Section: CRUSU Industry News

Cornerstone Chemical Company has sold its sulphuric acid operations to Ecovyst, a global provider of advanced materials, specialty catalysts, sulphuric acid and regeneration services based in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Ecovyst's business structure includes two core business units: Advanced Materials and Catalysts (AM&C) and Ecoservices. Ecovyst more than 900 employees throughout its 12 facilities across multiple locations worldwide and its Ecoservices division is a North American provider of sulphuric acid and sulphuric acid regeneration services.

IPCO AB has acquired web converting equipment manufacturer New Era Converting Machinery Inc. New Era is a web converting equipment design and manufacturing business, with two facilities in New Jersey, USA, and around 100 employees. Its technology platform of web handling, coating, laminating, and embossing equipment expands IPCO’s presence in key industries, especially in sustainability-driven segments. It also complements IPCO’s double-belt press and film casting solutions.

The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has released a second update on its ongoing investigation into the fatal hydrogen sulphide release that occurred on October 10, 2024, at the PEMEX Deer Park Refinery in Deer Park, Texas. Two contract workers died during the incident, and over 13 tonnes of hydrogen sulphide gas were released. Local authorities issued shelter-in-place orders lasting several hours for the neighbouring cities of Deer Park and Pasadena.

Verdant Minerals says it has been granted two key productive mineral leases for its Ammaroo Phosphate Project by the Northern Territory government. The company says that this significant milestone advances one of the world's largest undeveloped phosphate resources, located about 220km southeast of Tennant Creek. Acting Chief Minister and Minister for Mining and Energy, Gerard Maley, stated, “This is a significant milestone in progressing a world-class resource project that will support jobs, drive investment, and strengthen the NT’s position as a leader in resource development.”

Samsung E&A has announced the termination of its $1.6 billion contract with the Mexican state-owned oil company PEMEX for a sulphur recovery facility project. Samsung says that the contract, originally signed nearly a decade ago, has faced significant delays and suspensions due to budget cuts imposed by the client. It concerns a hydrodesulphurisation (HDS) facility aimed at removing sulphur components from diesel fuel at the Salamanca refinery in Guanajuato state, central Mexico. In a statement, Samsung E&A confirmed that they have reached an amicable agreement regarding the contract termination, stating, “We have been fully compensated for the expenses incurred during the project suspension, and since this project was not included in our sales or operating profit forecasts for this year, there will be no financial loss due to the contract termination.”

Chinese phosphate and battery chemical producer Chuan Jin Nuo Chemical (KMCJNC) has announced a $265 million plan to build a plant in Egypt to reduce its raw material and export costs. The company will construct facilities in the North African country to produce a range of intermediates and finished products, it revealed in its recent first-quarter earnings report. The plant will have a threeyear construction timeline. Planned capacities for the site are 800,000 t/a of sulfuric acid and 300,000 t/a of ammonium phosphate per year. Other core products will include phosphoric acid and sodium fluorosilicate. At full capacity, the plant is expected to generate over $41 million in net profit, according to feasibility studies.

The Philippine government is looking to follow Indonesia’s success in attracting downstream investment by banning the export of nickel ore. The Philippine Congress could ratify a bill banning raw mineral exports as early as June. The ban would come into force five years after approval to give miners time to build downstream processing plants. This development could potentially lead to higher nickel prices in the medium term if there is a delay to building domestic capacity and the Indonesian government becomes serious about restraining ore availability.

Metso has secured a two-year life-cycle contract with Ideal Development for Manufacturing Industries (IDMI) for a new phosphate beneficiation plant at the Eshidiya phosphate mine in the south of Jordan.

Kazakh state gas company QazaqGaz says that work is progressing well and on schedule on the 1 billion m3 expansion project at the Kashagan Gas Processing Plant. A recent site report says that seven absorption columns have been installed at the sulphur treatment unit (each weighing between 50-170 tonnes); three sections of the smokestack have been installed at the sulphur recovery block, along with storage tanks and pumps for the heat carrier, instrumentation air, and nitrogen supply units; and a total of 2,177 t of process equipment has been installed. Welding works for tank assembly are ongoing, and over 12,000 meters of underground piping have been laid, and more than 38,000 cubic meters of concrete have been poured.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda has overseen the signing of signed an implementation agreement for the Uganda Refinery between the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and joint venture partner Alpha MBM Investments. Alpha MBM is a UAE-based company led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, a member of the Dubai Royal Family. The agreement paves way for the design, construction and operation of the 60,000 bbl/d refinery to be undertaken at Kabaale. Construction is expected to take three years, with UNOC and Alpha MBM Investments as the project partners. The refinery, which will be East Africa’s first major crude processing plant, aims to reduce Uganda’s dependency on imported petroleum products and is expected to meet the local and regional demand for petroleum products.