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Chemicals and Petrochemicals

Two new liquid analysers added

8th March 2019 South Africa-based company Yokogawa has added two new solutions to the Opre analyser family with the development of the FLXA402 four-wire liquid analyser and the SA11 smart adaptor. These two new liquid analysis products will be offered as part of the Sencom 4.0 series. It is expected that they... →

Rope-access service reduces maintenance costs

By: Paige Müller 15th June 2018 Using rope access for legally required maintenance tasks at large petrochemicals plants can result in significant savings for operations in terms of maintenance and associated downtime. Rope access specialist Skyriders marketing manager Mark Zinn tells Engineering News that petrochemicals plants... →

ACCESS REMAINS COSTLY Petrochemical plants are spending a disproportionate amount of their maintenance budgets trying to access areas that require maintenance

Consciousness needed for chemical use

15th June 2018 The use of chemical compound Difluoromethane (R32) refrigerant in air-conditioning systems as a ‘green’ alternative to R410A demonstrates the global impact of the phasedown programme initiated by the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Agreement, according to specialty chemicals and gases supplier... →

ENVIROMENTALLY INNOVATIVE COMPOUND R32 has higher pressures than many mainstream refrigerants, in addition to mild flammability

Carbon-content waste disposal rethought

By: Paige Müller 15th June 2018 In light of the Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA’s) imminent ban on all forms of liquid waste to landfill set for August 2019 and the ban on hazardous waste to landfill with a calorific value greater than 25 MJ/kg since August 2017, waste management service provider Interwaste states... →

WASTE-DERIVED FUEL Interwaste has invested a significantly in the development of alternative waste solutions aimed at turning harmful waste into waste-derived fuel

Company invests in new petrochemicals complex

15th June 2018 Petroleum industry company Qatar Petroleum plans to build a “world-scale” petrochemicals complex that will include the Middle East's largest ethane cracker, according to Qatar Petroleum president and CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi. Qatar Petroleum has invited a group of leading international... →

INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT Qatar Petroleum has invited leading international companies to submit proposals for partnering on the development of a new Petrochemicals Complex

Electric thermometer launched for polar applications

By: Paige Müller 15th June 2018 Measuring instrument supplier WIKA launched a tailored electrical thermometer for applications in the crude oil, natural gas and petrochemicals industries in polar climates. WIKA Instruments sales GM Ralf Hesse states that the electrical thermometer can function in ambient temperatures down to... →

ELECTRICAL THERMOMETER WIKA launched an electrical thermometer capable of functioning in ambient temperatures down to -60 °C

Petroleum conference renewed for a third year

By: Paige Müller 15th June 2018 The West African International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Waipec) will be renewed for a third consecutive year, following an overwhelmingly successful reception from regional and international participants at this year’s second annual conference in Lagos, Nigeria. Petroleum Technology... →

BANK-ANTHONY OKOROAFOR The West African International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference will start closing the collaboration gaps within the West African region and enable it to harness its resources

Global industry leaders to address World Petrochemical Conference

9th March 2018 Global chemicals, refining, and oil industry leaders and experts will be among those to address the World Petrochemical Conference (WPC) 2018 taking place at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston, in the US from March 19 to 23. The thirty-third annual WPC will welcome more than 80 speakers and 1... →

DIVERSE ATTENDANCE There will be 1 300 attendees from more than 40 countries at this year’s World Petrochemical Conference

Conference to shed light on CO2-based production technologies

9th March 2018 The sixth edition of the international Carbon Dioxide as Feedstock for Fuels, Chemicals and Polymers conference will take place in Cologne, Germany in mid-March. More than 200 industry and research experts are expected to attend the symposium. Organiser, independent institute Nova-Institute, has... →

CAPTURED CARBON-DIOXIDE It is only a matter of time before carbon dioxide is an important feedstock of the chemicals and energy industries

Analysers provide optimised refinery operations and quality

9th March 2018 Specialised engineering company RTS Africa Engineering’s Hy-Optima 2700 hydrogen analysers optimise refinery operations, products and quality. The basic process of refining crude oil involves heating the crude oil in a column and the condensates are drawn off at different levels to produce –... →

METICULOUS MONITORING There are up to 23 points in an oil refinery where the level of hydrogen needs to be very accurately monitored

BP and Renault Sport Racing strengthen strategic relationship

9th March 2018 Multinational petroleum company BP has extended its sponsorship of multinational automotive manufacturer Groupe Renault’s motorsport division Renault Sport Racing. BP will continue its support of Renault Sport Formula One Team for at least the next five years and explore new opportunities to... →

TUFAN ERGINBILGIC BP is looking forward to its continued relationship with Renault Sport Racing

Energy company launches new product, expands operation

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 9th March 2018 Independent energy company SA Oil made its new brand of fuel, Accelerate Special Gasoline, available to the market last month. This follows the response to a product trial, which ran between 2016 and 2017, where it was made available in limited quantities and “enthusiastically accepted among... →

GARY PULLEN SA Oil is entering the agricultural market, with a client-centric service offering

Mintek to develop technologies to selectively recover PACs

9th March 2018 Geochemical and metallurgical analysis company Mintek is currently conducting a project called Pacman for which the aim is to separate valuable metal and unreacted material from waste during ferrochrome production. The project is run by Mintek’s pyrometallurgy and minerals processing divisions.... →

MARKUS ERWEE Mintek wants to develop technology that could be used by communities around smelters

Rope access company using new technology at petrochemicals giant

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 9th March 2018 Rope access solutions provider Skyriders Access Specialists has started using the Elios drone, from Swiss drone manufacturer Flyability, at a large petrochemicals company, in Mpumalanga. “Skyriders is at the forefront in terms of using drones in tandem with rope access services; they complement... →

DYNAMITE DRONES The collision-tolerant drones can enter confined spaces indoors and ensure that conditions are safe and adequate for the rope access team to inspect

Spending on innovation in industry inadequate

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 9th March 2018 The private sector is not investing enough money and resources in innovation in the chemicals and petrochemicals industry, says thermoplastic products supplier Astore Keymak business development director Malindi Nkambule. “One of the greatest challenges facing the industry is the lack of product... →

MALINDI NKAMBULE The chemicals and petrochemicals industry is in a fairly good state in relation to the challenges being faced

Transport company awarded contract for Africa’s largest oil refinery

9th March 2018 Transportation service provider Mammoet has been contracted to provide heavy lifting and transport solutions for a new multibillion-dollar oil refinery in Nigeria. In January, Mammoet and Nigerian multinational industrial conglomerate Dangote Group signed the contract for the project during... →

Company focuses on total cost of ownership

By: Marleny Arnoldi 16th June 2017 With an increased focus on total cost of ownership rather than individual product expenditure, chemicals supplier CPS Chemicals Oil-Tech has started tailoring its optimisation services to cater for improved total cost of ownership solutions. →

Photo by Bloomberg
SHARING KNOWLEDGE CPS Chemicals Oil-Tech offers training on friction, wear and lubrication for engineers

Newly developed chemical on trial in S Africa and Zim

By: Marleny Arnoldi 16th June 2017 Chemcol, the latest product in research and development (R&D) from chemicals supplier ChemQuest, is currently on plant trials and laboratory evaluations at three platinum mines in South Africa and Zimbabwe concurrently. →

Regulation changes for chemicals industry next year

By: Marleny Arnoldi 16th June 2017 Major Hazard Installation (MHI) regulations for hazardous chemical and petrochemical industries – which fall under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) – are under review to align them with international standards. →

Photo by Bloomberg
SAFETY ABOVE ALL Ishecon’s training helps engineers to build and operate safe chemical plant installations

Oil still main energy source in 2035 – petroleum company

10th March 2017 Petroleum company British Petroleum’s (BP’s) 2017 Energy Outlook notes that oil, gas and coal will remain the main sources of energy for powering the world economy, accounting for more than 75% of total energy supply in 2035, compared with 86% in 2015. According to the outlook, which was... →

NEW KID IN TOWN Petrochemicals will take over as the main source of growth for oil demand by the early 2030s

Global economics, politics cause uncertainty in chemicals manufacture

10th March 2017 Volatile global political and economic conditions are making it difficult for South African companies to predict what 2017 holds as far as profitability is concerned, says leading admixture supplier, Chryso Southern Africa CEO and Chryso Group international VP Norman Seymore. The Chryso Southern... →

NORMAN SEYMORE Chemicals manufacturers and companies in general are trading in unprecedented volatile and uncertain conditions

Glycol ether market worth $10-billion by 2024

10th March 2017 A market research report titled ‘Glycol Ether Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016–2024’ compiled by American market research company Persistence Market Research (PMR) concluded that the glycol ether market, currently worth about $6-billion, is expected to exceed a value of about... →

Photo by Duane Daws
CLEANING UP THE MARKET The glycol ether cleaners segment will increase in value to more than $1.8-billion by 2024

Pumps range optimal for conveying acidic substances

By: Nadine James 10th March 2017 Pumps supplier Verder South Africa notes that its range of centrifugal mag drive pumps, VERDERMAG, operates “exceptionally well” when conveying abrasive and corrosive substances, making it ideal for the chemicals and petrochemicals industries. “One of the many applications Verder specialises in... →

VERDERMAG The cast iron pump casing is bonded with ethylene tetrafluoroethylene lining that has a minimum thickness of 3 mm

Water scarcity increases need for water treatment chemicals

10th March 2017 South Africa's growing water scarcity and infrastructure inadequacy are projected to lead to to an escalation in the need for effective water treatment chemicals, notes market research company Frost & Sullivan. The company notes that a rise in environmental awareness has accelerated the move away... →

Photo by Duane Daws
MAKING A CLEAN SWEEP Industrial water and wastewater treatment chemicals market s expected to reach $199-million by 2020

Software provider renews refinery service agreement

By: Nadine James 10th March 2017 Process and operations control management specialist BluESP has renewed its yearly service agreement with a local refinery following the client’s decision to maintain its relationship with the company to ensure that the benefits achieved using BluESP’s advance process control (APC) technology... →

OPERATIONS REFINED The technology has improved the refinery's processes, increasing throughput and reducing the overall carbon footprint

Photo by Duane Daws
OPERATIONS REFINED The technology has improved the refinery's processes, increasing throughput and reducing the overall carbon footprint

Rope access company continues maintenance for petrochemicals giant

By: Nadine James 10th March 2017 Rope access solutions provider Skyriders Access Specialists is continuing maintenance work at a petrochemicals company, in Mpumalanga, as part of a five-year service contract that extends to 2019. Skyriders marketing manager Mike Zinn says the company is providing maintenance solutions for the... →

HIGH STAKES Finding appropriately skilled personnel able to conduct maintenance procedure for Skyriders clients is a challenge

Supplier delivers products for chemical conveyance system

By: Nadine James 10th March 2017 Thermoplastic products supplier Astore Keymak – formerly Astore Africa – supplied and delivered several polymer plastic products to assist with the installation of a conveyance system at Omnia Group’s chemical subsidiary Protea Chemicals’ plant, in Wadeville. The project, a result of a... →

PROTEA CHEMICALS The installation project is the result of a long-standing working relationship between Astore Keymak and Protea Chemicals

Process Pipe

By: Zandile Mavuso 26th August 2016 With 47 years’ expertise in the pipes industry, wholesale carbon and mild steel pipes, fittings and flanges wholesaler Process Pipe has established a national footprint in South Africa, with branches in Gauteng (Alrode), KwaZulu-Natal (Jacobs) and two branches in the Western Cape (Belville and... →

Rope access maintenance more cost effective than traditional access

By: Malusi Mkhize 4th March 2016 Rope access solutions provider Skyriders is currently providing maintenance solutions on the deluge fire sprinkler system installed at one of South Africa’s largest petrochemicals companies’ fuel and gas tanks as part of a five-year contract. Skyriders was contracted by the petrochemical company... →

MAINTAINANCE EXPERTS ROPED IN Skyriders provides cost-effective rope access for petrochemical tank maintenance solutions

New malaria-combat insecticide to infiltrate market by 2017

By: Malusi Mkhize 4th March 2016 Leverkusen-based, multinational life sciences company Bayer expects its Fludora Fusion to be readily available to the African market towards the end of 2017 and early 2018 to combat diseases such as malaria. Bayer sub-Saharan Africa divisional head for environmental science Jose de Sousa tells... →

FIGHTING MALARIA Bayer’s two-way insecticide Fludora Fusion aims to be an effective solution for African disease control programmes to address the challenge of insecticide resistance

Portfolio refocused to lean on chemicals business

By: Malusi Mkhize 4th March 2016 Integrated energy and chemicals provider Sasol is refocusing its portfolio to lean more on its chemicals business, following the division’s turnover of R105-billion, which accounted for 57% of the group’s total turnover for the 2015 financial year. Sasol executive VP: chemicals business Fleetwood... →

CHEMICAL NETWORK Sasol’s chemical business has a footprint in more than 23 countries

JV refinery boosts skills development

By: Malusi Mkhize 4th March 2016 The Durban-based crude oil refinery joint venture (JV) between Shell South Africa Refining and BP Southern Africa – Sapref – in January awarded 70 pupils with a training opportunity, which includes bursaries for university studies in the fields of engineering and artisan training through the... →

PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY SAPREF provides training opportunities to 70 pupils as part of its R18-million skills and development program

Innovative water-based dispersions to be introduced

4th March 2016 Latices and speciality emulsion polymers producer Synthomer is set to introduce its latest water-based products for coatings, construction and flooring adhesives at this year’s American Chemical Society Exhibition scheduled for March 13 to 17 at the San Diego Convention Center. Among the next... →

NEW WATER-BASED TECHNOLOGY Synthomer makes a return to the American Chemical Society Exhibition

Business units strengthen customer focus

4th March 2016 Multinational chemicals manufacturer BASF is reorganising its paper, water, oilfield and mining units within the performance chemicals division to form a new global business unit in order to foster customer and industry focus and increase competitiveness through the merger of its water solutions... →

CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING The merging of business units will enable BASF to achieve efficiency gains and create additional market opportunities

Photo by Bloomberg
CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING The merging of business units will enable BASF to achieve efficiency gains and create additional market opportunities

Local chemicals group reshuffles board with new appointment

4th March 2016 Specialty chemical group AECI announced the appointment of Dr Khotso Mokhele last month as a nonexecutive director of the company. Mokhele joins the company’s board which comprises of eight non-executive members namely Schalk Engelbrecht, Richard Dunne, Zellah Fuphe, Godfrey Gomwe, Liziwe Mda,... →

IN WITH THE NEW Dr Khotso Mokhele joins AECI as a nonexecutive director

Institute backs whistle blowing in professional conduct regulations

4th March 2016 The global professional chemical engineering and biochemical membership body the Institution of Chemical Engineers’ (IChemE) rules of professional conduct and disciplinary regulations underwent a revision process that oblige chemical engineers to ‘whistle-blow’ in circumstances where they feel... →

BLOWING THE WHISTLE Institution of Chemical Engineers aims to end malpractice within the chemicals industry through supporting whistle blowing

Photo by Bloomberg
BLOWING THE WHISTLE Institution of Chemical Engineers aims to end malpractice within the chemicals industry through supporting whistle blowing

Legislation prompts refineries to employ safer seal technology

4th March 2016 Mechanical and industrial seal supplier AESSEAL’s sales at its Secunda branch have doubled year-on-year owing to petrochemical refineries replacing their single mechanical seals with a double mechanical design in order to comply with stringent safety legislation. The company claims to be the only... →

DOUBLING UP Specifications indicate the fitting of double mechanical seals to pumps transferring hazardous fluids

Global chemicals production growth continues to slow

4th March 2016 Ahead of 2016 local chemicals industry body the Chemical and Allied Industries' Association (CAIA) projected a continued slump global chemical production growth rates ahead of 2016. Among the factors global trends that will affect the chemicals industry worldwide are as the twenty-first... →

EXPANDING AGROCHEMICALS PORTFOLIO AECI recently acquired 100% of Malawi-based agricultural company Farmer Organisation Limited from Rendale Holdings

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