バセルポリオレフィンズ （Ｂａｓｅｌｌ Polyolefins） Basellの蹉跌と欧米化学企業のゆくえ 製造拠点 能力
バセル社の概要 （2000/11/27 ﾓﾝﾃﾙ･ｴｽﾃﾞｨｰｹｲ･ｻﾝﾗｲｽﾞ社発表から)
１．本社所在地 オランダ王国フーフドープ市
２．社長兼ＣＥＯ フォルカー・トラウツ氏（Dr. Volker Trautz）
３．発足年月日 ２０００年１０月１日
４．資本構成 英蘭シェル・グループ ５０％
独ＢＡＳＦ社 ５０％
５．生産能力 世界１７ヶ国に６３工場
ポリプロピレン：年産約５１０万ｔ（世界第一位）
ポリエチレン ：年産約２６０万ｔ（世界第四位）1. Basell社はPPでは世界最大の生産能力および技術供与実績、PEでは世界第四位の生産能力を誇る、オランダに本拠を置く世界最大級のポリオレフィンメーカーです。
2. Basell社は2000年10月にRoyal-Dutch Shell（シェル）社とBASF社が50％ずつを出資して、旧Montell社、旧Targor社、旧Elenac社の事業を引き継ぎ、設立されました。
3. 現在のBasell社の事業規模・概要は以下のとおりです。
（1） 生産拠点：世界17カ国（SunAllomerなどJVを含む）
（2） 主要な生産能力：
ポリプロピレン 5,100千トン/年、ポリエチレン 2,600千トン/年
①. PPプラント27系列（JVの9系列を含む）
②. PEプラント10系列、キャタロイプロセス3系列、UHMW（超高分子量）PE1系列、HMS（高溶融張力）PP1系列、Hivalloy製品開発設備1系列
③. PPコンパウンド設備20系列（JVの8系列を含む）
PP製品の生産・販売量：世界No.1シェア（年間約5,1000千トン）
研究開発：7カ所の研究開発センター
従業員数：約10,000名
Basell’s complete portfolio of licensed technologies is comprised of:
. Spheripol - PP technology for the production of homopolymer, random and heterophasic copolymers.
. Spherizone - latest generation PP technology based on new multi-zone reactor technology.
. Spherilene - swing gas phase process for the production of LLDPE and HDPE.
. Hostalen - low-pressure slurry process for the production of bi-modal HDPE.
. Lupotech G - fluidised bed gas phase process for the production of HDPE and MDPE.
. Lupotech T - high pressure tubular reactor process for the production of LDPE and EVA copolymers.
歴史
2005/5 BASF と Shell、Basell を Access Industries/The Chatterjee
Groupに売却で合意
2005/8 BASF and Shell complete sale of
their stakes in Basell to Nell Acquisition
1983/11 Himont 発足 （Hercules/Montedisonの折半出資会社）
1987/2 Himont公募 (Hercules, Montedison 各38.7%）
1987/9 Himont Montedison100%に。
1995/4 モンテル発足 （シェルとモンテジソンの折半出資会社）
Shell/UCCのPP提携解消、Himont/三井の技術料プール契約解消。
シェルはシンガポールのＴＰＣのＰＥ、ＰＰの販売権を放棄、人も引上げ、単なる投資者となった。
1997/7 Targorスタート（BASF/Hoechst PP JV)
1997 シェル、モンテル株を 100％取得（モンテエジソンは撤退）
1998/3/1 Elenac スタート
1998/7 Hoechst plans to sell its polyethylene business Holstalen to Elenac
2000/10/1 モンテル、タルゴア、エレナックが合併、
世界最大級のポリオレフィン製造会社であるバセル社として新たに発足。
同社のJV一覧表 別紙
2001/12 Basell's styrene plant in Wesseling shut down
2002/6 Basell announces start-up of new 260 KT polypropylene plant in Spain
2002/10 Basell introduces Spherizone process for PP manufacturing
2002/11 Polibrasil to start-up new
300kt PP plant mid-Feb 2003
Polibrasil, a 50/50 joint venture between
Basell and Brazil's Suzano group,
2002/11 PKN Orlen says Basell JV may start up by
Christmas
2003/10 Basell to license new Spherizone technology for polypropylene manufacturing
2004/2 new world-scale HDPE plants
2004/9 Basell opens new 300 kt/yr HDPE line at Wesseling, Germany
2004/4 Mexico's Alfa/Baell JV To Build New 350,000 MT PP Plant
2004/7 BASF and Shell review strategic options regarding Basell
2004/9 Basell sells 50% share in French CIPEN to ExxonMobil
2004/11 Basell confirms HDPE plant closures; buying interest in Basell high.
2005/2 Basell sells share in PP plant in Spain that it jointly owns with Repsol
2005/5 BASF and Shell to sell their stakes in Basell to consortium led by Access Industries
Chatterjee out of Basell takeover
2005/8 BASF and Shell complete sale of
their stakes in Basell to Nell Acquisition
（背景 イランのBasell買収を米国が阻止）
2005/12 Shell to sell 50% stake in the ethylene cracker at Berre to Basell
2006/4 Basell signs MoU with KazMunayGaz and SAT for petrochemical complex in Kazakhstan
2006/6 ICA Fluor awarded $108 MM US contract by Indelpro to build a PP plant in Mexico
2006/7 Basell to sell its position in Taiwan Polypropylene Company Ltd (TPP)
2006/7 Basell to build new Hostalen ACP HDPE plant at Muenchsmuenster, Germany
2006/8 Basell completes expansion of Australia polypropylene plant
Basell to Enter Kazakhstan Petchem JV Soon
CSJC Nizhnekamsk Refinery selects Spherizone technology for a new 200 KT per year PP plant in Russia
Sinopec selects Spherizone technology for a new 450 KT per year polypropylene plant in Tianjin
Basell to build new Spherilene polyethylene plant at Wesseling, Germany
2006/9 Basell expands catalyst plant in Ferrara, Italy
2006/12 Basell purchases Munchsmunster, Germany cracker from BP-PdVSA joint venture エチレン関連記事
2005/12 Shell to sell 50% stake in Société du Craqueur de l'Aubette to Basell
2007/3 Basell establishes sales and marketing team dedicated to serving Chinese plastic pipe customers
2007/4 Basell grants 50th Lupotech T technology license to QAPCO for new 250 KT per year PE plant in Qatar
Basell to expand polypropylene capacity at Bayport, Texas
2007/6 Basell announces a new expansion project for its Spherizone plant in Italy
Basell to stop producing polypropylene in Sarnia, Canada in 2008
Basell to acquire Huntsman for $25.25 per share
2007/8 Basell makes offer to acquire Shell’s oil refinery at the Berre l’Etang petroch. complex in France
2008/2 EU clears Basell to buy French refinery from Shell
2007/10 Basell achieves 20 million tons milestone in Spheripol PP process with new license in Qatar
Basell announces expansion of its polybutene-1 plant in The Netherlands
2007/10 LyondellBasell Industries to be new company name
2007/11 Basell and ConocoPhillips extend exclusive polypropylene marketing relationship
2009/7 Basell Seeks to Reject ConocoPhillips (Bayway) Supply Agreement
Solvay signs agreement to sell polypropelene compounding activity to Basell
Basell building second PP compounding facility in China
Basell and Lyondell Complete Merger Creating LyondellBasell Industries
2008/1 First LyondellBasell license granted for innovative Spherizone technology to PetroChina
2008/5 LyondellBasell to Stop Producing Polypropylene at its Morris, Illinois Plant
2008/6 LyondellBasell to Consolidate Polypropylene Compounding and Business Locations in North America
LyondellBasell's subsidiary Equistar to stop producing LDPE at its Pasadena facility
2008/7 LyondellBasell Starts up New PP Compounding Plant in Mexico
2008/8 LyondellBasell Industries subsidiary sells its Sarnia, Ontario, site to Shell
LyondellBasell grants Spheripol PP technology license to SABIC affiliate for a 525 KT plant
2008/9 LyondellBasell and partners have signed a Project Development Agreement
LyondellBasell’s Metocene PP technology selected by PolyMirae
2008/11 LyondellBasell grants Lupotech T license to Borealis
2008/12 LyondellBasell starts up new PP Compounding Plant in Nansha, China
LyondellBasell considers bankruptcy filing
2009/1/7 LyondellBasell’s U.S. Operations and one of its European Holding Companies File Chapter 11
2009/2 LyondellBasell misses Europe interest payment
2009/3 LyondellBasell to Close Chocolate Bayou Olefins
2009/7 INEOS wants to buy LyondellBasell Chocolate Bayou HDPE plant
2009/12 LyondellBasell to Shut Down One PP Production Line at Wesseling Plant in Germany
2010/2 LyondellBasell Preparing to Stop PP Production in Terni
2010/8 LyondellBasell Will Quit Iran
2011/5 LyondellBasell to Seek Buyer for Berre, France Refinery
2009/5 German investor buys 50% of LyondellBasell
2009/9 LyondellBasell to Close LDPE Unit at Carrington, U.K.
2009/11 Reliance Makes Offer for LyondellBasell
2009/12 Reorganization Plan
Reliance Raises Bid for LyondellBasell
2010/3 Lyondell Said to Reject $14.5 Billion Reliance Bid
2010/12 LyondellBasell Sells Flavors and Fragrances Business to Pinova Holdings, Inc.
（Basell Homepage） http://www.basell.com/generalInfo/0,2183,1%255F193,00.html
Basell is the world's largest producer of polypropylene, a leading supplier of polyethylene and advanced polyolefin products, and a global leader in the development and licensing of polypropylene and polyethylene processes and catalysts.
1999年11月4日
モンテル・エスディーケイ・サンライズ
新ポリオレフィン会社設立の発表について
http://www.sunallomer.co.jp/japanese/99-11-04.html
モンテル社の株主であるシェルは、BASFと共同で新ポリオレフィン会社の設立について発表を行いました。
●シェルとBASFはモンテル、エレナック、タゴールの事業を統合し、世界最大級のポリオレフィン会社を設立する計画を発表しました。この会社は、シェル、BASFそれぞれ50％の出資比率となり、本社をオランダにおきます。この統合により新会社は、ポリプロピレンでは世界最大、ポリエチレンでは世界で4番目の製造能力を持つことになります。また、新会社の年間売上金額は60億ドルを見込んでいます。
http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2001/1stDistrict/June/Html/1000433.htm
Prior to November 1, 1983, Hercules was a global manufacturer of a petroleum-based plastic called polypropylene. Between 1981 and November 1, 1983, Hercules sold over $1 billion worth of polypropylene, and this amount consisted of 15% of plaintiff's net sales. Hercules, however, did not maintain the technology to economically produce polypropylene and, with the increase of oil costs, plaintiff decided to reduce its reliance on this product.
On November 1, 1983, plaintiff and an Italian corporation, Montedison, entered into a joint-venture agreement. The agreement created the corporation, Himont.
On February 12, 1987, Himont offered 22.6% of its common stock to the public in its initial public offering. Following this public offering, Hercules' and Montedison's ownership shares of Himont fell to 38.7% each. In September 1987, Montedison threatened to take over Hercules if it did not sell its remaining shares in Himont. Montedison also agreed to pay a premium for the stock owned by Hercules. Hercules then agreed to sell its shares, and in 1987 Montedison paid Hercules $1,487,500,000, or $59.50 per share, resulting in a net capital gain to Hercules of $1,338,501,966.
Hercules Incorporated http://www.herc.com/
Hercules Incorporated is a global manufacturer of chemical specialties used in making a variety of products for home, office, and industrial markets. Businesses and their key products are:
・ Aqualon, for thickeners used in water-based products such as latex paint; ・ Pulp and Paper, for total solutions to customers' pulp and paper manufacturing needs;
Industrial Specialities, for thickeners used in water-based products such as latex paint;・ FiberVisions, for staple fiber used in hygienic products and automotive textiles; ・ Pinova, for adhesives, flavor and beverage, construction, fragrance, household and industrial. Hercules, established in 1912, is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.
2006/3/6 Hercules
Hercules Tianpu - Methylcellulose joint venture begins operations in China
http://www.herc.com/abouthercules/news/06/Tianpu.htmHercules Incorporated announced the March 1st commencement of operations of Hercules Tianpu Chemicals Co. Ltd. ? a joint venture between Aqualon, a business unit of Hercules, and Luzhou North Chemical Industries Co. Ltd. 瀘州北方化学 and Jiangsu Feixiang Chemical Co. Ltd. 江蘇飛翔化学
The joint venture will be the leading producer of methylcellulose (MC) in China and will have an initial combined capacity of 6,000 metric tons at the sites in Luzhou and Zhangjiagang張家港. In addition, a new 12,000 metric ton MC facility, currently under construction in Zhangjiagang, is scheduled to start operations in the second half of 2006.
About Methylcellulose:
Methylcellulose (MC) and its companion products hydroxypropyl- and hydroxyethyl- cellulose (MHPC and MHEC) are used in a wide variety of industries and applications, including tile cements and renders, joint compounds, gypsum plasters, emulsion paints, resins and catalytic converters. Specialized food grades and premium grades are used respectively as functional food ingredients and in the pharmaceutical industry in tablet coating and controlled release formulations.
メチルセルロースは、粘性のほかに保護コロイド性、熱ゲル化性、潤滑性、保水性といった様々な特性を備えている。たとえば感熱記録紙では、顕色剤と発色染料がコーティングされ、熱が加えられる双方が反応して印字される仕組みになっているが、メチルセルロースは二つの粒子が混ざり合わないようにし、うまく分散させる作用（保護コロイド性）があるため、自然発色を防ぐ役割を果たしている。またNi-Cd電池の極板製造時にはメチルセルロースの熱ゲル化性を利用して乾燥工程中のダレを防止、均一な製品の製造に役立っている。ほかにもIC基板、ハニカム状の自動車排気ガス浄化装置などのファインセラミックス製品の押し出し成形時のバインダーとしてメチルセルロースが使用されている。（信越化学）
シェル、モンテル株を 100％取得 モンテエジソンは撤退
ロイヤルダッチ・シェルはポリプロピレンの世界最大企業であるモンテルを 100％傘下に収めることを明らかにした。モンテルの一方の親会社であるモンテジソンの保有株式を約 20億で買収する。ＥＣ委員会の承認を得て、実施する。
Ｂａｓｅｌｌ、８７０万トン体制でスタート 生産拠点は１９ヵ国・４４工場に
ＢＡＳＦとシェルの折半出資によるポリオレフィンのガリバー企業「バセル（Ｂａｓｅｌｌ）ポリオレフィンズ」が１０月１日にアムステルダムに設立され、業務を開始した。
Shell and BASF announce intention to merge polyolefins businesses
http://www.basell.com/newsDetails/0,2202,5%255F268,00.html
Shell Petroleum N.V.('Shell'), a holding company in the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, and BASF announced today that discussions are at an advanced stage to combine Elenac, Montell and Targor into one of the world's largest polyolefins enterprises. Shell and BASF would each own 50 per cent of the new enterprise which would have its holding company in The Netherlands.
Montell means Montell N.V., a company wholly-owned by companies of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of companies, and the companies directly and/or indirectly owned by Montell N.V.
Targor was founded in 1997 as 50:50 joint venture between BASF and Hoechst, with 1,600 employees.
Elenac means Elenac GmbH and Elenac S.A. companies owned on an equal basis by BASF AG and Deutsche Shell AG and Shell Chemie S.A. respectively, and the companies directly and/or indirectly owned by either or both of them.
（23 Mar 2001 発表）
Dow Acquires Former Basell plant in Cologne
http://www.dow.com/dow_news/prodbus/2001/20010323a_pb.html
The Dow Chemical Company and Basell announced today that they have reached agreement on the sale of the Basell polypropylene plant in Cologne, Germany.
In order to resolve competition concerns raised by the European Commission before the Basell merger was approved, Basell is required to divest polypropylene resin plants with a capacity to produce at least 600KT and PP compounding plants with a capacity to produce at least 130KT.
Joint Venture (同社homepageより）
http://www.basell.com/
| Japan | ： | SunAllomer | ： | PP | |
| ： | Korea | PolyMirae | PP | ||
| Taiwan | Taiwan Polypropylene | PP | |||
| Thailand | HMC Polymers Company Limited | PP | |||
| Basell Advanced Polyolefins Thailand | PP compounds | ||||
| India | Machino-Basell India Ltd | PP compounds | |||
| Poland | Basell Orlen Polyolefins | PE/PP | |||
| Argentina | Petroken | PP | |||
| Brazil | Polibrasil | PP | |||
| Australia | PolyPacific | PP compounds | |||
| ーーーーーー | |||||
| Mexico | Indelpro | PP |
SunAllomer is one of the longest established PP producers in Japan, with manufacturing operations first commencing in late 1960's . The company is a joint venture of Basell, Showa Denko and Nippon Petrochemical Company. As such it combines the strengths of Basell's global leadership position in PP with the local strengths of two of Japan's leading industrial companies.
By building on these strengths, SunAllomer is able to offer its customers a unique combination of global product development and expertise as well as local industry, market and application know-how.
SunAllomer works tirelessly and enthusiastically with both customers and suppliers to generate value-adding, win-win business relationships. The company has a strong and deep dedication to protecting the environment and carries out all its activities with a strong commitment to quality, health and safety.
PolyMirae
PolyMirae Company Ltd. is the premier polypropylene producer in Korea. The company was formed through a strong alliance of two highly respected global companies, Daelim Industries and Basell. The company's specific charter is expanding the demonstrated properties of PP in order to provide customers with leading-edge materials that meet their demanding requirements.
Taiwan Polypropylene
Taiwan Polypropylene Co. Ltd. (TPP) is a joint venture company owned 35% by Basell and 16% by the Koos Group of Taiwan, with the remaining 49% held by more than 30,000 public shareholders.
TPP was the first polypropylene producer in Taiwan, starting with Hercules technology more than 25 years ago, and today is the leading polypropylene supplier in the country.
TPP operates two Spheripol technology production lines at its site in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with annual capacity of 400 KT. In addition, TPP operates a polypropylene compounding line and a staple fibre plant at the same site. The company's business office is located in Taipei.
HMC Polymers Company Limited
HMC Polymers Company Limited established the first polypropylene manufacturing facility in Thailand in 1987. Since that time it has continued to expand and upgrade its facilities. Today it has the most modern technology in Thailand and, with capacity of 450 KT, is one of the largest and most advanced facilities in Asia. The company is certified for both ISO 9002 and ISO 14001.
HMC Polymers Company Limited is a joint venture between Basell and a group of leading Thai companies. HMC is a technology leader in South East Asia with a worldwide marketing distribution system to support export sales activities, producing a wide combination of homopolymer, heterophasic copolymer and random copolymer resins. HMC offers fabricators, converters and end users significant opportunities to reduce cost, produce higher value products and open new markets.
Basell Advanced Polyolefins Thailand
Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is a Thailand-based plastics compounding company established in 1997 to manufacture and market polypropylene compounds. It is jointly owned by Basell and SunAllomer. The company's production plant is located in Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, Rayong, Thailand, with 15 KT compounding capacity.
The plant has been operational since mid-1999 and has been designed for future expansion of up to 30 KT. The portfolio of products produced by the joint venture includes polypropylene compounds, an extensive range of filled and unfilled products for the automotive, industrial and appliance industries.
Machino-Basell India Ltd.
Machino-Basell India Ltd. (MBI) produces an extensive range of unfilled and filled polypropylene compounds and is the major supplier of polypropylene compounds to the Indian automotive market.
MBI is a joint venture company owned equally by Basell and Machino Plastics Ltd. Based in Gurgaon, 25 kilometers from New Delhi and launched in 1998, the company operates two Berstorff compounding lines with a total annual capacity of 15 KT.
Poland
Basell Orlen
Polyolefins
Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sp. z o.o. (BOP), a joint venture company formed in March 2003, by PKN ORLEN S.A and Basell Europe Holdings B.V, and each hold 50 percent share in BOP, which was established with a Euro 217 million investment from PKN ORLEN and Basell, the world's largest producer of polypropylene.
Further, a bank credit line was approved in 2003 with a Euro 350 million investment firmly establishing strong project financing and secure funding for future manufacturing sites.
BOP manufactures, markets and sells polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and advanced polyolefin material from its operations in Plock, and the international production network of Basell. The plants are operating with feedstock and services from PKN ORLEN, which also offers strong market knowledge of the region, and a strategic geographic location.
From Basell, BOP gains industry-leading technology, access to global customers, and operational excellence. Its international management board, comprised of Hartmut Lueker, president; Marek Sep, vice president of operations; Malgorzata Wisnicka-Hincza, vice president of finance; and Wido Waelput, vice president of sales/marketing, are instilling both local market expertise, and international best-business practices for efficiency, quality and safety into the operations of BOP.
Through new marketing, sales and customer service practices, high quality product, BOP has secured 50 percent market share of polyolefin sales on the Polish market in 2003. This sales performance and the outlook for next year are strong.
During its startup year, BOP sold 45,000 tonnes of new Hostalen® and Moplen material, as well as 245.000 tonnes of existing Malen grade products. The main market segments for its products are: consumer goods, film material for packaging, modern containers for the transport of dangerous goods, such as intermediate bulk containers (IBC), and pipelines for gas and drinking water.
In this start-up year of 2003, the three most significant milestone events advancing the company's progress were: 1) securing the bank credit for the new installations, and the financial closing that demonstrated the company's fiscal stability and performance well above budget; 2) the engagement of the contractor of the new manufacturing plants; and 3) the "ground breaking" for this new construction, which is expected to be of the world's largest twin PE and PP plants; Tecnimont S.p.A., of Milan, Italy, was awarded the large-scale contract for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for the polyolefin complex.
Considered to be the largest facilities of its kind worldwide when completed, the new plants are scheduled to start commercial production in June 2005.
The two new plants will produce 400,000 tonnes per year of PP utilising the Spheripol® process, and 320,000 tonnes per year of high density polyethylene (HDPE), using the Hostalen production method. There will be significant participation by local contractors and suppliers in the construction of the new manufacturing plants.
The JV is capable of producing 400 ttpa of polypropylene (PP) and
470 ttpa of polyethylene (PE) of which 150 ttpa accounts for LDPE and 320 ttpa for HDPE.
In preparation for the opening of these new facilities, BOP will build a world-class logistics and distribution centre in 2004 to serve its customers and handle the significant increase in plastics material output in 2005. VOS Logistics of the Netherlands has been engaged to support this installation.
More visible and dramatic will be the installation of the polymerization reactors for the main plants in 2004. This activity, as well as the whole "mega" construction project will take the coordination and support of more than 2000 people and will be of the scale and scope not realised before in Eastern Europe.
The new BOP plants will bring a higher level of industrial and manufacturing capability to Poland, which is creating new opportunities for development and investment in the Plock region. The local Plock government is working closely with PKN ORLEN and Basell Orlen Polyolefins to attract investment by establishing land and development incentives, as well as providing infrastructure support to attract complimentary manufacturing interests to the region. The BOP investment is opening the doors for new economic opportunities in the plastics market sector in Poland.
Petroken
Petroken, a 50/50 joint venture between Basell and Repsol/YPF, is the leading polypropylene producer in Argentina.
Petroken started up a 100 KT PP plant near the major local market in Buenos Aires in 1992. Petroken increased its polypropylene capacity to 180 KT in 1999; that year Petroken also started up a state-of-the-art compounding facility to support advanced polyolefins in the region. The compounding capacity is now 20 KT per year.
Petroken's dedication to obtain outstanding product quality and provide exemplary customer service has made it one of the premier quality suppliers in industry sectors. Petroken combines the strengths of its two shareholders - Basell delivering leading technology, catalysts and access to world markets and Repsol/YPF providing a local secure feedstock source and regional support.
Petroken has established itself as a major player in the Mercosur market as well as an export supplier of choice in many countries outside of South America.
Petroken's product portfolio includes widely used technologies: LIPP, Novolen and Spheripol process homopolymers and copolymers as well as former Montell and Targor PP compounds and Petroken's own masterbatches.
Polibrasil
Polibrasil Resinas S.A., is a 50/50 joint venture between Basell and Suzano, a Brazilian company focused on petrochemicals and the pulp and paper business.
Pioneering the production of polypropylene in Brazil since 1978, Polibrasil operates from three strategically positioned locations: Camacari, Duque de Caxias and Maua. Polibrasil has a strong commercial focus with excellent customer relationships across a wide range of conversion technologies.
The company develops polypropylene products that deliver excellent cost/benefit performance for customers. Polibrasil's PP market leadership in Latin America has been further enhanced with the start-up of a new world-scale Spheripol process plant in Maua which increased Polibrasil's overall PP capacity to 750 KT.
Polibrasil also operates a 25 KT PP compounding plant. With a broad customer base and a growing resins portfolio, Polibrasil is uniquely positioned to continue to build upon its leadership position.
PolyPacific
PolyPacific Pty. Ltd. is an Australian-based company jointly owned by Basell Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd. and Mirlex Pty Ltd. The company manufactures a full range of polyolefin compounds, masterbatches and modified elastomers, and has become the leader in its field in Australia, with a growing market presence also in the Asia-Pacific region.
（Joint press release of BASF and BASELL 2002/1/29）
Basell's styrene plant in
Wesseling shut down
http://www.basell.com/newsDetails/0,2202,2%255F330,00.html
BASF and Basell, a 50:50 joint venture between BASF and Shell, shut down the styrene plant at Wesseling at the end of 2001. The plant, which had an annual capacity of 410,000 tonnes, first started producing over 30 years ago and covered part of BASF's styrene requirements in Europe. The main reason for the closure is a worldwide drop in demand for styrene and styrenic polymers.
2002/6/27
Basell
announces start-up of new 260 KT polypropylene plant in Spain
http://www.basell.com/newsDetails/0,2202,5%255F1057,00.html
Basell is announcing today the start-up of its new 260 KT polypropylene plant ー Tarragona PP III -- at the Tarragona East complex. The world-scale plant manufactures a wide range of homopolymer and heterophasic copolymer grades for diverse markets.
Hoechst plans to sell its
polyethylene business to Elenac - Letter of intent signed
http://www.archive.hoechst.com/english/news/98/01157500.html
Hoechst AG and Elenac are envisaging the sale of the Hostalen polyethylene business to Elenac, a leading supplier of polyethylene in Europe. The two companies agreed to this in a letter of intent.
1998/1/16
Name and start-up date decided for BASF/Shell Polyethylene joint
venture
http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/company/cne81092.htm
Following approval by the EU Commission, the planned BASF/Shell joint venture can now be implemented, which will include the acquisition of Montell* European PE business. It will operate under the name Elenac and will start-up on March 1st, 1998.
Targor Gets the Green Light from
Brussels
Joint Press Release from BASF and
Hoechst
http://www.archive.hoechst.com/english/news/97/00483500.html
The European Commission in Brussels has approved the formation of Targor , the 50:50 polypropylene joint venture between BASF Aktiengesellschaft and Hoechst AG. The new company, which is headquartered in Mainz, will thus start operating as planned on July 1, 1997.
Platts 2002/11/11
Polibrasil to start-up new 300kt PP plant mid-Feb 2003
Polibrasil, a 50/50 joint venture between Basell and Brazil's Suzano group, is set to start up its new 300,000 mt/yr polypropylene plant at Maua, Sao Paulo state, in mid-February 2003, a company source said Monday.
Platts 2002/11/14
PKN Orlen says Basell JV may start up by Christmas
Poland's downstream oil company Polski Koncern Naftowy (PKN Orlen) today said a joint venture with polyolefin producer Basell Europe Holdings BV may be ready to start up by Christmas.
The formation of Montell Polyolefins
US FTC JUNE 1, 1995 http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1995/06/montell2.htm
The Federal Trade Commission has
given final approval to a consent agreement with Montedison
S.p.A. and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, the world's
largest polypropylene producers. The agreement, requiring
divestiture of Shell's U.S. polypropylene business, settles
charges that the
formation of Montell Polyolefins, a $6 billion joint venture between
Montedison and Shell, could substantially reduce competition in
several polypropylene and polypropylene-related production and
licensing markets, and reduce U.S. export sales.
Polypropylene is used in a wide variety of consumer goods
including playground equipment, storage containers and toys.
Total U.S. polypropylene sales are approximately $4 billion a
year, according to industry trade sources.
The consent order involves significant export markets in excess
of $250 million annually. "This action demonstrates the
ability of the antitrust laws to protect U.S. export
commerce," said William J. Baer, Director of the FTC's
Bureau of Competition. "By requiring the divestiture of
Shell's polypropylene and catalyst business, the consent order
protects the opportunity to compete in the polypropylene
licensing business. This will help protect competition in this
important market," Baer said.
"This is the first order issued in an international
antitrust case since the International Antitrust Guidelines were
issued, and it illustrates the Guidelines' theme of cooperation
with foreign antitrust authorities," Baer continued. Both
the FTC and the European Commission took remedial action against
the joint venture. Baer stated that "consultation at the
staff level helped the Commission consider whether the EC's
remedy eliminated competitive problems in the United States and
helped assure that the Commission's order was coordinated with
the EC's remedy."
Montedison, an Italian firm, is the leading competitor in world
polypropylene markets through its wholly-owned, indirect
subsidiary, HIMONT Incorporated. HIMONT, also named in the FTC
complaint detailing the charges in this case, is based in
Wilmington, Delaware. The complaint also names Royal Dutch
Petroleum Company, based in The Netherlands, and The
"Shell" Transport and Trading Company, p.l.c., based in
London. Both of these companies are public holding companies of
the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies (collectively referred
to here as Shell), the world's second largest producer of
polypropylene. Finally, the complaint names Shell Oil Company, of
Houston, Texas, a member of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of
Companies.
The final order requires Shell and Shell Oil to divest to Union Carbide, of Danbury,
Connecticut, or to another Commission-approved acquirer, within
six months, all
of Shell Oil's polypropylene assets including its interest in the
Unipol/SHAC polypropylene technology and catalyst licensing
business and the Seadrift polypropylene plant, both conducted jointly with Union Carbide
Corporation. Under an existing agreement between Shell Oil and
Union Carbide, any transfer of Shell Oil's rights to Unipol/SHAC
and Seadrift prior to March 1997 requires Union Carbide's
consent. The order provides that if Union Carbide declines to
acquire these assets at an appraised price or if it objects to
another acquirer, the divestiture period can be extended until
March 31, 1997. The ultimate acquirer, if other than Union
Carbide, and divestiture agreement must be approved by the
Commission.
→ ダウーＵＣＣ合併
→ Union Carbide shutdown Seadrift Plant in September 2003
To preserve competition pending
divestiture, the respondents also have signed a separate
agreement requiring Shell to hold separate and manage the assets
to be divested independently of Shell and Montell, pending
divestiture. In addition, Montedison is required to manage its
polypropylene technology and polypropylene catalyst businesses
independently of Shell and Montell until Shell has completed the
required divestiture. If the divestiture is not completed on
time, the settlement permits the Commission to appoint a trustee
to complete it.
The settlement also resolves charges regarding a royalty and
profit-sharing agreement between Montedison and Mitsui
Petrochemical Industries Ltd.,
Montedison's partner for the licensing of both polypropylene
technology and polypropylene catalyst. The FTC charged that the
accord restricts price competition and constitutes an illegal
agreement to allocate markets. The Commission's action makes the
consent order provisions binding on the respondents. The order prohibits
Montedison and Montell from sharing in royalties from future
polypropylene-related technology licenses granted by Mitsui for use in the United States, and from
entering into similar agreements to allocate markets.
Finally, the settlement requires Shell, Montedison and Montell,
for 10 years, to obtain Commission approval before acquiring any
interest in a company that is engaged either in the polypropylene
technology, polypropylene licensing or polypropylene catalyst
business anywhere in the world, or in the manufacture or sale of
polypropylene polymers in the United States or Canada.
"In an increasingly global marketplace, it is critically
important that we cooperate with our foreign colleagues,"
said Baer. "Cooperation is good for consumers and, by
diminishing the likelihood of inconsistent remedies, it is good
for business." Cooperation with foreign authorities was a
major theme of the Antitrust Enforcement Guidelines for
International Operations, issued by the FTC and the Department of
Justice on April 5, 1995. "In the future, under the
International Antitrust Enforcement Assistance Act of 1994, the
FTC and the Department will be able to cooperate more fully with
foreign antitrust authorities; if they enter into reciprocal
agreements that meet the act's requirements, they will be able to
share confidential information," Baer said.
The consent agreement was announced for a public-comment period
on Jan. 11. The Commission vote to issue it in final form
occurred on May 25, and was 5-0.
Platts 2004/2/11
Basell to close down three HDPE
sites, one PP unit by 2005
(once its two new world-scale HDPE
plants come on stream)
Trautz said the closures would affect about 300,000 mt/yr of HDPE capacity and would take place once its two new world-scale HDPE plants come on stream.
The two new HDPE plants--located at Wesseling, Germany, and at Plock, Poland--are currently being built and capable of producing 320,000 mt/yr each. The latter, scheduled to start up in 2005, is a joint venture between Basell and PKN Orlen. Both plants are back integrated into crackers and refineries, to optimize the production chain.
Platts 2004/9/15
Basell opens new 300 kt/yr HDPE line at Wesseling, Germany
Polyolefins major, Basell has successfully started production at its latest high density polyethylene line at Wesseling, Germany, a company source told Platts Wednesday. The 300,000 mt/yr line using the Hostalen process started operations Sep 14, joining two existing gas phase HDPE lines. The two existing HDPE lines have a total capacity of over 300,000 mt/yr.
April 28, 2004 Dow Jones
News Service
Mexico's Alfa Unit To Build New 350,000 MT Plastics Plant
Mexican conglomerate Alfa said Tuesday its unit Indelpro plans to
build a new polypropylene plant with a capacity to produce
350,000 metric tons a year of the plastic.
Indelpro is jointly owned by Alfa's petrochemicals group Alpek and by
Netherlands-based Basell, the
world's biggest polypropylene producer.
The new plant, in the northeastern industrial center of Altamira,
will increase Indelpro's capacity to 570,000 metric tons a year, Alfa said.
2004/7/29 Basell
BASF and Shell review strategic options regarding Basell
http://www.basell.com/
BASF and Shell announced today that they are reviewing strategic alternatives regarding their joint venture Basell, a global leader in polyolefins, in which they both hold a 50 percent equity interest. The options being reviewed by the shareholders include the sale of their stakes and an equity market transaction.
Basell sells 50% share in French
CIPEN LLDPE plant to ExxonMobil
Polyolefins producer Basell announced Friday that it has sold its
50% share in the Compagnie Industrielle des Polyethylenes de
Normandie linear low density polyethylene plant in
Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon, France to ExxonMobil.
*CIPEN
Exxon Polymeres and Shell Chimie created a business entity entitled Compagnie Industrielle Des Polyethylenes De Normandie ("CIPEN"), the sole purpose of which was to own and operate a plastic manufacturing plant in Notre-Dame-De-Gravenchon, France.
CIPEN was structured as a Groupement d'Interet Economique ("GIE"), a form of business entity under French law resembling a partnership. Exxon Polymeres and Shell Chimie each controlled 50% of CIPEN's stock and jointly elected CIPEN's sole director. By agreement of its member corporations, CIPEN's sole pursuit was the manufacture of plastic from the raw material ethylene provided by Exxon Polymeres and Shell Chimie.
November 4, 2004 Financial
Times Information 事前報道
Basell confirms HDPE plant closures;
buying interest in Basell high.
Basell has confirmed it is to shutter three HDPE plants in Europe
with a total capacity in excess of 300,000 tonnes/y after the end
of 2004. The plants are at Frankfurt and Knapsack, Germany; and
Tarragona, Spain. The
shutdowns will coincide with the commissioning of a 320,000-tonnes/y HDPE
plant at Plock, Poland that
is part of a polyolefins joint venture of Basell and PKN Orlen,
and of a similar-sized facility at Wesseling, Germany.
Meanwhile, there have been more potential buyers for Basell than expected.
2005/2/14 Basell
Basell announces that it intends to sell share in PP plant in
Spain that it jointly owns with Repsol
http://www.basell.com/portal/site/basell/?epi_menuItemID=d9d887b2d711ac55c87d7fc1a0f034a0&VCMChannelID=a841159b59e3af00vcm100000000c53f3cc3____&VCMContentID=32c83be4aef02010vcm100000000c53f3cc3RCRD
Basell announced today that it
intends to sell to Repsol YPF its 50% share in the 160 KT per
year polypropylene plant in Tarragona, Spain that is operated by
Transformadora De Propileno A.I.E., a company jointly owned by
Basell and Repsol.
“Basell’s goal is to focus on its wholly owned
production facilities in Tarragona, which currently have an
annual capacity of 360 KT of polypropylene,” said Manuel Fraga, president of Basell
Iberica. ”We will continue
to supply our customers from those plants and other regional
sources.”
2005/5/5 Shell/BASF BASF
and Shell review strategic options regarding Basell
BASF and Shell to sell their stakes in Basell to consortium led
by Access Industries
http://www.corporate.basf.com/en/presse/mitteilungen/pm.htm?pmid=1833&id=mGVN16lGdbcp40T
BASF and Shell Chemicals are to
sell their 50-50 joint venture Basell, one of the world's leading
manufacturers of polyolefins, to a consortium led by New York-based Access
Industries together with The Chatterjee Group. A corresponding agreement was signed.
The sale price will total Euro 4.4 billion, including debt.
The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant antitrust
authorities and closing is expected in the second half of 2005.
Access
Industries
Access Industries, founded by company Chairman and President Len Blavatnik in 1986, is a privately held, US-based
industrial holding company with investments worldwide. Access has
long-term strategic interests in the oil, aluminium, coal and
telecommunications sectors.
The
Chatterjee Group
The Chatterjee Group (TCG) is a privately held, US-based
investment organisation with a significant business presence in
India. Dr. Purnendu Chatterjee is the chair-man of TCG, which has
a controlling interest in Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd, a major integrated petrochemical company
that utilises Basell technology.
| 化学業界でも、最近のRoyal Dutch ShellとBASFの石油化学合弁会社Basellの売却では、複数の買収ファンドが興味を示し、初めはBlackstoneとApolloの連合が有利と報道されていたが、これにBain
CapitalとGoldman Sachs Capital Partnersが加わり、一大買収ファンドコンソーシアムを作ったと報道されていた。しかし、結果インドのChatterjeeと米Access
Industriesの事業会社連合がHaldia
Petrochemicalを買収母体会社として44億ユーロで勝ち取ることとなる（その後直近では更にChatterjeeが脱退すると発表。Accessのみで進められる模様）。 |
Len Blavatnik holds a Master's degree from Columbia University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Blavatnik is a founder and principal shareholder of Access Industries Inc., a global private equity investment firm with a diversified portfolio in energy, minerals and mining, telecommunications and financial services.
He is Chairman of Access Industries. Director of the Siberian Urals Aluminum Company (SUAL), and Svenska Bredbandsbolaget AB. Mr. Blavatnik is also a member of the Global Advisory Board of the Center for International Business and Management at Cambridge University and a member of the board of Dean'sAdvisors at the Harvard Business School. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Eurasia Group in New York, and is Vice Chairman of the Kennan Council at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C.
Access is controlled by its CEO and President, Leonard Blavatnik who owns 100% of its capital stock. Blavatnik emigrated from the Soviet Union in 1978 is a U.S. citizen residing principally in New York and serves as a director of TNK. Access is a controlling shareholder of TNK through a series of companies.
2005 Forbes The 400 Richest Americans
#61 Leonard Blavatnik
Net Worth: $3.5 billion
Source: Oil/Gas, Access Industries
Self made
Age: 48
Marital Status: Married
Hometown: New York, NY
Raised in Russia, immigrated to U.S. with family at age 21. Worked way through college, founded industrial holding company Access Industries in 1986. Later teamed with Russian school chum Viktor Vekselberg, then Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman. Trio made fortune setting up TNK-BP, joint partnership between their Tyumen Oil Company and British Petroleum; became Russia's second-largest oil company. Recently bought plastics manufacturer Basell from Shell and BASF for $5.7 billion. Also owns stakes in Siberian-Urals Aluminum (SUAL), power company in Kazakhstan, real estate in Argentina and the U.K. Less lucky in New York: reportedly bid to buy Mary Tyler Moore's Manhattan apartment and was rejected by co-op board.TNK-BP is a major Russian vertically integrated oil company, established in September 2003 as a result of the merger of Russian companies TNK (Tyumen Oil Co.) and SIDANCO with the majority of BP’s Russian oil assets.
The company is 50% owned by BP and 50% by a group of prominent Russian investors: Alfa Group, Access Industries and Renova (AAR). The shareholders of TNK-BP also own close to 50% of Slavneft. This interest will eventually be integrated into TNK-BP.
TNK-BP is headquartered in Moscow and is governed by a multinational management team, which consists of Russian and international executives who have worked in more than 50 countries worldwide. The team combines the best of Russian and international talent and experience and includes executives from BP, TNK, Sidanco and other international companies.
Today, TNK-BP is Russia’s second largest oil company. The company employs close to 100,000 people and operates in nearly all of Russia’s major hydrocarbon regions, including:
West Siberia (in the Tyumen, Khanty-Mansiysk, Yamal-Nenetsk and Novosibirsk Regions);
the Volga-Urals (in the Orenburg and Saratov Regions and the Republic of Udmurtia);
East Siberia (in the Irkutsk Region); and
the Far East (Sakhalin).
In 2004, average crude oil production totaled 1.44 million barrels per day (bpd), or 72 million tons per year. Current oil production is roughly 1.5 million bpd.
TNK-BP operates five refineries in Russia and Ukraine, and markets products through over 2,000 retail service stations operating under TNK and BP brands. Through its retail network, TNK-BP is among the market leaders in petroleum product sales in European Russia, including Moscow, and is the market leader in Ukraine.
Based on the independent reserve audit conducted by DeGolyer and MacNaughton, as of December 31, 2004, TNK-BP’s proved reserves were 8 billion barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of US SEC standards (life of fields basis), and 9.0 billion barrels under SPE standards. The company aims to replace 100% of its annual production with new reserves (all figures exclude gas).
In 2004, TNK-BP increased crude oil production by 13%, growing above the industry average. TNK-BP’s strategy envisages annual capital investment of approximately $1.5 billion until 2007, excluding potential spending on asset acquisitions.
British Plastics &
Rubber on-line 2005/6/27
Chatterjee out of Basell takeover
http://www.polymer-age.co.uk/news.htm#Chatterjee%20out%20of%20Basell%20takeover
As the takeover of Basell
progresses it has emerged that The Chatterjee
Group is
no longer involved, and that Basell is being bought by Access
Industries alone.
Both companies are American-based investment groups and were
linked as a consortium throughout the Basell takeover saga.
Access Industries is owned by Russian-born oil billionaire
Leonard Blavatnik and has worldwide interests in oil, aluminium,
and coal. Chatterjee, which also has substantial interests in
India, has a controlling interest in India's Haldia
Petrochemicals, and has been negotiating to buy out the Bengal
government's stake in the company. Haldia's portfolio includes
capacity for 260,000 tonnes of LLDPE and HDPE made under a Basell
Spherilene Gas Phase licence and 300,000 tonnes of polypropylene
made under a Basell Spheripol II licence. An involvement -
directly as was at one time speculated - or through the
Chatterjee link would give it access to Basell's polyolefins
markets and its technology.
But plans for the new financial structure for Basell refer to a
Luxembourg based acquisition vehicle Nell Acquisition Sarl (Nell
was originally the code name for the Basell sale project) which
is a 100 per cent owned affiliate company of Access Industries. A
spokesman for Access confirmed that The Chatterjee Group is no
longer involved in the acquisition and said that 'Access Industries
will be the sole new shareholder of Basell. Neither The
Chatterjee Group nor Haldia Petrochemicals are currently
participating in the transaction'.
2005/8/1 BASF/Shell BASF
and Shell to sell their stakes in Basell
Chatterjee out of Basell takeover
BASF and Shell complete sale of their stakes in Basell to Nell
Acquisition
Ludwigshafen/London, August 1, 2005 - BASF and Shell Chemicals
have completed the sale of their 50-50 joint venture Basell - one
of the world’s leading manufacturers of
polyolefins - to Nell Acquisition S.a.r.l., an
affiliate of New York-based Access Industries. The sale price totals Euro 4.4
billion, including debt. The relevant merger control approvals
had already been granted.
Basell
Basell is headquartered in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands. The
company has sales activities in more than 120 countries and
operates production sites in 21 countries worldwide. Basell
employs a workforce of 6,600 employees: about 5,200 in Europe and
about 1,000 in North America. In 2004, Basell posted sales of
?6.7 billion.
Basell is the world’s largest producer of
polypropylene and advanced polyolefins, and is a leading supplier
of polyethylene and catalysts. The company is a global leader in
the development and licensing of polypropylene and polyethylene
processes. These plastics are used in a wide number of
applications, for example in the packaging and automotive
industries and for consumer goods.
BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The
Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics,
performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to
crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all
industries, BASF’s intelligent solutions and
high-value products help its customers to be more successful.
BASF develops new technologies and uses them to open up
additional market opportunities. It combines economic success
with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus
contributing to a better future. In 2004, BASF had approximately
82,000 employees and posted sales of more than ?37 billion. BASF
shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS),
London (BFA), New York (BF), Paris (BA) and Zurich (AN). Further
information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
Shell
Shell Chemicals collectively refers to the companies of the Shell
Group engaged in the chemicals business. With a multibillion
dollar turnover and major manufacturing facilities around the
world, Shell Chemicals focuses on the production of bulk
petrochemicals and their delivery to large industrial customers.
These products are widely used in plastics, coatings and
detergents. For further information:
www.shell.com/chemicals/news.
Access Industries
Access Industries, founded by company Chairman and President Len
Blavatnik in 1986, is a privately held, US-based industrial
holding company with investments worldwide. Access has long-term
strategic interests in the oil, aluminium, coal and
telecommunications sectors.
BBC 2005/5/4
US 'blocking Iran plastics deal'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4514171.stm
Iran's National
Petrochemical Company says it is being excluded from buying a
major Dutch plastics maker by US political pressure.
Polypropylene maker Basell is being sold by its joint owners,
Anglo-Dutch oil group Shell and chemicals giant BASF of Germany.
INPC
has been "unofficially told Iran cannot buy Basell", the ISNA news agency cited the
firm's boss as saying.
Sanctions risk
Business Telegraph
2005/5/6
Until yesterday, the Iranian state oil company was leading the
race for Basell. However, a promise not to include Basell's
Louisiana plant in the deal was not enough to placate stiff US
opposition.
2005/5/4 Aljazeera
Iran blames US for buyout bid failure
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A17C6B0C-B004-49F3-B4D7-E6286A43EDF7.htm
Intense US pressure has
scuppered the possible acquisition of a European plastics firm by
an Iranian state-owned company, Iran said, clearing the way for
its purchase by an Indian-led consortium.
Iran's National Petrochemical Company was favoured to buy Basell,
the world's top producer of the plastic polypropylene, from oil
giant Royal Dutch/Shell and Germany's BASF, in a deal worth 4.4
billion euros ($5.7 billion).
"Although NPC won all aspects of the Basell tender, due to
US pressures we are unofficially told Iran cannot buy
Basell," semi-official Iranian news agency ISNA quoted NPC
Managing Director Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh as saying on
Wednesday.
A State Department official told Reuters over the weekend that
the department had expressed its concerns to BASF and Shell,
which each own 50% of Basell.
He said the US was concerned about potential
misuse of Basell technology and the fact that, under the US
sanctions regime, US companies would not be able to deal with
Basell if Iran took it over.
Shell to sell 50% stake
in Socie'te' du Craqueur de l’Aubette to Basell
Shell Chemicals companies and Basell today signed agreements for
the sale of Shell Petrochimie Mediterranee’s (SPM) 50% share in Socie'te' du Craqueur de l’Aubette (SCA) to Basell.
SCA owns the ethylene cracker at Berre in southern France and Basell currently
holds 50% of the SCA shares. Once the transaction is completed,
the cracker will be wholly-owned by Basell.
As part of the agreement, Basell will also acquire the butadiene
business of Shell at Berre, including the butadiene assets,
as well as logistic assets associated with the cracker operation
in Aubette, Berre and Fos.
Basell to sell its
position in Taiwan Polypropylene Company Ltd (TPP)
Basell announced today that it has agreed to sell its 36% share in
Taiwan Polypropylene Company Ltd (TPP) to Lee Chang Yung Chemical
Industry Corporation of Taiwan. In conjunction with the sale,
Basell will acquire all shares currently held by TPP in other
Basell joint ventures in the region: SunAllomer in
Japan (16.7%), PolyMirae in South Korea (10%) and HMC Polymers
Company in Thailand (5%).
The transactions are expected to be completed in August.
“Basell
and its predecessor companies have had an excellent shareholder
relationship with TPP for more than three decades,”
said Ian Dunn,
president of Basell International, “and TPP has had a very good track
record. The decision to sell was not an easy one, but we believe
this path forward is best for the long-term future of TPP. It is
also consistent with Basell’s strategic intent to focus in
areas where we have built advantaged feedstock positions.”
Dunn added: “The opportunity to increase our
shareholding in HMC, PolyMirae and SunAllomer will better
position Basell to support the further development of these
companies in the strategically important Asia Pacific region.”
Lee Chang Yung
Chemical Industry Corporation is a leading global thermoplastic
elastomer manufacturer. Established in 1966, its head office is
in Taipei City.
Basell is the world's largest producer of polypropylene and
advanced polyolefin products, a leading supplier of polyethylene
and catalysts, and a global leader in the development and
licensing of polypropylene and polyethylene processes. Basell,
together with its joint ventures, has manufacturing facilities
around the world and sells products in more than 120 countries.
Additional information about Basell is available at www.basell.com.
台湾ポリプロは1974年にハーキュレス（Basellの前身の一つ）の技術でスタートした最初の台湾のPPメーカーで、Basell（当初35%、現在36%)と 台湾のKoos Group(16%)が出資、残りは一般株主。高雄に
Spheripol技術の2系列合計400千トンのプラントをもつ。
李長栄化学工業は1965年に設立された化学会社で、TPEのほか、メタノール、アセトン等の溶剤、ペンタエリスリトール、フォルムアルデヒド、ヘキサミン等のファインケミカル、高純度薬品等の製造販売を行っている。
Basellはアジア・太平洋では以下の拠点を持っている。
日本：サンアロマー
日本ポリオレフィン（昭和電工/新日本石油化学）とのJV
日本側が50%、Basellが33.3%、台湾ポリプロが16.7%
韓国：PolyMirae
韓国大林産業が50%、サンアロマーが30%、
Basellが8%、台湾ポリプロが12%でスタート
（今回の発表では台湾ポリプロは10%となっている）
タイ：
①HMC Polymers
Bangkok Bank、Hua Kee Groupその他とのJV
台湾ポリプロが5%出資していた。.
②Basell Advanced Polyolefins Thailand
Basellとサンアロマーの50/50のコンパウンドJV
オーストラリア：
①Basell Australia （唯一のPPメーカー）
②PolyPacific（Mirlex Pty Ltd.との50/50のコンパウンドJV）
マレーシア：PolyPacific
Basell Australia とMirlex Pty Ltd.とのコンパウンドJV
インド：Machino-Basell India Ltd.（Machino Plastics Ltd.との50/50のコンパウンドJV）
Basell to build new
Hostalen ACP HDPE plant at Muenchsmuenster, Germany
Basell announced
today that it plans to build a new Hostalen
Advanced Cascade Process (ACP) high density polyethylene (HDPE) plant at the Muenchsmuenster
industrial site near Munich, Germany. Basell’s first generation Hostalen
process plant at Muenchsmuenster was damaged by an explosion and
fire in December 2005.
Subject to the
necessary approvals, there will be a complete rebuild of the damaged 120 KT polymerization unit based on the
latest generation Hostalen ACP technology as well as a new
extrusion unit. Start-up is planned for beginning of 2009. The
plant design will accommodate future expansion
to 150 KT.
Basell completes
expansion of Geelong polypropylene plant
Basell announced today that is has completed the expansion of its
Geelong,
Australia polypropylene plant, increasing capacity from 60 KT to 130
KT per year.
2006/8/16 Chemweek's Business Daily
Basell to Enter Kazakhstan Petchem JV Soon
Basell will acquire a 35% stake in Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries (KPI; Almaty) from Sat & Co. (Almaty) by the end of this summer, paving the way for KPI to build a previously announced $4-billion petrochemicals complex at Atyrau, Kazakhstan, KPI says. Sat & Co.'s stake in KPI will fall from 85%, to 50% following the transaction. The remaining 15% of KPI is held by government energy group KazMunayGaz Exploration & Production (Almaty).
The complex will use Basell technology and have capacity for 400,000 m.t./year
each of low- or
high-density polyethylene; linear low density
polyethylene;
and polypropylene (PP).
A
400,000-m.t./year propane dehydrogenation unit will provide feedstock to the PP
plant.
CSJC Nizhnekamsk Refinery selects Spherizone technology for a new 200 KT per year PP plant in Russia
CSJC Nizhnekamsk
Refinery
has selected Basell’s Spherizone technology for a new 200 KT per year
polypropylene
plant to be built at Nizhnekamsk, Russia as part of a major
refinery and petrochemical complex expansion. The project is
scheduled for completion in 2011.
2006/8/1 Basell
Sinopec selects Spherizone technology for a new 450 KT per year
polypropylene plant in China
Sinopec
Tianjin Petrochemical Company has selected Basell’s Spherizone technology for a new 450 KT per
year polypropylene
plant to be built at Dagang, Tianjin in the People’s Republic of China. Start up is
planned for 2009.
Basell to build new
Spherilene polyethylene plant at Wesseling, Germany
Basell announced today that it plans to build a new Spherilene S
polyethylene plant at its Wesseling industrial site near Cologne,
Germany. The plant will be based on Basell’s new Spherilene S single reactor
gas phase design. Start up is planned for 2008.
Basell currently operates an 80 KT Lupotech G polyethylene plant at Wesseling. This plant
will be
converted into a new Spherilene S plant based on latest generation
technology including the installation of a new reactor system.
Spherilene
S technology
is designed to produce products with narrow and medium molecular
weight distribution. Both butene and hexene modified LLDPE can be
produced as well as HDPE.
2006/9/14 Basell
Basell expands catalyst plant in Ferrara, Italy
Basell has successfully completed an expansion of its catalyst
manufacturing facility located in Ferrara, Italy.
The Ferrara plant can produce 3rd, 4th and 5th generation
Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems. These catalysts are sold under
the Avant trade name:
・ Avant
ZN - Ziegler-Natta catalysts for polypropylene
・ Avant
Z - Ziegler catalysts for polyethylene
・ Avant
C - Chromium catalysts for polyethylene
・ Avant
M - Metallocene catalysts for polypropylene
Jansz added, “Basell’s Ferrara plant is the largest
polyolefin catalyst manufacturing facility in the world. When
combined with our Edison, NJ, catalyst plant, which we acquired earlier this
year
from Akzo Nobel,
and our other catalyst manufacturing facilities in Ludwigshafen and
Frankfurt,
Germany, Basell is uniquely positioned to serve the global
polyolefins catalyst market.”
Basell establishes sales
and marketing team dedicated to serving Chinese plastic pipe
customers
Basell, one of the world’s leading suppliers of resins used
by customers in pipe applications, has set up a team of sales and
marketing staff in its Chinese locations dedicated to addressing
the polyolefin requests of the expanding plastic pipe industry
in that country.
Located in the company’s Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou
sales offices, the team is designed to effectively serve Chinese
customers who select Basell’s high-performance,
energy-saving and reliable polypropylene and polyethylene resins
for their pipe applications in the Chinese growing market.
Basell to expand polypropylene capacity at Bayport, Texas
Basell announced today that it plans to expand capacity at its Bayport, Texas site by restarting a polypropylene plant that has been inactive since 2001. The company currently operates two Spheripol process plants at Bayport with a combined annual nameplate capacity of 530 KT.
The plant to be restarted also uses the Spheripol process and has a nameplate capacity of 220 KT. This plant will be fully refurbished and upgraded with state-of-the-art innovations. Start-up is scheduled for the second quarter of 2008.
Basell announces a new
expansion project for its Spherizone plant in Italy
Basell announced today that it plans to implement a new
debottlenecking and revamping project for its Spherizone process
plant in Brindisi, Italy. As a result of the investment,
the capacity of the unit will be increased by 50 KT, bringing the
total to 235 KT per year.
The revamped unit is expected to start up in the first quarter of
2009. This expansion follows a first debottlenecking project
which was completed earlier this year.
2007/6/22 Basell
Basell to stop
producing polypropylene in Sarnia in 2008
Basell announced
today that it will stop producing polypropylene in Sarnia, Ontario in mid-2008. The plant is
expected to continue normal operations until the time it ceases
production.
“When the Sarnia
plant began operation in 1978, it was one of the last plants to
be built in North America with old generation slurry process
technology,” said Michael Mulrooney, president
of Basell North America. “Annual production has averaged
only
100 KT the
past two years, and the reality is that the operating costs there
are no longer competitive."
Basell currently
operates two polypropylene lines in
Bayport, Texas and
is in the process of re-starting a third line at that site. The company also
has two polypropylene lines in Lake Charles,
Louisiana,
and one in Varennes, Quebec. All of these units use Spheripol
process technology.
Basell’s joint venture in Mexico, Indelpro, operates a Spheripol process line
and is building a new 350 KT Spherizone polypropylene plant at
Altamira which is scheduled to start up in early 2008.
24 Apr 2007
Basell announced today that it plans to expand capacity at its Bayport, Texas site by restarting a polypropylene plant that has been inactive since 2001. The company currently operates two Spheripol process plants at Bayport with a combined annual nameplate capacity of 530 KT.
The plant to be restarted also uses the Spheripol process and has a nameplate capacity of 220 KT. This plant will be fully refurbished and upgraded with state-of-the-art innovations. Start-up is scheduled for the second quarter of 2008.Lake Charles, La 1,000百万lbs
Indelpro is Mexico’s leading supplier of polypropylene and is a joint venture between Basell and Alpek, the petrochemical group of ALFA. It’s plant is located in Altamira, Tamaulipas and has a current capacity of 240 K tons/yr. By the end of 2007, with its new reactor, the plant will be over 600 KT per year. Indelpro successfully commercialized its brands Valtec and Pro-fax within NAFTA and Central America.
Basell to acquire
Huntsman for $25.25 per share
Hoofddorp, The Netherlands, The Woodlands, Texas, Salt Lake City,
Utah, USA - June 26, 2007 ? Basell, the global leader in
polyolefins’ technology, production and
marketing, and Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN), one of the world’s largest manufacturers and
marketers of differentiated chemicals and pigments, announced
today that they have signed a definitive agreement pursuant to
which Basell will acquire Huntsman in a transaction valued at
approximately $9.6 billion, including the assumption of debt.
Huntsman Chemical は Basell Polyolefins による56億ドルでの買収に合意した。26日、両社が発表した。
現在の株価に34%のプレミアムをつけるもので、負債引継ぎを含めると96億ドルになる。
同社の57%を所有するHuntsman一族が買収に賛成した。
年末までに手続きが終了する予想。Basell はGEプラスチックの買収にも乗り出したが、SABICに敗退している。
Huntsmanは最近、スイスのClariantやCiba Specialty Chemicalの買収に関心を示していた。Huntsman については下記参照
2006/10/3 SABIC、Huntsmanから英国の石化子会社を買収なお、Basell Polyolefinsを所有するAccess Industries のオーナーのLen Blavatnik は最近、Lyondell Chemical の株を「戦略的目的で」購入しており、LyondellとBasellの合併の可能性も噂されている。
June 27, 2007 The Associated Press
Basell-Huntsman Has $200M Breakup Fee
Huntsman Corp. said Wednesday that it will be required to pay a $200 million fee to Basell AF under certain circumstances if their proposed merger is terminated.
According to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the Salt Lake City-based chemical manufacturer will have to pay the fee if its board recommends another proposal.
Basell achieves 20
million tons milestone in Spheripol PP process with new license
in Qatar
Qatar Petroleum, a global leader in the energy sector, has
selected Basell’s Spheripol technology for a new 700 KT per
year polypropylene plant that will be built in Mesaieed,
Qatar, as part of the Qatar Petrochemical Complex project. The
unit will be operated by a joint venture between Qatar
Petroleum and Honam Petrochemical of Korea. Start-up is expected in 2011.
“With
this new license we have passed the milestone of 20 million tonnes
of licensed capacity for our Spheripol process, which is the most widely used
polypropylene technology in the world,”
Just Jansz,
president of Basell’s Technology Business, said at a
signing ceremony in Qatar’s capital city of Doha. “The new project further affirms
the superior product range and cost-effectiveness of the
Spheripol process in the highly competitive polypropylene market.”
Basell to stop producing polypropylene in Varennes, Quebec in 2008
Basell announced today that it will stop producing polypropylene at its Varennes, Quebec site in April 2008. The plant is expected to continue normal operations until the time it ceases production. 180千トン
Michael Mulrooney, president of Basell North America, said, “Basell has been present in Varennes for thirty years, so this was not an easy decision. Although the initial slurry technology was replaced at Varennes in the late 1980s with a single Spheripol process plant, as a stand alone site with small capacity, the operating costs are no longer competitive.”
This past June, Basell announced that it would also stop producing polypropylene at its Sarnia, Ontario site in mid-2008. 100千トン
2007/10/18 Basell
Basell announces expansion of its polybutene-1 plant in The
Netherlands
Basell announced today that it plans to debottleneck its four
year-old, 45 KT per year PB-1 plant located
in Moerdijk, The Netherlands, which will increase its
nameplate capacity to 67 KT per year in 2008.
Basell and ConocoPhillips extend exclusive polypropylene marketing relationship
| Basell and
ConocoPhillips have signed a new long-term contract for
Basell to exclusively market the polypropylene produced
at ConocoPhillips’ plant in Linden, New
Jersey. Basell has been the exclusive marketer of polypropylene produced at this facility since it first began operations in 2003. Basell North America President Michael Mulrooney said, “For the past five years, this plant has been a reliable source of quality products. The long term extension of this marketing agreement ensures that our highly valued customers will continue to benefit from these resins for years to come.” |
Basell Seeks to Reject ConocoPhillips (Bayway) Supply Agreement
In a letter to customers today, Basell informed that they have filed a motion in Bankruptcy Court to reject the exclusive marketing agreement with ConocoPhillips, under which they act as its exclusive marketer for 100% of the polypropylene products produced at its Bayway, NJ site.
The effective date of rejection is expected to be December 31, 2009. Basell expects no changes in business conduct throughout this period, continuing to serve customers from the Bayway facility.
The letter states that Basell remains committed to the polypropylene business in North America and is actively making plans to supply, where possible, Bayway-produced grades from their facility in Lake Charles, AL and Bayport, TX.
Basell, NGC, NEC and
Lurgi have entered into MOU for integrated polypropylene complex
in Trinidad and Tobago.
Basell, the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Ltd.
(NGC), and the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and
Tobago, Ltd. (NEC) announced today that they have entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) confirming their intention to
construct and operate a fully integrated polypropylene
complex in Trinidad and Tobago.
The MOU includes the construction of a methanol plant, which will exclusively supply a methanol-to-propylene
unit at the
complex. The propylene produced at the complex will be the
feedstock for a world-scale 450 KT per year polypropylene
plant based
on Basell’s Spherizone
technology. Start
up is tentatively scheduled for 2012. The whole project will be
undertaken in conjunction with Lurgi AG, the
industry leader in methanol and methanol-to-propylene (MTP)
technology.
The polypropylene complex is one of the cornerstones of the
country’s strategy to promote downstream
diversification and to build the foundation for a value adding
local plastics industry.
Basell Technology president Just Jansz said that using the Spherizone technology will give the plant a highly innovative product portfolio.
He added: “These resins enhance performance in existing applications while creating opportunities for polypropylene to expand into new end uses.”
Basell building second PP compounding facility in China
Basell has begun
construction of its second polypropylene compounding
facility in China at Guangzhou Nansha.
The new facility, to be operated by Guangzhou Basell Advanced
Polyolefins Co. Ltd., will have an initial annual capacity of 15,000 tonnes and will supply polypropylene
composites and alloy materials to the South China automotive and
appliances industry.
“In
addition to our first Chinese PP compounding
facility in Suzhou,
our second plant will help us to better serve our customers in
the south of China with high quality products and services that
meet their increased expectations,” he added.
LyondellBasell to Stop Producing Polypropylene at its Morris, Illinois Plant
LyondellBasell Industries announced today that it will stop producing polypropylene at its Morris, Ill. plant in the fourth quarter of 2008. Production will be shifted to other sites. Polyethylene production at the site will not be affected.
"The decision to stop polypropylene production at our Morris plant supports LyondellBasell's long-term strategy to rationalize and concentrate production in our industry-leading Spheripol and Spherizone process facilities," said Yves Bonte, Senior Vice President of LyondellBasell's Polypropylene Business.
LyondellBasell currently operates three polypropylene lines in Pasadena, Texas, and two polypropylene lines in Lake Charles, La. All of these units use Spheripol process technology. LyondellBasell's joint venture Indelpro, located in Mexico, operates a Spheripol process line and is building a new 350 KT Spherizone polypropylene plant at Altamira which is scheduled to start up later this year.
2008/6/5 Basell http://lyondellbasell.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=385
LyondellBasell Announces Plan to Consolidate Polypropylene Compounding and Business Locations in North America
Following its February 2008 acquisition of Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc., LyondellBasell has announced plans to consolidate its North American-based polypropylene (PP) compounding production, sales, marketing and technology activities.
The company will close its Sales & Application Development Center in Auburn Hills, Mich. The sales, marketing and technology activities currently conducted at the Auburn Hills site will be relocated to the company's expanded Advanced Polyolefins Business & Development Center in Lansing, Mich.
LyondellBasell will also close its PP compounding facility in Grand Prairie, Texas. Production will be moved to the company's nearby Mansfield, Texas plant, and to its new plant in Altamira, Mexico, scheduled to come on-stream this year.
Both sites are scheduled to close by the end of this year.
LyondellBasell
to Boost Its Global Polypropylene Compounding Capabilities by
More Than 30 Percent by End of 2009
LyondellBasell Industries has announced plans to expand its
global polypropylene (PP) compounding capacity to 1.2 million
tonnes per
year by the end of 2009, which represents a growth rate of more
than 30 percent.
To address rapidly expanding needs in the Asian region,
LyondellBasell's Advanced Polyolefins (APO) business has recently
relocated its global headquarters to Hong Kong.
"In the coming months, a new 15 KT plant in
Guangzhou,
China will come on stream," said Paul Yeates, Senior Vice
President of LyondellBasell's APO business. "In addition,
our Saudi
Polyolefins Company
joint venture is currently constructing a new compounding plant
in Damman, Saudi Arabia. We are also considering additional plant
investment options for Russia and India."
Further expansion of the company's existing sites in Suzhou,
China; Rayong, Thailand; and Ensenada, Argentina is planned.
Yeates added, "By 2010, we aim to operate a global network
of 18
PP compounding plants on four continents that delivers 1.2
million tonnes per
year of high quality PP compounds to the automotive and appliance
industries."
2008/12/16 Basell
LyondellBasell starts up new PP Compounding Plant in Nansha,
China
LyondellBasell Industries has announced the start-up of its new
polypropylene (PP) compounding facility in Nansha, China, with a nominal capacity
of 15,000
tonnes per
year. The new facility is operated by Guangzhou Basell Advanced
Polyolefins Co., and supplies polypropylene composites and alloy
materials to the automotive and appliance industries.
Speaking at the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Nansha plant, Paul
Yeates, Senior Vice President of LyondellBasell’s Advanced Polyolefins Business,
said, “One of the most important regions
for us in terms of our future growth is Asia, and in particular,
China. We recognized the importance of the market in China back
in 2005 when we opened our first PP compounding plant in the
country in Suzhou. With the opening of our second plant in China,
our total PP compounding capacity in the country is now 50,000 tonnes annually.”
LyondellBasell
operates 15 PP compounding plants in 12 countries on four
continents, which produce 1.2 million tons per year. The company’s 16th PP compounding plant will
be on-stream in Saudi Arabia next year, and plants in India and
Russia are planned for the near future.
LyondellBasell
misses Europe interest
payment
LyondellBasell's European operations failed to make
scheduled bond interest payments on Sunday (Feb.15), a company
spokesman said on Tuesday.
The Houston-based spokesman told Reuters that the world's
third-largest petrochemicals company has a 30-day grace
period to
make the coupon before it falls into default.
LyondellBasell Statement on Reliance Industries
LyondellBasell today issued the following statement:
"LyondellBasell has received a preliminary non-binding offer from Reliance Industries Limited to acquire for cash a controlling interest in the company contemporaneously with the company's emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization. This offer is in addition to the previous non-binding equity financing proposals received by the company and represents a potential alternative to the initial plan of reorganization previously filed by the company. Consistent with its fiduciary duties, management will continue to work with all parties to design an approach that maximizes value for the company's creditors through the pursuit of a confirmable plan of reorganization and enhances the financial strength of the reorganized company."
---------
NOVEMBER 21, 2009
Reliance Makes Offer for LyondellBasell
Reliance Industries Ltd., the giant Indian energy and materials company, made a nonbinding cash offer to take a controlling interest in LyondellBasell Industries when the chemical maker exits bankruptcy, LyondellBasell said Saturday.
The amount of the offer made by Reliance, India's largest company, wasn't disclosed. But if a deal is struck, it would create a global energy and chemicals powerhouse. Before filing for bankruptcy in January, LyondellBasell, the world's third-largest chemicals company, posted $50.7 billion in annual sales; Reliance brings in more than $28 billion a year.
The deal could also upend a restructuring plan that hands LyondellBasell to senior lenders in exchange for eliminating more than $17 billion in debt. That plan includes a $2.5 billion rights offering to take the company out of bankruptcy led by a group including private-investment firms Apollo Management, Ares Management and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
Access Industries, the investment group founded by Russian-born industrialist Len Blavatnik, also is part of that investment group. Basell, a division of Access Industries, led a $12.7 billion buyout of Houston-based Lyondell Chemical in 2007. LyondellBasell is currently privately owned by ProChemie GmbH, a joint venture of Access Industries and ProChemie Holding Ltd.
LyondellBasell said it had received a "preliminary" offer from Reliance that could serve as an "alternative" to the initial reorganization plan the company filed in a New York bankruptcy court. The company said it would "continue to work with all parties to design an approach that maximizes value for the company's creditors through the pursuit of a confirmable plan of reorganization and enhanced the financial strength of the reorganized company."
A LyondellBasell spokesman said a valuation has yet to be put on the company in connection with any bankruptcy reorganization plan and declined to comment on any price associated with Reliance's offer. Reliance couldn't immediately be reached.
Lyondell Chemical Co. and the U.S. operations of LyondellBasell filed for bankruptcy in January amid a cash crunch and falling sales.
Lyondell also faces a lawsuit filed by unsecured creditors alleging that Basell's 2007 buyout left the company with unmanageable debt. LyondellBasell carried more than $20 billion in debt after the deal. The LyondellBasell spokesman said that dispute is "interfering" with the company's ability to exit bankruptcy protection. "Until those two parties resolve their differences, we do not expect to be in a position to file an amended plan of reorganization," the spokesman said.
------------
Nov 9, 2009 The Economic
Times (India)
RIL closes in on big-bang overseas acquisition
Reliance Industries (RIL), India’s largest private sector company
by market capitalisation and sales, is close to announcing a
major overseas acquisition.
If all goes according to plan, RIL is looking to do so before its
annual general meeting on November 17, a source close to the
development said.
The likely target is a part of the assets owned by troubled
petrochemical major LyondellBasell, which is undergoing
reorganisation under the protection of a US court. "The
intent is certainly to make an announcement on the day of the AGM
or very close to it but that depends on how the talks progress,”
one person familiar
with the transaction said.
Jal Irani, head of research at Macquarie Securities, told ET the
deal had synergies for RIL. "RIL will enjoy a lot of
synergies if it acquires LyondellBasell. It will benefit from
state-of-the-art technologies of LyondellBasell. Besides, its
marketing and distribution network come in handy. LyondellBasell
will provide a ready market for RIL and RIL may turn it around if
it is able to source feedstock at a cheaper rate." He
refused to comment on the size of the deal.
The fact that RIL may make a large buy outside India has been in
the public domain for some time. In an interview with ET NOW last
month, RIL’s chairman Mukesh Ambani had said
that an overseas acquisition was one of the options as the
company sought new growth opportunities after the completion of
the Jamnagar refinery and the start of production of natural gas
from the Krishna Godavari basin.
Maurice Bannayan, a senior official in RIL’s refinery business, had been
recently quoted in agency reports as saying that RIL was
considering overseas acquisitions in the US and Europe.
