Content about chemical

Brazil imports 50 percent of the phosphates it needs for agricultural production: MBAC has the ability to become the second largest domestic producer of single superphosphates within the next five years, with a valuable sideline in rare earth elements.

After cleaning and greening South Africa, Judy Nankervis, managing director of Blendwell Chemicals, talks to Jayne Alverca about extending the company’s reach across the African sub-continent and beyond.

In a host of industrial, commercial and manufacturing settings, cleanliness has vital implications for employee and customer safety and satisfaction. Grease and dirt is not only unsightly, it can harbour all manner of unpleasant micro-organisms and easily lead to litigation, especially in food handling industries.

A new report from the American Chemistry Council suggests that untapped natural gas resources from shale could rejuvenate the economy of the US state of Michigan.

The report concludes that more than 19,000 permanent, high-paying chemical manufacturing jobs could be created in Michigan, revitalizing the state's industrial base, driving economic growth and boosting exports while generating tens of millions of dollars in much-needed state revenue.

American Chemistry Council president and CEO Cal Dooley released a new report today on the potential benefits of shale gas to the Louisiana petrochemical industry, and the US in general.

"Access to untapped supplies of natural gas is one of the most important domestic energy developments in 50 years,” he said. “One-third of US natural gas reserves are comprised of shale gas reserves almost impossible to extract just five years ago. Shale gas promises an industrial renaissance, here in Louisiana and in America."

Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, Saudi Aramco, has announced it is to form a joint venture to build and operate a chemicals complex in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia.

The joint venture, Sadara Chemical Company, will be formed with the Dow Chemical Company of Michigan in the US to build what the companies have called a “world-scale, fully integrated chemicals complex”.

To keep up with South Africa’s rapidly growing demand for electricity, and a distribution system in need of modernisation, state-owned utility company Eskom is undertaking a massive construction and development programme.

Fulcrum BioEnergy is poised to begin construction on its first facility that will produce ethanol from household waste. Keith Regan learns how this trash-to-energy plant could be the first step toward a network of such facilities capable of producing a billion gallons a year of clean, renewable transportation fuel.

The Thompson Group of Companies has acquired Applied Instrument Technologies (AIT) from Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, although financial terms of the purchase were not disclosed. AIT will be organized as a standalone company within The Thompson Group.

AIT manufactures and markets process analytical instruments including Analect FTIR, PIONIR Near-Infrared, MGA Mass Spectrometers, FXi Gas Chromatographs and RPM Raman analyzers, used by refining, petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical and steel industries to optimize their production processes.

Warehousing and distribution in South Africa faces many challenges, from high maintenance costs through to the lack of a skilled workforce. Managing director David Leisegang discusses with Andrew Pelis how Rennies Distribution Services has continued to hold its own.

Simcoa Operations is one of the world’s leading producers of silicon. Vice president Jim Brosnan tells Jane Bordenave how a dedication to efficiency and zero waste has helped it get there.

Technip KT India is enjoying a period of phenomenal growth. CEO Ram Kishore Iruvanti talks to Gay Sutton about his strategy for innovation and remaining ahead of the competition.