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Europe

UGI to buy BP's Polish LPG distribution unit

UGI Corp. subsidiary Flaga GmbH has reached a definitive agreement to acquire BP's LPG distribution business in Poland.

Statoil and Wintershall sign strategic gas supply agreement

The companies agreed to a 10-year sales agreement for the delivery of 45 billion cubic meters (Bcm) of gas.

Repsol looks to Argentina for YPF compensation

The chairman of Spanish oil major Repsol said the company hopes to arrive at an agreement with the Argentinean government for the nationalization of Repsol subsidiary YPF in April. Argentina seized control of YPF after accusing Repsol of not investing enough in the unit.

Aramco picks Técnicas Reunidas for engineering on Saudi refining projects

Técnicas Reunidas will build a hydrocracker plant and a diesel hydrotreater facility for an upcoming 400,000 bpd refinery and marine terminal project that Saudi Aramco is developing at Jazan, in the kingdom's southwest on the Red Sea coast. The facilities are scheduled to be operational by 2017.

LyondellBasell to restore idled German LDPE line

Startup of the new line, out since January 2012, is targeted for mid-2013. The Wesseling LDPE line has historically been used to produce LDPE grades for healthcare applications. The company says restoration of this LDPE line will enhance its ability to supply an important market.

Pertamina may buy LyondellBasell French refinery

The LyondellBasell refinery is under restructuring and its refining units are being mothballed through to the end of 2013 after the company was unable to find a buyer. The refinery would be the third to stop operations in France over the past years amid low demand in the region.

BASF to build emissions catalysts plant in Poland

Construction of the new 40,000 square meter facility – BASF’s largest in Europe – will begin before the end of 2012. The plant will start production in the first quarter of 2014. Additional expansion will follow, raising the total investment volume for the project to approximately €150 million.

Shell names Fluor downstream engineering partner for Europe, Middle East

Under terms of the agreement, Fluor will provide design, project and construction management, home-office and site-based engineering services. The agreement includes an option to be extended for another five years and opportunities to include Shell's upstream projects and other geographic regions.

Relief valve and flare action items: What plant engineers should know

Smith & Burgess LLC: Smith, D.
Smith and Burgess LLC: Burgess, J.

This article can help the plant engineer review the concerns developed by the design engineer. Implementing field modifications without performing such a review is costly and exposes a facility to unjustified risks.

Surviving and thriving in era of enhanced OSHA PSM audits

SSOE Group: Reese, C.
Midland Engineering: Taylor, B.

The US agency is developing special emphasis programs to target specific industries, notably refining and chemicals, with owners facing rigid inspections and stiffer fines.