To increase the market’s ability to meet future propylene demand, two Japanese suppliers of petrochemical technology have begun construction of a pilot plant to demonstrate the validity of a new technology for producing propylene from dimethylether and olefins byproducts. MCC and JGC also noted that the technology will lower CO2 emissions compared to other propylene producing processes.

LNG processing and related gasification facilities are expanding in Japan to meet growing demand. Tokyo Gas Co. is building a new LNG terminal and gasification plant with startup planned in 2015.

Three Asian countries receive US$800 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

Naphtha-based steam cracker project recently announced by HG Summit Holdings Inc. will produce 320,000 t/y of ethylene. The facility will be located upstream from existing PP and PE assets in Batangas City in The Philippines.

In its 2009 year-end assessment and 2010 expectations report, Tupras, Turkey's oil refiner, expects sales of more than US$15 billion in 2010 as global demand for petroleum products rises, Chief Executive Yavuz Erkut said on Dec. 28 and reported by Reuters.

To further expand into the petrochemical value chain, Russian chemical companies are increasing ethylene and polyethylene capacity. The Linde Group is providing ethylene and polyethylene technology for projects expected to be completed by 2012.

A Contra Costa County, California, judge Dec. 24 struck down a tax approved by voters last year that assessed Chevron Corp. for the value of the crude oil that it refines in Richmond, the location of its refinery, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Calgary, Alberta-based unconventional-gas project developer Stealth Ventures signed an agreement with United Kingdom-based Clean Coal Ltd. aiming to develop an underground coal gasification project in Nova Scotia, Canada.

A Shell analysis of various options for diesel-powered ocean ship operators to meet future International Maritime Administration Marpol Annex-6 emissions and fuels limits shows that stack-emissions scrubbing could slash sulfur oxides and particulate matter, but would cause small increases in carbon dioxide.