News and industry insights on Processes and products related to upstream chemical production, including steam cracking and refining operations.
Equinor outlined higher NCS and international growth at the Equinor Capital Markets Day 2026. Appraisal enables tie-backs in a planned Johan Sverdrup phase 4 subsea development. Upstream exposure widened as ORLEN agreed a 20% stake in Goliat.
Refining flexibility was addressed as Essar and IRH executed a USD 500 million crude and product facility for the UK’s Stanlow refinery. In Southeast Europe, MOL and Serbia signed a shareholders' agreement on NIS governance, including continued Pancevo operations.
Upstream chlorine integration shifted as Olin and Huntsman agreed to merge as OlinHuntsman, aligning electrochemical feedstocks with downstream systems and materials. Westlake expanded European chlorovinyls as it acquires Wilhelmshaven PVC and VCM plant with deep‑water logistics.
INEOS Phenol delays Doel (Antwerp) plant restart beyond 2027 amid weak auto‑related demand, elevated energy and carbon costs, and import pressure; Gladbeck continues production while Antwerp serves logistics.
Industrial circularity advanced with the launch of the Ravenna Environmental Hub for special‑waste treatment and soil biorecovery. BlueAlp and LBC secured a JTF grant for Rotterdam FEED to integrate pyrolysis oil production with terminal infrastructure. Lower‑carbon fuels progressed: Petrobras sold the first soybean‑oil SAF with CORSIA Low ILUC Risk certification. Phelan Green Hydrogen chose JM for an electro‑sustainable aviation fuel facility in Saldanha Bay.
Top 5 companies involved as owner and/or investor in current and planned Petrochemicals projects:
ORLEN , OMV Petrom , TotalEnergies , ExxonMobil , INEOS , Neste , Essar , Eni , Preem , and Braskem .
