Communicator

The technology of the acrylonitrile plants II and III has been identified and production capacities have been added.

#ineos #nitriles  #germany  #acrylonitrile  #ammoxidation  #sohio 

The description of Holborn refinery has been updated, which includes a Process Flow Diagram.

#holborn  #refinery  #germany #hamburg  #sustainability  #co2emissions  #carbonemissions  

The description of the Holborn refinery has been updated.


#holborn  #refinery  #germany 

BP Gelsenkirchen Refinery

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany | February 6, 2025

BP has announced its intention to sell its Ruhr Oel GmbH operations in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, including the refinery and associated petrochemical assets19. The marketing process begins immediately, with BP targeting to complete the sale agreement within 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

The Gelsenkirchen facility, Germany's third-largest refinery, currently processes approximately 12 million tons of crude oil annually and employs around 2,000 workers and 160 apprentices. The sale package includes the BP refinery in Gelsenkirchen and DHC Solvent Chemie GmbH in Mülheim an der Ruhr.

The decision comes amid challenging conditions for European refiners, who face increasing competition from Middle Eastern and Asian facilities, along with pressure from vehicle electrification and high operating costs. BP had already planned to reduce the refinery's capacity from 260,000 barrels per day of crude oil to 155,000 barrels per day in 2025.

Emma Delaney, BP's Executive Vice President for customers and products, explained that the decision aligns with BP's strategy to become a simpler, more focused, higher-value company. The company has recently modernized the facility's infrastructure, including power grid renewal and establishing independent steam supply, making it attractive for potential buyers.

The Gelsenkirchen site plays a crucial role in North Rhine-Westphalia's chemical industry, producing not only conventional fuels but also having the potential to manufacture biofuels and process recycled plastics. The refinery will continue normal operations throughout the sales process.

This move is part of a broader trend in Germany's refining sector, with other major players like Shell and ExxonMobil also seeking to divest their refining assets in the country. Industry analysts expect German crude refining capacity to decrease from 2.1 million barrels per day in 2020 to 1.8 million barrels per day by 2026.

#crudeoil  #refining  #refinery  #bp  #shell  #exxon  #germany  #gelsenkirchen 

Ludwigshafen BASF aerial view in 2017. Credit: Wikipedia.

14^th Dec 2024

Nearly 40% of German Companies Plan Job Cuts in 2025  
According to a survey conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW), approximately 40% of enterprises in Germany intend to reduce their workforce in 2025. Researcher Michael Grömling attributed this primarily to high energy prices.

Electricity Prices in Germany Hit a Record High  
The price of electricity in Germany reached an all-time high on Thursday, with the market cost of one megawatt-hour hitting €936. Even during the chaos of 2022, prices did not soar to such levels. "We are facing a systemic collapse," warned the German Chemical Industry Association in response to the current energy crisis.

For now, the crisis has not fully impacted consumers, as electricity contracts are locked in a year ahead. However, Germans are already paying €400 per megawatt-hour under existing agreements.

#germany  #chemicalindustry  #basf  #electricity  #electricityprices 

The European Parliament and EU countries reached an agreement last year to implement an EU CO₂ levy covering gasoline, diesel, natural gas, heating oil, and other hydrocarbons. With current CO₂ emission prices at €45 per ton, this agreement is poised to result in an approximate surcharge of 10 cents per liter of gasoline or diesel fuel. However, experts foresee a significant escalation in emission prices to €100-300 per ton of CO₂.

Yasmin Fahimi, president of the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB), has expressed deep concerns regarding the extension of emissions trading to encompass all hydrocarbons, citing potential irreparable impacts on industrial competitiveness.

Fahimi emphasized the need for reconsideration, stating, "Such decisions are not irrevocable. It is urgent to discuss once more the ramifications for economic and industrial policy stemming from this CO₂ emissions pathway."

Notably, concerns about the repercussions of increased gas station prices have also been acknowledged within the Green Party. The removal of diesel subsidies for agriculture could exacerbate their vulnerability to financial strain, potentially leading to immediate bankruptcies.

#diesel  #gasoline  #carboncredits  #carbonemissions #germany 

The German government is in the early stages of preparing to sell a significant stake in Uniper, potentially by the end of 2024 or in 2025.

Currently, the government holds over 99% ownership of Uniper following the company's recapitalization in 2022, a move made to rescue Uniper from bankruptcy.

A spokesman for Uniper highlighted that the European Commission mandated Berlin to decrease state debt to 25% or less by the conclusion of 2028 as part of the approval for the €34.5 billion state aid rescue program.

Reports indicate that the company's shares will be offered at a discount to the market value, estimated at 23.7 billion euros.

#germany