Operational Changes and Investments news (page 15)

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  3 June 2026

  BASF Intermediates Geismar Acetylene Unit wins ACC Energy Efficiency Award

  Geismar unit cut energy use by deploying advanced process control (APC), earning the ACC's Responsible Care 2026 Energy Efficiency Award.
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  3 June 2026

  MOL Group starts first gas production at ACG field

  First commercial gas from non-associated reservoirs beneath and above existing oil layers; initial well drilled from West Chirag; up to 4 Tcf estimated; gas to Sangachal via existing infrastructure.
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  3 June 2026

  MAIRE awarded Industry Mover in S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026

  Recognised for the largest year-on-year ESG improvement in its sector; 2025 gains include a 6% cut to Scope 1–2 emissions, 1.2 Mt CO2 avoided and 90,000 m³ of water reused.
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  3 June 2026

  UBE MAXELL expands Li-ion separator capacity at Sakai Works

  New Sakai Works facility will boost separator base‑film output ~50% with phase‑one in FY2026 and phase‑two in FY2029; complements a facility due in fall 2026 to serve automotive and ESS demand.
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  3 June 2026

  Elkem and Statkraft sign seven-year PPA for Bjølvefossen (2031–2037)

  Seven-year agreement secures 1,534 GWh for Bjølvefossen (2031–2037), supporting 150 jobs and low‑carbon foundry‑alloy production with 60,000 mt annual capacity.
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  3 June 2026

  Mitsui Chemicals to expand MR™ high-refractive-index lens material capacity at Omuta Works

  New plant at Omuta Works to raise supply of MR™ high‑refractive‑index ophthalmic lens material, with commercial operations set for first half of 2029.

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  2 June 2026

  SONATRACH subsidiaries sign three MoUs with Niger's SONIDEP

  Three agreements cover seismic acquisition, a drilling joint venture, and fuel distribution plus a bitumen manufacturing JV and training.
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  2 June 2026

  QEMETICA sells salt assets to K+S and launches Resource Recovery unit

  Divests evaporated salt business for €350–€380m to fund a new Resource Recovery segment focused on waste-to-energy and energy security.
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  2 June 2026

  Iberdrola awarded eight EU Innovation Fund projects for industrial heat electrification

  Eight industrial heat electrification projects will replace fossil heat with electric boilers, require about 240 GWh/year, mobilise 150 MW of renewables and secure ~€50m in aid.
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  2 June 2026

  WuXi Biologics Repeats CDP Supplier Engagement A-List

  Named to CDP SEA A List again for supplier climate engagement; praised for governance, Scope 3 disclosure, SBTi-aligned targets (net-zero by 2050), supplier audits, training and incentives.
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  1 June 2026

  Fluor‑JGC JV Wins LNTP for LNG Canada Phase 2 Expansion

  Limited notice to proceed issued to begin early planning and key activities for the proposed Phase 2 expansion at the LNG Canada Kitimat export facility, supporting an FID that would double 14 Mtpa.
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  1 June 2026

  Dow and Univar Solutions agree long-term distribution of Decarbia low‑carbon products

  Long-term deal expands access to low‑carbon products with verified PCF certificates across beauty, home care, food, pharma and industrial markets; aids Scope 3 reductions.
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  1 June 2026

  bp starts non-associated gas production at ACG

  Commercial NAG started from West Chirag; well tests Qirmaki sands. Est. 4–6 Tcf recoverable; gas sent to Sangachal via existing infrastructure.
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  1 June 2026

  Linde 2025 Sustainability Report

  2025: 10% absolute GHG cut vs 2021; 50% electricity from low-carbon/renewables; customers avoided ~98M tCO2e; conserved 1B+ gallons water; diverted 200M lbs waste; supported ~2,100 orgs, 400k people.
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  1 June 2026

  OCI agrees to sell 50% of OCI Nitrogen to AGROFERT

  Divests 50% for ~€55m (subject to adjustments); buyer gains operational control. Put/call on remaining 50% exercisable from 2 years post-close at 7x two-year avg. pro-forma adj. EBITDA. Target H2 2027.
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  1 June 2026

  EEW updates Green Financing Framework; ISS-Corporate issues Second Party Opinion

  Publishes updated Green Financing Framework aligned with ICMA and LMA standards and the EU Taxonomy; covers energy, circular economy, carbon capture; independent SPO confirms quality
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  1 June 2026

  Vopak and Gasunie take conditional FID to extend EemsEnergyTerminal

  Conditional FID approved for extension of EemsEnergyTerminal, advancing LNG infrastructure; final FID pending permits. Customer contracts secured for LNG supply 2028–2036.
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  1 June 2026

  CATL opens world’s largest energy-storage testbed for real-world validation

  10-ha, RMB3bn Xiamen facility offers open station-level validation across five labs: 35kV/100MVA grid sim, 1kV–500kV HV tests, 20MW combustion, -50–100°C climate chambers, EMC for 40-ft containers
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  29 May 2026

  EU advances carbon removals and carbon farming market

  CRCF Days launched rollout: certification schemes may seek CRCF recognition; Buyers’ Club to aggregate demand; removals and carbon‑farming methodologies near adoption; financing and de‑risking needed
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  29 May 2026

  Petrobras to invest over R$70 billion in Sergipe

  R$70B in Sergipe funds SEAP deep-water (P-81/P-87 FPSOs: 240k bpd, gas processing), 32 wells, 134 km pipeline; R$12.5B decommission 26 shallow platforms; fertilizer restarted (1.8k t/d)
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  29 May 2026

  Rompetrol Rafinare Q1 2026: Turnover up 8%, net profit achieved

  Q1: EBITDA $27.5M; March shutdown (700+ tasks) completed; Petromidia processed ~1.2Mt, white product yield 83.76%; domestic fuel share 66%; state contribution $577M
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  29 May 2026

  EU Innovation Fund Net‑Zero Call: 358 applications, €17.5bn requested (6× budget)

  Applicants across 27 countries submitted large/medium/small projects, pilots and cleantech manufacturing for energy‑intensive, carbon management, renewables and storage; results Oct 2026
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  29 May 2026

  IFF to sell Food Ingredients business to CVC

  Food Ingredients business sold for ~$4.3B (≈10x EBITDA); seller retains ~10% stake; net proceeds ~$3.8B for debt reduction, buybacks and reinvestment; close by end Q2 2027.
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  29 May 2026

  AGC verifies AFLAS FFKM fluorine as 100% recycled under UL 2809

  Mass-balance allocation applied to AFLAS FFKM; product offers strong chemical/heat/plasma resistance for semiconductor seals. Part of effort to recycle plant fluorine waste and advance circularity.
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  29 May 2026

  Eni and Seri Industrial to develop LFP stationary battery supply chain

  Agreement to build integrated LFP battery platform: cell/module plants, BESS assembly, recycling and cathode production. 2nd gigafactory >8 GWh by 2029; BESS line ready H1 2027. 30% stake for €55m.
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  28 May 2026

  Metsä Group opens modernised Mariestad tissue mill

  €370m rebuild doubles capacity to ~145,000 t/yr; new production line and three converting lines; improved energy efficiency, lower water use and emissions.
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  28 May 2026

  National Power Supply (Double A Group) orders ANDRITZ recovery boiler and evaporation plant

  New bioenergy unit will process black liquor to generate steam and green electricity, recover chemicals for reuse; start-up set for Q2 2028; order in high double-digit million euros.
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  28 May 2026

  SkyNRG and KLM start construction of Netherlands' first dedicated SAF plant

  Construction begins on DSL-01. First commercial-scale SAF plant to secure non‑recourse financing; aims for ~100,000 t/yr by 2028 via HEFA from low‑quality feedstocks, >100 jobs and €16M JTF support.
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  28 May 2026

  BASF Coatings future-proofs automotive refinish with robotics expertise

  Acts as integration partner for robotics-enabled paint in body shops, linking digital color, coatings know-how and validated processes to improve consistency, efficiency and scalability.
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  28 May 2026

  TotalEnergies Files Authorization for 1.5 GW Centre Manche Energies Offshore Wind

  Operator submitted Single Authorization for Normandy offshore wind farm; expects ~6 TWh/yr, >1M homes, €4.5bn investment, 2,500 construction jobs, ongoing stakeholder consultations