Tag Archives: Lake Charles

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Sasol to License ExxonMobil Technology for Louisiana Polyethylene Plant

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Sasol to License ExxonMobil Technology for Louisiana Polyethylene Plant

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing LLC, an affiliate of ExxonMobil Chemical Company, (NYS: XOM) , has signed an agreement to license its tubular process technology to Sasol North America for a new low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant in Lake Charles, La. The new 420 thousand tonnes per year plant is expected to be completed in late 2016.

Sasol Polymers, a division of Sasol Chemical Industries, also licensed the ExxonMobil Chemical tubular process for its LDPE plant in Sasolburg, South Africa, that opened in 2005. “LDPE producers continue to choose our tubular process technology for its broad grade-slate capabilities, high reactor uptime and lower total cost compared with commercial gas-phase reactors,” said Jennifer Dunphy, vice president, ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing.

“The performance of our LDPE plant in Sasolburg and the experience of working with ExxonMobil Chemical before, during and after that facility came online helped convince us that the ExxonMobil Chemical tubular process was also the best choice for our Lake Charles plant,” said Mike Biesheuvel, managing director, Sasol Polymers International Investments. “The demonstrated performance of other ExxonMobil Chemical LDPE process licensees in plants with 400 thousand tonnes per year capacities was another important factor in our selection.”

Used worldwide by ExxonMobil Chemical and its licensees, the company’s high-pressure tubular process has been in operation since 1968 and has a long history of improvements and capacity expansion. The company also licenses autoclave technology for producing LDPE.

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About ExxonMobil Chemical

ExxonMobil Chemical is one of the world’s premier petrochemical companies with manufacturing, technology, and marketing operations around the world. The company delivers a broad portfolio of products and solutions efficiently and responsibly, with a commitment to create outstanding customer and shareholder value. ExxonMobil Chemical endorses the principles of sustainable development, including the need to balance economic growth, social development and environmental considerations. To learn more, visit www.exxonmobilchemical.com

Note to Editors:

ExxonMobil and the ExxonMobil logo are trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

The term “ExxonMobil Chemical” refers collectively to some or all of the companies affiliated with Exxon Mobil Corporation, and/or itself, which have chemical manufacturing and/or marketing operations around the world.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

News, Politics, Government

Venezuelan-owned Citgo flies flags half-mast in Texas, Louisiana for Chavez

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By Natalia Angulo

Out of respect for President Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan-owned oil refiner Citgo flew its flags half-mast outside its Houston and Lake Charles, La., offices Wednesday.

Citgo told KHOU 11 News earlier Wednesday that it would lower flags, including the American flag, for Chavez. The company said it would release a statement later in the day, but a request for comment by FoxNews.com was not immediately returned.

In Houston, the flags at the refinery were lowered to half-mast as late as this afternoon, and caused a number of people to look twice as they drove by. James Post, an assistant project manager at an engineering and construction firm in Harris County, told FoxNews.com the sight was “jarring” and it was “disappointing.”

U.S. protocol allows for flags to be lowered for foreign dignitaries and Post recognized Citgo’s right to do so as a private company. However, he said upon seeing the American or Texas flag at half-mast, he immediately questioned the person being honored; and said his mind “immediately jumped to the last time we did this in the Houston-area and it was for Neil Armstrong, so, you wonder.”

Meanwhile, Terry Backhaus, a financial adviser in Louisiana, told FoxNews.com the flags at the Citgo refinery in Lake Charles had apparently been raised back by noon. “I think I used a profanity when I saw it this morning, I was disgusted,” Bakhaus said. “I didn’t believe it to be right, not for somebody who wasn’t a true American ally.”

The late Venezuelan president died Tuesday afternoon at the age of 58 after a two-year battle with cancer. Chavez’s funeral will be held Friday in Caracas. The ceremony is expected to draw leaders from all over the world including Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia.

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Thousands of Chavez’s supporters filled Caracas’ streets Wednesday to remember the man who dominated their country for 14 years.

But even amid the mass outpouring of grief, questions about the country’s future could not be put off for long, with worries amplified by the government‘s lack of regard for the letter of the constitution, and the military’s eagerness to choose political sides.

Others who bitterly opposed Chavez’s take-no-prisoners brand of socialism said they were sorry about his death, but hopeful it would usher in a less confrontational, more business-friendly era in this major oil-producing country. Under his leadership, the state expropriated key industries, raised taxes on the rich and forced many opponents into exile.

Venezuela and the United States have a complicated relationship — and animosity between Caracas and Washington was rising even in the final hours before Chavez’s death. Vice President Nicolas Maduro claimed “historical enemies” of Venezuela were behind Chavez’s cancer diagnosis.

U.S. officials quickly cast Chavez’s death as an opportunity for America to rebuild a relationship with Venezuela and for the country itself to pursue “meaningful democratic reforms,” with President Obama saying it marked a “new chapter” for the Latin American nation.

An election is expected to be held in 30 days.

Click here for more from KHOU.com.

Fox News’ Jana Winter and the Associated Press …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News