Europe
Evonik, BioAmber agree to develop catalysts from bio-succinic acid
Germany-based Evonik Industries signed an agreement with US renewable company BioAmber to develop and manufacture catalysts for the production of BDO, THF and GBL from bio-based succinic acid. In parallel, BioAmber and Evonik have started to develop a new generation of BDO catalysts.
API to shut Falconara Marittima refinery for 2013
Italy-based API Anonima Petroli Italiana SpA, the refiner and service-station operator also known as Api, will shut its Falconara Marittima refinery from January for a year to revamp its power engine. The refinery, located on the Adriatic coast, has a capacity of 85,000 bpd.
BP, Russian partners discuss stake sale in TNK-BP crude oil venture
The talks set up an end game for what has proved to be a highly profitable, but tempestuous BP adventure in Russia, one that could yet draw in other major players in the country's state-dominated energy sector.
Jacobs to supply gas heat exchangers for INEOS UK sulfuric acid plant
INEOS selected Jacobs' proprietary Chemetics radial flow gas-gas heat exchanger design over other available designs, citing the “most appropriate design and technical solution” for its plant. The equipment is expected to be fabricated at Jacobs' facility in Pickering, Ontario.
BP to commission delayed UK biorefinery this year
The construction of the biorefinery, one of the world's largest, was due to be completed by late spring. The delays are due to BP ensuring it is "dotting every i and crossing every t," said Phillip New, BP Biofuels CEO.
Foster Wheeler inks engineering pact for UK fish oil processing plant
Foster Wheeler’s role as the EPCm contractor includes detailed design, procurement and contracts management on behalf of EPAX, and also the provision of project, construction, pre-commissioning and validation management services. The contract value was not disclosed.
Total sees improving European refining margins
The $38.20/ton margin nearly doubled the $20.90/ton figure in the first quarter of this year, Total said in its quarterly chart of main indicators. European refining economics have been relatively weak for years, but margins have greatly improved in recent months amid the closure of several facilities.
INEOS licenses PE, PP technology to petrochemical project of Russia's Rosneft
All VNHK units will incorporate INEOS’ polymer technology advances and will ensure a competitive advantage for petrochemical complex customers in both domestic and global markets. Engineering work is now underway.
Global refined oil product demand to lag supply over next two years - IEA
More than 1 million bpd of new refining capacity is likely to come online this year, and a further 1.3 million bpd in 2013, compared with 400,000 bpd in 2011. The additions to capacity will grossly outpace demand growth for oil products, which the IEA estimates will average 800,000 bpd this year.
Statoil shuts Norway LNG plant after water leak
Statoil said production at the plant - the world's most northern and Europe's first LNG export facility - was halted after water leaked into gas dryers, with water ingression causing ice formation in the cooling circuit.
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