Page 152 - CW E-Magazine (13-2-2024)

News from Abroad

POOLING RESOURCES
Idemitsu Kosan to consolidate research functions

at new innovation centre planned in Chiba

Japanese refi ning and petrochemi- and co-creation among researchers, and
cals fi rm, Idemitsu Kosan, has an- open laboratory space that allows for
nounced plans to construct an innova- joint R&D with partners worldwide.
tive centre within its Chiba complex,
which is home to its largest core petro- The Chiba Complex area is currently
leum and petrochemical manufacturing engaging in efforts such as validation
centre. towards manufacturing/supply of SAF
(sustainable aviation fuel), petrochemi-
The company plans to aggregate Of these, most domestic research func- cal recycling with used plastics, and
laboratories researching production tions will be aggregated in the new validation towards commercial pro-
technology, development technology, innovation centre, centred around the duction of lithium solid electrolytes.
etc. that currently exist in multiple loca- corporate research department, which The innovation centre will also strive to
tions in the proposed innovation centre focuses on medium-to-long-term co-create synergies in these areas.
to establish a cross-organisational R&D themes that contribute to GHG reduc-
framework and strengthen coordination tion and resource circulation, and the To date, the company has expanded
with third parties. research division of the functional from petroleum and petrochemical
materials business, which handles manufacturing process development to
The total investment is forecasted to highly functional materials. achieve technological innovation and
exceed 50-bn yen ($340-mn) and con- social implementation in the functional
struction is expected to be completed The centre will include a fl exible materials domain with technologies
during fi scal year 2027. The Idemitsu laboratory that can adapt rapidly to developed in-house, including OLED
Group currently has laboratories in 13 future changes in the environment, one- materials, engineering plastics, and
domestic and four overseas locations. room offi ces that promote collaboration lithium solid electrolytes.
PROJECT UPDATE
Formosa wins appeal, removing one hurdle to petchem

project in Louisiana

Taiwan’s Formosa Petrochemical 2021, and environmental groups vow to environmental impacts were avoided
has successfully appealed a 2020 continue fi ghting the project. and/or minimised as much as possible
Louisiana district court ruling that consistent with the public welfare,” it
threatened to kill the company’s plan to The lower court erred in fi nd- states.
build a $9.4-bn petrochemical complex ing that LDEQ had failed to meet its
in the US state. obligation to balance environmental, FG LA, the subsidiary of Formosa
economic and social impacts of the Petrochemical planning to build the
The decision, issued by the Loui- project, according to the ruling. plant, welcomed the decision.
siana Court of Appeal for the First “DEQ’s decision to grant Formosa the
Circuit, reinstates air permits granted to fi fteen permits was not in violation The Sunshine Project, which was
the project by the Louisiana Department of any constitutional or statutory law originally slated for start-up in 2024,
of Environmental Protection (LDEQ). and was not arbitrary or capricious or would include a 1.2-mtpa ethane-fed
However, a key federal permit awaits characterised by abuse of discretion steam cracker, a 600-ktpa propane
completion of an environmental or unwarranted exercise of discretion. dehydrogenation unit, a 600-ktpa poly-
impact assessment by the US Army DEQ reasonably and within its vast propylene plant, linear low-density (LLD)
Corp. of Engineers that was ordered in discretion determined that any adverse and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)

152 Chemical Weekly February 13, 2024

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