Europe
Gazprom Neft implementing advanced process control systems at Moscow refinery
An advanced process control (APC) system is being implemented at the Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery, directed at increasing effectiveness and optimizing the operation of the plant’s production facilities. The new system has been installed throughout 2016 at the plant’s crude distillation units, catalytic reforming units, gas fractionating facilities, gas-fractionation and hydrotreatment facilities for diesel fuels.
Rosneft-led consortium plans to complete Essar acquisition next month
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- A consortium led by Russian oil major Rosneft plans to finally complete its $12.9 billion acquisition of India's Essar Oil next month, two Russian sources close to the deal told Reuters.
S.Korea's SK Energy buys Russian Urals crude for first time in 10 years
SEOUL (Reuters) -- SK Energy has bought Russian Urals crude for the first time in 10 years, a spokeswoman for the parent company of South Korea's top refiner said on Friday.
Europe's refiners cash in despite OPEC oil cuts
LONDON (Reuters) -- A global deal to cut oil production has had the unintended consequence of aiding Europe's older refineries by bolstering supplies of light crude while curbing shipments of the heavier grades favored by more advanced plants in other continents.
Clariant CEO plays down speculation of plastics unit sale
ZURICH (Reuters) -- Clariant's Chief Executive Hariolf Kottmann has doused speculation the Swiss specialty chemical maker could soon unload its plastics and coatings business and use the proceeds to buy a big, faster-growing target.
BASF foam chemical plant suffers further setback
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- BASF has suffered a further setback at its Ludwigshafen plant which makes materials for soft foams used in mattresses and car seats, saying a technical defect in a new reactor would reduce output into next year.
Oil slips further below $56 on report of US inventory jump
LONDON (Reuters) -- Oil slipped further below $56 a barrel on Wednesday as an industry report showing a large rise in US crude inventories signaled ample supply, even as OPEC achieves record compliance with its supply-cut accord.
Field narrows in bidding for Italy's TotalErg petrol stations
MILAN/LONDON (Reuters) -- The field of prospective bidders for the Italian petrol station network belonging to Total and Italian energy group Erg has narrowed, leaving only a handful of interested parties undertaking due diligence checks on the business, sources familiar with the matter said.
Rosneft faces $100-MM bill to boost safety at Bashneft refineries
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia's top oil producer Rosneft will have to spend up to $100 million to improve standards at ageing refineries it bought last year, industry sources have told Reuters.
China steps up Russian oil imports as teapots buy Urals crude
MOSCOW/SINGAPORE (Reuters) -- Russian crude imports to China have risen in early 2017 as the country's independent, or teapot, refiners have expanded their diet to include the Urals grade, trade sources said on Tuesday.
- Wood to design upgrades at Ecopetrol refinery for cleaner fuels production 6/24
- Saudi Arabia's CMDC (BCI group) awards thyssenkrupp nucera key contract for chlor-alkali plant expansion in Jubail 6/24
- Mideast conflict turbocharges diesel prices, squeezing Europe 6/23
- Pertamina is looking to import > 200,000/month of 90-octane gasoline 6/23
- Japan will mitigate potential gasoline price spike, prime minister says 6/23
- Linde to invest $400 MM to build the world-scale air separation unit 6/23
