Eni SpA (Rome) and Azerbaijan’s state energy company Socar (Baku) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for potential cooperation in the biofuels production chain, including the possible conversion of conventional crude oil refineries into biorefineries. A schedule for potential projects was not given.
The companies announced the signing of the MOU on Sept. 5 as part of a wider series of upstream oil and gas and greenhouse gas emission reduction agreements signed during a state visit to Italy by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
The MOU covers the evaluation of development projects in Azerbaijan and the wider Caucasus region for energy crops located on degraded soil, the introduction of secondary crops in rotation with cereals, and the valorization of agro-industrial and other residues such as used vegetable oils. The latter is with a “view to a possible conversion of traditional refineries into biorefineries,” Eni said.
Azerbaijan will host the next UN Climate Change Conference, or COP29, in November this year.
by Mark Thomas
Source: chemweek.com
Neste Corp. will collaborate with Dutch terminals operator Tepsa for the storage and handling of liquefied waste plastics at Rotterdam, Netherlands, to enhance Neste’s chemical recycling logistics infrastructure in Europe. Neste said that following successful industrial-scale processing runs at its integrated crude oil refining and petrochemicals site at Porvoo, Finland.
Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, has announced that Rajiv Sharma has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with key responsibility for the Textile Effects business, effective October 1, 2024. Current Group CEO Mark Garrett will transition to the Archroma Board of Directors.
The challenges facing the European chemical industry, particularly in Germany, have compelled the world’s largest chemical maker to rethink its scale and diversified approach. BASF has announced a strategic shift, splitting its portfolio into “core” and “standalone” businesses.
