Americas top stories: weekly summary

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 12 November.

Braskem, Lummus sign tech licensing deal for two green ethylene projects
Brazil’s Braskem and US-based Lummus Technology announced on Monday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the joint licensing of technology to produce green ethylene from ethanol at two projects under consideration for development in North America and Asia.

INSIGHT: Superfund tax revival to impact key ‘building block’ chems, boost toxic site cleanup
The passage of the $1tr bipartisan infrastructure bill includes the revival of superfund taxes on 42 chemicals that could result in a cost of $1.2bn/year for chemical companies and result in 44 plant shutdowns, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC).

INTERVIEW: It is ‘now or never’ for Canada’s Sarnia petchem hub
Canada’s Sarnia petrochemicals production hub in southern Ontario is at a critical “now or never” point – invest and renew now or risk plant shutdowns in coming years, Bob Masterson, president and CEO of trade group Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC) told ICIS in an interview.

Braskem Idesa to expand Mexican ethane import capacity
Braskem Idesa is planning another project to expand its capacity to import ethane at a terminal in Mexico, Braskem said on Wednesday.

INTERVIEW: Canadian firm eyes methanol-ammonia project FID for early 2023
Canadian company Northern Petrochemical Corp expects to make a final investment decision (FID) on its planned 2m tonne/year “blue” methanol-ammonia project in Alberta in the spring of 2023, CEO and president Geoff Bury told ICIS in an interview on Thursday.

US Hexion eyes H2 2022 recovery in China’s wind market – CEO
Hexion’s resin sales into China’s wind energy market have been down significantly in H2 2021, but that market should recover in the second half of 2022, CEO Craig Rogerson said during the company’s Q3 earnings call on Friday.