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Europe

Axens wins takover bid on Heurtey Petrochem

Following the reopening of an offer on Heurtey Petrochem from Jan. 16-27, Axens now holds 4,354,286 shares and 4,428,786 voting rights of Heurtey Petrochem in concert with IFP Investments. This represents 88.6% of the share capital and 88.3% of the voting rights. The settlement date of the Offer will take place on Feb. 6.

Oil prices fall after sharp rise in US stockpiles

SINGAPORE/TOKYO (Reuters) -- Oil prices fell on Thursday after official data showed US crude and gasoline stockpiles rose sharply, although signs that OPEC and other producers are holding the line on output cuts helped support prices.

Industry Metrics

European refinery margins weakened due to slower gasoline export opportunities, despite the colder weather.

Global Project Data

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

According to Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database, new project announcements have averaged 11 per month since mid-2016.

Business Trends: Anticipated market and pricing impacts from new marine fuel regulations

EnSys Energy: Tallett, M.  |  Witmer, T.  |  Dunbar, D.
Navigistics Consulting: St. Amand, D.

In October 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that it will implement a new regulation that calls for the sulfur content in marine fuels to be reduced from 3.5% to 0.5%. The new regulation will go into effect in January 2020. This action by the IMO will have a profound impact on the maritime and refining industries worldwide, as well as on the environment. This month’s Business Trends section provides an overview on the anticipated impacts of the IMO’s decision on petroleum product markets.

Industry Perspectives: Global desulfurization capacity to skyrocket over the long term

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

According to OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2016, desulfurization capacity additions represent the largest capacity increases among all process units to 2040. This trend is due to increased regulations on the amount of sulfur allowed in transportation fuels.

Refining: Europe’s refineries: Walking dead or happy valley?

Opportune LLP: Mars, T.

Unloved and increasingly unneeded, Europe’s oil refining sector has been under duress for an astonishing four decades.

Editorial Comment: The future of refining lies in clean fuels

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Each year, <sub>Hydrocarbon Processing</sub> devotes an issue to the topic of clean fuels—and rightly so. As the world continues to welcome more vehicles on the road, and as emerging economies invest in civil, industrial and energy projects, global fuels demand is forecast to increase through the end of the decade.

Neste sells Pietarsaari terminal to Swedish company Wibax Ab

Neste has sold its terminal in Pietarsaari to the Swedish company Wibax Ab. The terminal has not been used for Neste's own operations for many years because the tanks and other facilities are not suitable for storing oil products without investments.

GE O&G '17: Snam CEO foresees LNG boost from 30 new markets

FLORENCE, ITALY—Near the conclusion of GE Oil & Gas' Annual Meeting 2017, Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam Group, spoke on Tuesday about fueling the future with natural gas.