India Urea Plant Revived by RCF and DoF

India’s Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) together with the Department of Fertilizers (DoF) plan to revive India's already mothballed plants due to rising demand and shortages of fertilizers. Currently, India is importing 5 to 6 million tonnes of urea on top of 20 million tonnes local production.

RCF and DOF planning to revive Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation’s Durgapur plant in West Bengal, which was earlier a naphtha plant, and Fertilizer Corporations of India’s coal-based Talcher plant in Orissa which both are now at the first stage of our feasibility study to produce 100,000 tonnes/year of urea.

The revival plan is expected to be completed in 2012 subject to assurance by the Petroleum Ministry of natural gas to supply within three-to-four years for manufacturing urea.

Natpet's Yanbu Project Gets US$ 125 Million Loan

Saudi National Petrochemical Industries Company (Natpet) has signed a financial agreement with Saudi General Investment Fund for a $125m loan which will be used to finance the company project in Yanbu.

The project consists of a Spheripol PP technology from Basell petrochemical plant with capacity of 400,000 tonnes/year propylene and polypropylene.

Jubail Petchem Company Established by Aramco and Total

Saudi Arabian Oil Co (Saudi Aramco) and France’s Total have signed a joint venture Petrochemical Co for a 400,000 bbl/day capacity Jubail Refining. The refinery is expected to begin operations by 2012 producing diesel and jet fuels, 700,000 tonnes/year of paraxylene, 140,000 tonnes/year of benzene and 200,000 tonnes/year of polymer-grade propylene.

The refinery is in its close proximity to the Arabian heavy crude supply system and closeby to the Jubail Industrial City's King Fahad Industrial Port, power and water grids, and residential areas.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nations Investing $200 Billion

It is estimated that as much as $200 Billion will be invested by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations are via 14 to 20 energy projects as the energy demand is increasing. This is much helped by the rising surge in the crude oil price.

Previous analysts estimate that fear due to possible US economic recession or the mortgage market have yet to see any decline of energy funds and a negative impact on GCC countries if not helping to fuel the investment demand.

As much as 20% of the $200 Billion will be invested in downstream petrochemical plants and complex in the Gulf Nation such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other booming Middle Eastern countries. New petrochemical capacities in the Middle East are growing at an exponential rate and is expected to continue at least until 2012.

PETRONAS Sues Adani Energy

Petroliam Nasional Berhad, or Petronas is suing Adani Energy Ltd, subsidiary of Adani group for breach of contract in agreement to buy and sell liquefied natural gas, or LNG. The legal proceedings claimed $100 million in losses, way in excess of the Adani Energy revenue which may bring it to bankruptcy.

Petronas subsidiary, Asean LNG Trading Co. Ltd, has initiated legal action due to Adani Energy failure to service the contract to muster space at a cargo terminal in Gujarat in 2007 to take delivery of LNG. Asean LNG initiated arbitration proceedings against Adani Energy in London Court of International Arbitration in January, claiming damages for failure to adhere to the agreement.

India's rapidly expanding economy which a study conducted claims that for India to sustain a growth of 8-9% in gross domestic product its energy supply has to fourfold creating a massive influx of demand of LNG and other energy derivatives into the country.

PETRONAS Buys Stakes in Santos Australia LNG

Malaysia's State Oil Company, Petronas is buying a 40 percent stake in Australian energy firm Santos Ltd's Gladstone for $2.51 billion. Santos Gladstone is in the liquefied natural gas project in Australia.

Petronas' investment in the project will help to fasten the usage of coal seam gas as a feedstock as Petronas is seen as the ideal partner to help develop Santos' coal seam gas to LNG strategy.

Santos was quoting that Petronas will inject capital investment of $2.01 billion followed by remaining for the second LNG train at the Gladstone, Queensland. The key strategic alliance is due to marketing power of Petronas, the third-largest LNG producer in the world. Santos shares jumped 10.12 percent to a record high of A$20.90 by 0325 GMT, a proud achievement for both Santos and Petronas.

Other oil and gas companies such as Exxon Mobil are also taking lead in LNG project in Papua New Guinea with Santos for a race amid rising prices and a forecast surge in global demand.

Malaysia New Oil Field to Increase Production

Malaysia's newly found oil field, Kikeh field will increase production output to 120,000 b/d by end of 2008 as compared to only 60000 barrel per day in 2007.

Malaysia's Kikeh field is operated by US' Murphy Oil, will be more than happy to pump out oil especially since oil price now fetching USD140. Kikeh's oil is light sweet grade, with an API of 34.91 and sulfur content of 0.105%, is of very good quality and traded mostly in the Asian market.

The stake is Malaysia Kikeh is held by operator Murphy Oil with 80% interest in Kikeh while Petronas Carigali holds the remaining 20%.

Global Oil Output Falls

First time since 2002, the global world production output has fallen by 0.2 percent in 2007.

Consumption, however rose by 1.1 percent, which pressured the oil price even more to be on the bullish side. Oil production fell by 130,000 barrels per day (bpd) last year to 81.53 million bpd amid China's and India's growing demand. Oil price has topped almost $140 per barrel due to various reasons and global oil production shortage is one of key factors.

The world's only hope of increasing production stays with OPEC as non-OPEC production has seen an inevitable decline.

Malaysian' Petronas Maintains Gas Price

Petronas chairman Tan Sri Hassan Marican, has given affirmation that the nation's natural gas price sold as NGV or compressed natural gas in the country will remain the same for the motorists. This come soon after public rage of Malaysian Government that increased the price of oil by reducing subsidy given to the nation.

Petronas is also caught saying that there will be additional 200 stations by 2010. Currently, for every litre sold at 68 sen, the national oil company forks out RM2. Petronas told the press that the biggest challenge is due to high electricity bill for the petrol stations and transport of compressed natural gas outside pipeline area.

Australian Titanium Oxide Production Continues

Australian TiWest, the company that produces Titanium Oxide (TiO2) will continue operation by Tronox of US Texas. TiWest titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a joint venture in western Australia. The production has been badly hit by a force majeure declaration due to natural gas supply limitation.

Tronox however mentioned that the sustainability of the TiO2 production is now susceptible to supply of natural gas and electricity.

TiWest complex houses Cooljarloo mineral sands mine, Chandala synthetic rutile plant and Kwinana titanium dioxide pigment plant. The disruption of natural gas supply cost has not been revealed yet.

Malaysia Increase Fuel Price to RM2.70 per Litre

Months after news regarding Malaysian's high subsidy oil price to the nation, the government had raised the fuel price to RM2.70 per liter of Petrol which started a public rage. The new price is 40% higher of what average Malaysians had paid before the price hike.

Sudan Finalizing Agreement with Malaysia's Petronas

Sudan is in the midst of finalizing an agreement with Malaysia's Petronas for a 175,000 barrels per day capacity Port Sudan refinery with the Sudan oil ministry.

Sudan's Energy and Mining Ministry signed an agreement with the Malaysian state oil and gas company, Petronas in August 2005 to build 100,000 barrels per day refinery in a 50/50 joint venture. The refinery will be designed to use Sudan's high acid crude which Petronas already has a 40% stake from the total Sudan production of around 500,000 barrels per day of crude oil

Malaysian State Oil Company Petronas to Burst in 2018

Malaysian State Oil Company, Petronas is expected to pay up to RM164 Bln in gas subsidy up to 2022 for the power sector and up to 2018 for the non-power sector. The figure is for a relaxed market price.

If subsidy to continue however, as much as RM252 Billion will be subsidised by Petronas. The pricing formula was signed with all the gas buyers but suspended in 1997 for power sector due to economic recession and 2002 for non-power sector.

Beginning July 1, 2008, the prices of gas supplied by Petronas in Peninsular Malaysia will be revised. For the electricity sector, the price will be increased from RM6.40 per mmBtu (million British thermal units) to RM14.31 per mmBtu. The current market price is RM44.42 per mmBtu and we are going to sell it at RM14.31 per mmBtu. For that price, Petronas is still subsidising RM30.11 per mmBtu.

United States Asked China to Join International Energy Agency

It seems that the oil crisis is getting at the nerve of many Americans. The U.S. has asked that China, the second major consumption of energy after United States to join the International Energy Agency, which was set up after the oil shocks of the 1970s to help developed countries manage emergency oil supplies.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is currently made up of the world's richest nations and China participation is hope to bring relief in the current global oil price soaring.

Chinese officials confirmed the news and was showing interests to join IEA but concerned since the group is part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which includes most of the world's richest countries which vow to an open market economy and democratic pluralism, a concern to Communist China.

Beijing Limiting Petrochemical Production During Olympics

Some chemical plants in Beijing will be closed and some reducing operation capacity as Beijing Municipal setting a new air quality guideline during the Olympic and Paralympic games.

Sinopec subsidiary Yanshan Petrochemical is already planning a 30% capacity reduction at its facilities in the Fanshan district of Beijing.

Some other chemical players are arranging turnaround during the Olympic Game as city transport will be restricted, and products may not be delivered to other cities. The Eastern Chemical Factory, a subsidiary of Beijing Eastern Petrochemical Co, was required to stop operation by government.

China is preparing considerably for the 2008 Olympics.

NEW JOBS OFFERING AT SABIC GROUP

Jobs available:

 Position 1: Financial Analyst
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science in financial field. Nationality: any. Minimum experience: 5 years.
Job responsibilities: Should able to evaluate a new investment from financial aspects, new project financial evaluation and apply the project evaluation parameters such as IRR, NPV…etc, Making and evaluation feasibility study (finance side of it)

Position 2 :Business Analyses
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science in Business field. Nationality: any. Minimum experience: 5 years. Job responsibilities:
Should able to built different business models, investment valuation, investment comparisons. Prices followers

Position 3 :Mining & Metrological or Metal Engineer
Qualifications : Bachelor of science in relevant field. Nationality : any. Minimum experience : 5 years. Job responsibilities:
Should able to evaluate ,analyze all the technical aspects or mining , iron ore processing from mining process to reduction process, making & evaluation feasibility study (the technical side of it ).

 Position 4.    Process Engineer:
B.Sc. Chemical Engineering (mandatory) and experience of min 9 years.Experience with Process optimization calculations and simulation software such as Pro-II.Experience in Petrochemicals or Refinery industry and doing mass and heat balance calculations.Experience in process HAZOP study and process control logics. Preferred experience in Polypropylene (DOW or Basell) technologies.Good in English speaking and writing skills as well PC knowledge.

Position 5.    Instrument Engineer/Control System Engineer:
B.Sc. Electrical-electronics and experience of min 9 years.Experience in Yokogawa and Honeywell DCS installation and trouble shooting.
Experience in PLC programming and trouble shooting.Experience in developing control logics and implementation.
Experience in GE Mark V & Mark VI for gas turbines and CCC control systems.Experience in Plant instrumentation calibration and modifications such.Good in English speaking and writing skills as well PC knowledge.

Position 6.   Control System Eng
B.Sc in Electrical/Electronics with minimum 10 years experience. Should have experience in Yokogawa & Honeywell DCS installation and troubleshooting, PLC programming & troubleshooting, developing control logics & implementation. Need experience in GE Mark V & VI for gas turbines & CCC Control Systems and plant instrumentation calibration & modifications such. Good in English speaking & writing skills as well PC knowledge.

Position 7.    Mechanical Engineers (Design):
Degree in Mechanical Engineering with minimum 8 years experience in petrochemical/refinery in design change package preparation, reviewing, acceptance  and execution. Be conversant with material selection and design of various plant equipment such as  pressure vessels, heat exchangers…etc. Knowledge of applicable code/standards like ASME SEC I &VIII/PD5500, API 650. Also familiarity with piping code ASME B31.1/3/8, and Stress Analysis of piping system using software like CESAR-II/K-PIPE. Familiar with Safety/Health/Environment requirement. Good command of the English language reading and writing.

Position  8.   SPECIALIST, CONTRACT
B.S in Engineering / Business Management with 8-10 years in Petrochemical industry in contracts management. Able to negotiate terms and conditions & prepare the contract.Good communication skills.

Position 9. Business Analyst
BS Degree in Marketing/Industrial Engineering/Statistics/Process Engineering with 6 to 7 years of experience in Petrochemical Manufacturing
Knowledge of Company's manufacturing process is needed. Good communication and computer skills are critical. Able to develop and maintain necessary databases and models that will facilitate business.Able to analyze business performance and prepare analytical and research report.

 Position 10..Safety Engineer Requirements
Chimecal/Mechanical Engineer background ,15 years of experience. work at petrochemical or refinery industry. Experience on JSA, Risk Assessment and safety culture

Position 11.      PDH Process Engineer (#2)
Candidate must have a university degree in Chemical engineering, with minimum of ten (10) years experience of process engineering in dehydration reaction, CATOFIN process & OLEFLEX  process . Must be able to prepare basic engineering package (EEP), P&I, Pump sizing, C.V. min/max, DP calculations, and HAZOP study a long with all process input to be used for details engineering. Must be able to conduct PSR(s) and (MOC) for on going plants products. Also, he should have an commissioning experience

Position 12.       Aromatic Process Engineer(#2)
Candidate  should be a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering with minimum 10 years of experience UOP PAREX, TATORAY,ISOMAR, Extraction  Unit/ plant .Must be able to prepare basic engineering package (EEP), P&I, Pump sizing, C.V. min/max, DP calculations, and HAZOP study a long with all process input to be used for details engineering. Must be able to conduct PSR(s) and (MOC) for on going plants products. Also, he should have an commissioning experience.

Position 13.         .PP Process Engineer(#3)
Candidate  should be a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering with minimum 8 years of experience on polypropylene (producing homo/random/co polymer) . Must be able to prepare basic engineering package (EEP), P&I, Pump sizing, C.V. min/max, DP calculations, and HAZOP study a long with all process input to be used for details engineering. Must be able to conduct PSR(s) and (MOC) for on going plants products. Also, he should have an commissioning experience.

Position 14          ACETIC ACID Process Engineer(#1)
Candidate  should be a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering with minimum 8 years of experience on ethylene oxide . Must be able to prepare basic engineering package (EEP), P&I, Pump sizing, C.V. min/max, DP calculations, and HAZOP study a long with all process input to be used for details engineering. Must be able to conduct PSR(s) and (MOC) for ongoing plants products. Also, he should have an commissioning experience.

Position 15           PET  Process Engineer(#1)
Candidate  should be a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering with minimum 8 years of experience  on Polythene terephthalte (PET) who experience on investa or ZIMMAR. Must be able to prepare basic engineering package (EEP), P&I, Pump sizing, C.V. min/max, DP calculations, and HAZOP study a long with all process input to be used for details engineering. Must be able to conduct PSR(s) and (MOC) for ongoing plants products. Also, he should have an commissioning experience.

Position 16         PTA operation Specialist (#1)
Candidate  should be a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering with minimum 8 years of experience on of CTA/PTA process.


CLOSING DATE - 21st JUNE 2008.

Oman Octal Building new PET Chemical Plant

Omani-based Octal Petrochemicals is planning a new polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin capacity of 300,000 tonnes/year and is due to start up in the fourth quarter of 2008 in Salalah.