March 31 COVID-19 Impact Report: Outages, Derates, Shutdowns and More

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Industrial Info's daily COVID-19 Impact Report gives you the latest inside intelligence on outages, derates, shutdowns, closures, delays and more caused by the pandemic, across the global energy and industrial landscape.

Petrochemical Highlights
Eastman has partnered with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) and Austin Peay State University to support the local production of 10,000 protective face shields for medical personnel in the state capital of Nashville. Eastman has donated enough rolls of PETG film to produce 10,000 face shields in response to a shortage of materials.

LyondellBasell will slow the pace of construction for its PO-TBA plant in Channelview, Texas.

In Baytown, Texas, Covestro has quarantined two full shifts due to possible COVID-19 cases, but it is still running and waiting for confirmation of test results for key personnel required to maintain operations.

South Korea's SK Global Chemical Company Limited will permanently close its 440 million-pound-per-year Ethylene Unit 1 (NCC) at its Ulsan complex at the end of December, 2020, due to oversupply in the region.

Ferro Coatings Resins has temporarily shut down its chemical manufacturing plant in South Africa due to the ongoing lockdowns throughout the country as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The operations are expected to resume by the end of April.

AlzChem AG of Germany has placed its Agro Chemicals Unit Addition project on hold due to COVID-19.


Petroleum Refining Highlights
Rate reductions and shutdowns run roughshod across much of the globe as refiners cope with falling demand.

ExxonMobil has shut down the 90,000-barrel-per-day (BBL/d) Crude PSLA 7 Unit and continues with a 20% rate reduction throughout the remainder of its 500,000-BBL/d refinery in Baton Rouge. Also in Louisiana, Shell reduced rates by 20% at its 230,000-BBL/d refinery in Convent.

In Scotland, PetroIneos Manufacturing Scotland Limited has shut down two crude units at its 215,000-BBL/d Grangemouth Refinery.

In India, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited has reduced rates at its 320,000-BBL/d Kochi Refinery, but full throughput is expected to resume by April 14.



Power Highlights
The COVID-19 virus outbreak is expected to slow the shift to renewable energy substantially. Economic contractions and stay-at-home orders are lowering electricity demand. Industry revenues are falling as utilities suspend shutoffs, delay rate increases and experience supply-chain disruptions. Falling oil and gas prices make these fossil-fuel options more attractive.

Electricity demand is continuing to fall across the country. In New York, demand is down 7%; New England is down 5%; PJM grid demand is down 4%; and in California, demand is down 5%.



Oil & Gas Pipeline Highlights
The Mountain Valley Pipeline project, a 303-mile natural gas pipeline system that runs from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia, has been delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. All construction has been halted and non-essential personnel are working from home.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.