Americas
Tesoro to pay record US penalty for environmental violations at refineries
Tesoro, an independent US refiner, didn't comply with recordkeeping, reporting, sampling and testing requirements at four refineries producing conventional gasoline, in violation of the Clean Air Act, the EPA said. The agency said the penalty was the largest ever issued for violations like these.
Kinder Morgan cancels California oil pipeline plan as refiners opt for rail
Efforts to woo Valero Energy, Tesoro and other West Coast refiners to take oil from the proposed 277,000-bpd Freedom pipeline ultimately failed after refiners decided taking crude via railcar gave them more flexibility. Kinder Morgan will switch its focus to crude-by-rail projects in Texas and California.
Phillips 66 temporarily shuts Texas aromatics unit
Refinery operations personnel routed the emissions caused by the event to several of the plant's safety flare stacks intermittently throughout the day and worked to bring Unit 35 back on line. The emissions event lasted just under 12 hours, the filing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said.
Linde to build new air separation unit, gasification train near Houston
The new plants are scheduled to come onstream in the first quarter of 2015. The ASU will be the largest operated by Linde in the US, and the addition of a new gasification plant will create the world’s largest gas-based partial oxidation complex for the production of syngas products for petrochemicals.
Mexichem buys vinyl resin business from PolyOne
Assets transferred in the sale were strictly those related to resin production and included manufacturing plants in Pedricktown, New Jersey; Henry, Illinois; and a resin research facility in Avon Lake, Ohio.
Yokogawa partners with Brazil's Petrobras on field wireless technology
Through this partnership, Yokogawa will provide Petrobras technical support on the use of field wireless communications and have the opportunity to demonstrate its field wireless products.
Williams, Boardwalk unveil plan to transport NGLs from US shale plays
By combining new construction with an existing pipeline, Williams and Boardwalk believe that the Bluegrass Pipeline could be placed into service and begin serving customers sooner than other options. The companies expect that the planned project could be placed into service in late 2015.
Cheniere adds two more Sabine Pass LNG trains
Cheniere issued contractor Bechtel a full notice to proceed with construction of Trains 3 and 4, according to company CEO Charif Souki. Construction work began last August on the first two trains, which are about 30% complete. Initial LNG deliveries are expected to begin in late 2015.
Air Products plans new Chile industrial gases plant
Antofagasta's new plant will produce oxygen, nitrogen and argon. Its construction and the Graneros expansion will mean an investment of more than $15 million. The new capacity follows the opening of a new plant in Puerto Varas in 2012 to support local industries, including the growing aquaculture market.
EU slaps anti-dumping duties on biodiesel imported from Argentina, Indonesia
EU biodiesel makers have long complained that subsidies and incentives for biodiesel makers in Argentina and Indonesia give them an unfair advantage. Argentina's Foreign Ministry denounced the duties as an attempt to shield EU companies from more competitive Argentine producers.
- Transition Industries signs agreements for the Pacifico Mexinol Project, an ultra-low carbon chemical production facility 7/3
- Bangkok Airways introduces SAF on commercial flights 7/3
- EcoCeres secures SAF contract with British Airways to help reduce carbon emissions 7/3
- Air Liquide to invest up to $200 MM in Louisiana, U.S. to support industrial growth 7/3
- MOL completes the acquisition of LBC Tank Terminals 7/3
- BHP awards charter contracts for two ammonia dual-fueled vessels 7/3
