Refining
Memorial Day holiday travel projected higher in US, may raise gasoline demand
The American Automobile Association (AAA) group projects 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, an increase of 1.2% from a year ago. The survey found 53% said recent increases in gasoline prices would not impact their plans.
Aramco, Sumitomo approve second phase of Saudi petrochemicals expansion
Sumitomo Chemical and Saudi Aramco are moving ahead with phase two of their Petro Rabigh integrated refinery and petrochemicals expansion in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia. Each new plant will be brought on stream as it becomes available for operation, beginning the first half of 2016, the companies said.
Husky union workers call for strike at Ohio refinery
Union workers have called a strike at the Husky Energy refinery in Lima, Ohio, leaving the refiner's management to run the 150,000 bpd plant, the USW union said Friday.
US refiners set to begin exports to West Africa
The US industry will soon expand its exporting to include gasoline sales to West Africa, predicts Valero CEO Bill Klesse. "That's something we haven't seen before," he said.
Petrobras targets domestic market for refining unit
Costs associated with transporting oil products to hubs in Europe, the US and Asia make it less practical than using production domestically in Brazil, an executive said.
BP to pay $400mn for pollution controls in Whiting refinery settlement with US
BP has agreed to pay an $8 million penalty and invest more than $400 million to install pollution controls and cut emissions from its petroleum refinery in Whiting, Indiana, according to the US EPA. The Whiting refinery has an operating capacity of 405,000 bpd, making it the 6th-largest in the US.
WR Grace eyes new China refining catalysts plant
W. R. Grace has signed an agreement with the Qingdao Bureau of Commerce for an investment in China to manufacture fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and other related products for the refining industry. Construction dates and financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.
European refiners under pressure from Middle East refining boom - Eni
Eni said a refining boom in the Middle East is putting pressure on European refiners because the Middle East producers, who have lower costs, are now entering the market in Europe - especially the Mediterranean. The official said output at Eni's Sicilian refinery of Gela had already fallen sharply.
PetroSA partners with China's Sinopec to build new South Africa refinery
South Africa's national oil company PetroSA will partner with China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) to build a new refinery that was originally planned to produce several thousand barrels of oil a day and cost several billion dollars to build. PetroSA first announced plans for the refinery in 2008.
Phillips 66 licenses technology to Reliance for India gasification project
The planned gasification plants at the massive refining complex in Jamnagar will process petroleum coke and coal into synthesis gas for use as chemical feedstock.
- U.S. firms to develop Syria energy masterplan after Trump lifts sanctions 7/18
- Russian seaborne diesel exports for July 1–15 fall 6% month-on-month 7/18
- INEOS invests £30 MM to slash emissions at Hull site by 75% 7/18
- Mitsubishi Chemical Group invests in Licella Holdings, oil conversion technology using supercritical water 7/18
- BASF and Equinor sign 10-yr natural gas supply agreement 7/18
- Oil prices rise after new EU sanctions on Russia 7/18
