Chemical
Industry News Editor Christa Semko Every two weeks, Christa will
bring you the latest chemical industry news from around the world. If you have a
press release that you'd like to share with us, please mail it to us through our online
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According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, toxic chemical pollution from the United States’ industrial plants and factories declined by 5 percent in 2007. Despite an overall decline, more mercury, dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyls entered the environment. These chemicals remain in the environment for long periods of time and accumulate in body tissues.
CO2 Proposal
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has sent a proposed rule to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget that says carbon dioxide is a danger to the public. The endangerment finding will trigger emission regulations across the country under the Clean Air Act.While President Obama says he prefers Congress to create a system that caps greenhouse gas emissions and creates a market for businesses to buy and sell the right to emit, the administration is moving forward on CO2 regulations under the Clean Air Act as a back-stop strategy designed to pressure reluctant lawmakers into action.
Research Program Commitment
Monsanto has announced a $10 million grant to establish Monsanto’s Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program. This will help identify and support young scientists interested in improving research and production in rice and wheat through plant breeding techniques. The program will be administered by Texas AgriLife Research, an agency of the Texas A&M University System, for the next five years.
Plant Closure
National Starch and Chemical Co. is halting production at its Island Falls, Maine plant in June, resulting in the layoff of 38 workers. The plant’s higher costs prompted the decision as the company is moving to streamline its supply chain and concentrate production at larger facilities that can be run more economically.
BASF says that because order levels remain weak, it will further reduce production. The company’s production has already been slashed by more than 25 percent worldwide. They will shutdown steam crackers in Ludwigshafen in April for at least three months. Those employees will be transferred to other production plants at the site for the time being. If the situation does not improve soon, BASF may have to enact shorter working hours.
Project Update
The integrated refining and ethylene facility launched by Sinopec in China’s Fujian province is expected to go into operation by the end of June this year. Upon operation, the annual refining capacity will be expanded from 4 million tons to 12 million tons. The facility includes an 800,000-ton ethylene cracking unit, 650,000-ton polyethylene unit, 400,000-ton polypropylene unit and one-million-ton aromatic unit.
New Plants
Total SA plans to set up new refining and petrochemical projects in China. The company currently operates one refinery and has no petrochemical plant in China. Total intends to invest now to plan for future oil demands.
Plant Closure
Due to the economic downturn, particularly the dramatic decline in the UK paint market, Rohm and Haas is closing its plant in Dewsbury, England. More than 40 jobs are being lost as a result. For a few more weeks, the site will continue production. Then, a three-month clean up and eradication of traces of chemicals will take place.
