be closed by the end of 2010 in a move to consolidate polyester film production to the other plant in Hopewell, Virginia. The Hopewell plant has facilities suitable for developing green technologies and manufacturing eco-friendly products.

Samsung Engineering was awarded a $300 million project for an Air Separation Unit from National Industrial Gases Company (NIGC), the subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). Located in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, the air separation plant would produce 3,500 tons/day of gaseous oxygen, 3,600 tons/day of nitrogen and 150 tons/day of argon from compressed air through a cryogenic separation process. Samsung Engineering will execute the licensing, engineering, procurement and construction of the plant that is scheduled to be completed in 2011.

Investment

NewMarket Corp.’s Afton Chemical Corp. unit is investing in an Asia Pacific manufacturing facility to serve its customers in the region. The new plant will improve security of supply and provide short lead times. The Afton site will be located on Jurong Island, Singapore and will be operated by Chemical Specialties Singapore Ltd.

Petrochemical Complex

The Nitratos del Peru consortium of Peru’s Brescia group and Chilean company Sigdo Koppers SA plans to start construction on a $650 million petrochemical project in southern Peru in the first quarter of 2010. The first plant will product ammonium nitrate.

Joint Venture

LG Chemical Ltd. has announced plans to join with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in building a 300,000 ton/year Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) plant in South China. The ABS project will be built under a joint venture between the two companies on a 50-50 share holding basis. Construction will begin in the first half of 2010. The total investment for the project is estimated at $370 million. The first phase of the project is expected to start full operation in 2011 with an initial capacity of 150,000 tons, with the second phase scheduled for completion during 2013.
 

Talks Confirmed

Sinochem Corp. has confirmed it is in early stage discussions with Nufarm Ltd. about a potential takeover. Sinochem said these discussions were at a preliminary stage and incomplete and added that there was absolutely no certainty that matters would progress. Further announcements will only be made if there are material developments.

Relocation

Sinopec’s Nanshan Petrochemical plant, which was planned for the Nansha District of Guangdong Province, will be relocated due to fear of possible pollution. The decision to relocate was made after careful consideration. The plant’s new location has not been announced but has already been selected by Sinopec.

Stake Acquisition