Company News

Specialist oil and gas project management company EPC Offshore has appointment a new head of business development to expand the firm’s customer base across the North Sea and internationally.

US-based aluminum giant Alcoa expects aluminum demand to increase 7% to 49.4Mt in 2013, up 1% from the 6% growth experienced in 2012, according to CEO Klaus Kleinfeld. The bump in global demand will be bolstered by an 11% expansion in demand from China, as well as strong growth from Brazil (3%), Russia (1%) and India (3%), Kleinfeld said during a conference call to discuss the company's financial results. The change in demand from North America and Europe should remain relatively similar to last year, with North America seeing a 4% increase in demand (equal to the 2012 growth figure) and European demand, which fell by 2% in 2012, declining by just 1% year-on-year in 2013. Globally, the company is looking at growth in all of its end markets this year, Kleinfeld said. As a result of the expected demand growth, Alcoa is projecting a 200,000t alumina deficit and a 535,000t aluminum surplus in 2013.

The New Year auspiciously rolled out with international consulting and research firm Kline & Company announcing the promotion of Geeta Agashe, a highly respected authority within the lubricants, base oils, and petroleum specialties market, to Senior Vice President of Petroleum & Energy on Kline Management Consulting team.

Mechanical engineering company, EnerMech, is to open a second Norwegian base as part of a GBP 3 million investment to grow its Scandinavian business.

EnerMech Ltd has stepped up its presence in the African oil and gas sector with the GBP 3 million acquisition of heavy load testing company Water Weights International SA (Pty) Ltd.

Rapidly-growing subsea specialist ROVOP has been recognised for its remarkable achievements in offshore renewables by winning the Business Growth award at last night’s Scottish Green Energy Awards.

Global energy services company Senergy has received a special commendation at the 2012 ITP Oil & Gas Middle East Awards in recognition of a donation of software licences it made to the Petroleum Institute of Abu Dhabi.

BASF has announced plans to build two new ready-to-mold feedstock facilities for Catamold®, in the Asia Pacific region.

Held from 11-14 November in Abu Dhabi, the 2012 ADIPEC again proved to be a superb platform for the oil and gas industries in the Middle East. Combining a leading conference as well as a major exhibition, the ADIPEC draws in supply companies and visitors from around the globe. Stainless Steel World used the occasion to talk to some of the alloy suppliers active in the region.