Chemical news · Three minutes a day
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Lead Story
Albemarle Appoints New CEO After 7 YearsAlbemarle Corp. has appointed Ragnar Udd as its new president and CEO, effective February 1, 2027, succeeding Kent Masters. Udd brings extensive experience from BHP Group in global resources and commercial leadership.
Engro Holdings agreed to sell its 56.19% stake in Engro Polymer & Chemicals to Lotte Chemical Pakistan for approximately $70.8 million. The deal integrates EPCL's PVC and chlor-alkali assets into Lotte's portfolio pending regulatory approval.
AGP Group appointed Nick O’Kane, a veteran with three decades of experience in global energy and commodities markets, as co-CEO to accelerate expansion in renewable energy and infrastructure.
Zijin Mining VP Xie Xionghui noted at the UN summit that global ESG trends are diverging, with Chinese firms increasing focus amidst geopolitical disruptions affecting mineral supply chains. Emerging markets are also prioritizing ESG standards.
Hedge fund Citadel is negotiating to acquire U.S. shale oil assets, including WildFire Energy, to expand into physical production amid high crude prices and geopolitical tensions.
Wacker Chemie risks closing its Tennessee polysilicon plant after new U.S. trade policies drove away customers, highlighting challenges in protecting domestic semiconductor and solar material supply chains.
SK Innovation announced plans to fully absorb its battery separator subsidiary SK IE Technology to alleviate financial pressure and optimize operations. The merger involves consolidating production capacity at a Polish base while closing aging facilities.
The 2026 International CCUS Technology Conference opened in Astana with over 230 delegates from global governments and enterprises. Key industry players like Sinopec and BASF emphasized collaboration on carbon capture technologies to support green energy transitions.
Shell and Engie signed a licensing deal for the KerEAUzen project in Le Havre, targeting 70,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel annually by 2030 using green hydrogen and captured CO2. This €1.2–1.7 billion investment marks a key engineering milestone for European e-fuels.
The UK government confirms North Sea oil and gas will remain vital for decades while the Jackdaw field approval decision awaits final determination. Operated by Shell and Equinor, the project aims to boost domestic supply amidst declining production and increased LNG import reliance.
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