BASF NEWS

Japanese oil refiner Idemitsu Kosan will end its petrochemical joint venture with German chemical manufacturer, BASF due to slumping demand. The joint venture will end in December and its Chiba plant will be closed for making butanediol, an organic compound used in stretchable fibres and engineering plastics. Idemitsu is also planning to exit from the butanediol business soon.

BASF, world’s largest chemical producer, and ExxonMobil are conducting a full scale commercial demonstration of their jointly-developed solvent. The firms have chosen Imperial Oil’s Sarnia Refinery for this purpose. The amine-based solvent is aimed at fulfilling the stringent sulfur emission standards with greater efficiency. The solvent will allow refiners and gas processors to enhance capacity and reduce the operating costs involved with existing equipment.

BASF and LetteOne have entered into a definitive transaction agreement to combine Wintershall and DEA and convert it into a joint venture (JV) to be called Wintershall DEA. LetterOne will give all of its shares in DEA to Wintershall, which will then be renamed as Wintershall DEA. Subject to approvals, the merger is expected for completion in 2Q2019. The JV will be headquartered in Kassel and Hamburg, Germany.

Germany-based world’s largest producer of chemicals, BASF, is making an increase of 40,000 metric tons per year in its global production capacity of Expandable Polystyrene containing graphite (Neopor). Neopor, introduced in 1998, is processed into insulation boards, which helps in substantial savings of heating energy in new construction and renovations. BASFs two production sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Ulsan, Korea, will see adjustments through the 4Q 2018.

The largest chemical producer in the world, BASF, has formed an alliance with the US Oil and Gas giant, ExxonMobil, to mutually develop new gas treating solvents and process technologies to be used in natural gas processing and petroleum refining. Through this new contract, BASF will market and license technologies developed from this association, along with FLEXSORB and OASE technologies.