ENERGY

Occidental to Sell Plastics Resin Manufacturer: Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum Corp. will sell its Texas high-density polyethylene plants to Houston-based Lyondell Petrochemical Corp. for $400 million. Occidental said it expects $350 million in after-tax proceeds from the sale, which should be completed by May 15. The company plans to use the proceeds to lower its $5.8 billion in debt. The company retains the core of its chemical business, which produces vinyls such as the polyvinyl chloride used in plumbing and other plastics. Occidental also announced the sale of $29 million worth of oil and natural gas assets in Canada and of some petroleum-producing properties in Pakistan.