Biofuels
Brazil to maintain reduced ethanol mix in gasoline
Brazil's government will keep the amount of ethanol mixed with gasoline at reduced levels despite complaints about low prices for the biofuel, a government official told local business daily Valor Economico in an interview published Thursday. The government will meet with ethanol producers next week.
Origin Oil partners with US DoE on conversion of algae into renewable crude
Renewables firm OriginOil plans to co-develop an integrated system with the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for direct conversion of raw algae into a renewable crude oil that can be used by existing petroleum refineries.
HP Construction: South America
MODEC, Inc., has commissioned a UOP Separex membrane system for processing natural gas on a new floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The FPSO is using the Honeywell UOP Separex m..
Petrobras, Tereos mulling fuel ethanol production in Mozambique
Brazilian state-owned oil company Petroleo Brasileiro, or Petrobras, and French-controlled sugarcane miller Tereos Internacional said Wednesday they plan to study the possibility of producing and selling ethanol fuel in Mozambique. The two firms already operate a mill in the southern African country that crushes 1.2 million metric tons of sugarcane.
Pacific Ethanol increases stake in US biorefineries
Pacific Ethanol has entered into an agreement with a group of institutional investors to raise $8 million in financing while acquiring an additional 7% interest in four ethanol production facilities. Upon closing, the company's total ownership interest will increase to 34%, the company said.
Flint Hills acquires idled Nebraska biodiesel plant
Flint Hills Resources is acquiring an idled biodiesel plant in Beatrice, Neb., through a bankruptcy sale. The Beatrice plant was built in 2008 but was never in service. The plant is designed to produce 50 million gal/year of biodiesel.
Aeroméxico begins using Honeywell UOP biofuel on commercial routes
Honeywell’s UOP said that its Green Jet Fuel is powering Aeroméxico’s Mexico City to San José, Costa Rica route, marking one of the first uses of renewable fuels in everyday airplane passenger service. The Mexican aviation sector expects biofuels to account for 1% of the fuel used in Mexico by 2015 and 15% by 2020.
Advanced Refining expands Nevada GDiesel plant
Advanced Refining Concepts (ARC) has commenced construction on the third and fourth expansion phases of its Peru Heights GDiesel refinery in Nevada. The expansion, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012, will double the plant’s capacity to 400,000 gal/day of GDiesel.
Refining group names Albemarle top biodiesel firm
US-based specialty chemicals producer Albemarle was named biodiesel corporation of the year by the World Refining Association during the Biofuels 2011 annual meeting in Amsterdam. The award, which was presented to representatives from Albemarle's alternative fuel technologies (AFT) division, recognizes industry leaders that have made substantial contributions in the field of renewable fuels.
SABIC creates venture capital arm for technology investment
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) has announced the launch of a new global corporate venture capital arm, SABIC Ventures, in the Netherlands, with the primary goal of seeking out innovative technologies and businesses consistent with the company's global strategy.
- TotalEnergies extends its fuel price cap policy in France until the end of April 4/7
- Navigating the montan wax challenge with renewable alternatives for polymers 4/7
- AFR selects Axens as technology provider for Texas (U.S.) refinery 4/7
- Iran has attacked Saudi Arabia's Jubail petrochemical complex, IRGC says 4/7
- Iran's Marvdasht Petrochemical complex attacked by US and Israel 4/7
- Fluor awarded engineering and design contract for America First Refining's refinery in South Texas 4/7

