Explosion Aftermath

Capacity Addition

BASF Catalysts has completed a significant de-bottlenecking and expansion project to meet the growing global demand for its current and new polypropylene catalysts. The increased capacity is specifically targeted for producing the company’s LYNX polypropylene catalyst at its facility in Pasadena, Texas. The LYNX technologies are utilized commercially in most major polypropylene process technologies, including slurry, bulk loop, stirred gas, fluid gas, and stirred bulk. The Pasadena site manufactures and distributes polyolefin catalysts for the chemical industry and is also engaged in the development of new catalyst manufacturing processes and the production of developmental quantities of new catalysts.         

ExxonMobil Chemical has applied proprietary catalyst hydrogenation technology to introduce its Ultra-low Aromatic (ULA) product family. The technology enables the production of ULA fluids that comply with the most stringent environmental and regulatory requirements, ensuring that ExxonMobil customers will be able to access a ULA solution for their markets as the need arises. The first products of the ULA fluid family are Escaid 120 ULA for oil drilling applications and Exxsol D100 ULA for water  treatment. They are pre-registered under REACH EU regulation.

Coal Chemical Project Restrictions

The Chinese central government will strictly control the total number of coal chemical projects as well as eliminate the efficient technologies and production capacity. Any new coal-to-oil project will not be approved in a short period of time. China depends more and more on coal and petroleum, but the domestic coal chemical industry causes negative influence on the remission reduction and ecological environment protection. The country is set to encourage more sizable environmental-friendly coal chemical projects. A batch of small-sized chemical producers will be closed down in succession.

Joint Venture

HaiKe Chemical Group Ltd. has entered into a joint venture with Xindu Group Company Ltd. and Jindayuan Real Estate Company Ltd. HaiKe’s principal goal from the joint venture is to increase the production and sale of its petrochemical products. The initial investment is RMB 400 million. The joint venture is part of the Chinese Central Government’s plan to vertically integrate petrochemical businesses to encourage further growth and efficiency in the sector. Ruilin will produce and sell gasoline, diesel oil, liquefied gas, asphalt and heavy oil domestically. It will be located three miles from Dongying Port.