Biofuels
Petrobras inks ethanol supply contract
Petrobras Distribuidora (BR) and Petrobras Biocombustível (Biofuels) have executed with Açúcar Guarani S.A. (Guarani) a contract for the supply of up to 2.2 billion liters of ethanol during four years.
New process converts crude ethanol into bio-alkylate
Exelus, Inc. (www.exelusinc.com) has developed a process that converts low-cost, bio-derived, hydrous ethanol into “bio-alkylate”, a hydrocarbon fuel chemically identical to a conventional refinery blendstock called alkylate.
Pacific Ethanol to restart California ethanol facility
Pacific Ethanol, Inc., (PEI) plans to resume operations at its 60 million gpy facility in Stockton, California. PEI expects to be producing ethanol at Stockton in December 2010.
Shell blends biofuel for Scuderia Ferrari at South Korea Grand Prix
Shell has blended a second advanced biofuel into fuel supplied to Scuderia Ferrari for the last three races of the 2010 Formula One championship.
Sunoco to supply NASCAR with ethanol-blended race fuel
Sunoco, Inc. will supply the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) with a new high-performance fuel for the 2011 season. The new fuel, known as Sunoco Green E15, is a 15% ethanol blend that will be used in NASCAR's three national touring series.
EPA grants E15 waiver for newer vehicles
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has waived a limitation on selling fuel that is more than 10% ethanol for model year 2007 and newer cars and light trucks.
Neste Oil and Stora Enso launch impact assessment for renewable diesel plant
Neste Oil's and Stora Enso's joint venture, NSE Biofuels Oy, is to commence environmental impact assessments for a commercial-scale biorefinery at Porvoo and at Imatra in Finland.
Atlas Copco acquires gas treatment company
Atlas Copco Nederland B.V. has acquired Cirmac International B.V., a company specialized in biogas upgrading systems for the renewable energy industry and in gas treatment systems for the oil, gas and chemical industries.
Interest groups want biofuels tax incentives extended prior to US midterm elections
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA), in a joint letter to the US Senate Democratic and Republican Leadership, today urged the chamber to retroactively extend the biodiesel, renewable diesel, and alternative fuels tax credits through 2011 before adjourning for the upcoming midterm elections.
Biochemicals direct from biomass feedstocks
Zymetis announced recently that Genencor, a division of Danisco A/S, has initiated an effort to explore novel methods for producing biochemicals directly from biomass feedstocks through use of the unique marine microorganism under development by Zymetis.

- AVTL to develop ammonia terminal in Pipavav, India 6/20
- Chevron seeks buyers for 50% stake in Singapore refinery 6/20
- Asian refiners seek more Mideast oil after spot premiums jump on Israel-Iran conflict 6/20
- Mexican authorities discover clandestine mini-refinery in crackdown of illegal hydrocarbon trade 6/20
- Italy's Eni eyes new unit to manage oil refineries 6/20
- Inatech's Techoil implemented by Flint Hills Resources for a modern, integrated future 6/20