Americas
Trump EPA pick says backs biofuels program, but open to tweaks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said on Wednesday he would honor the intent of the US biofuels program, but remained open to tweaking it.
Axeon plans to shutter New Jersey asphalt refinery
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Axeon Specialty Products plans on shutting down its 75,000-bpd asphalt refinery in Paulsboro, New Jersey, as early as this summer, according to a local politician and sources familiar with the company's plans.
US EPA denies petition to waive advanced biofuels requirements
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- US environmental regulators have denied a request from oil refiners to waive some of their advanced biofuels use requirements from 2016, in what is likely to be one of the Obama administration's final decisions on the controversial program.
Braskem starts up new US polyethylene plant
LA PORTE, Texas – Braskem, the largest thermoplastics resins producer in the Americas, announced the startup of its new UTEC Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) production plant at its La Porte, Texas site. Braskem sells high-performance UHMWPE under the trade name UTEC, developed and produced through Braskem's proprietary technologies.
Additech launches diesel fuel additive test market
HOUSTON – Additech announced the pilot market testing of a newly developed additive engineered specifically for diesel fuel, Additech Diesel Guard. The pilot test will begin on Jan. 23 at eight retail locations in five states in the US that provide a cross-section of seasonal driving conditions.
Novozymes cuts jobs, says US policy, Monsanto deal pose risks
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -- Enzymes maker Novozymes will cut 198 jobs and invest more in emerging markets, it said on Wednesday, adding it could time take to recapture past growth rates amid uncertainty over US renewable energy policy and the takeover of a key partner.
Oil price slides on prospect of rising US production
LONDON (Reuters) -- Oil prices fell on Wednesday on expectations that US producers would boost output, just as OPEC signaled that a global supply-reduction deal will shrink the oil glut this year.
Operations at Venezuela oil terminal 'recovered' after oil spill
CARACAS (Reuters) -- Shipping operations at one of three docks of Venezuela's main crude exporting port have "recovered" after a "minor" oil spill occurred over the weekend, state oil company PDVSA said on Wednesday, without saying how big the spill was.
US crude discount to Brent widens on Trump tax talk, OPEC
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- US oil prices hit their biggest discount to global benchmark Brent crude in five months on Tuesday as President-elect Donald Trump said an oil import tax plan would be too complex and as a global deal to reduce supply hits Middle East output.
Operations at Venezuelan oil terminal halted by spill
(Reuters) -- Shipping operations at one of three docks of Venezuela's main crude exporting port were halted after an oil spill occurred while loading a vessel bound for India, union and shipping sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
- NAPCOR releases 2024 PET recycling report highlighting system efficiency gains and continued strength of PET circularity 12/12
- OQ courts other partners for petrochemical complex in Oman as SABIC drops out 12/12
- Brazil's BNDES approves $71 MM for carbon storage project 12/12
- Cuba on edge as U.S. seizure of oil tanker puts supply at risk 12/12
- China oil demand to plateau between 2025 and 2030 12/12
- Germany's PCK refinery says no impact from pipeline leak 12/12

