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Refining

Bulgaria investigates possible fixing of fuel prices

The Commission for Protection of Competition is investigating the Bulgarian units of Royal Dutch Shell, OMV, Hellenic Petrolleum, Nis Petrol, Lukoil, Rompetrol and Bulgarian Petrol.

US refiners lose control of distillate stockpiles

US refineries have operated to maximize gasoline production, but in the process created an enormous and growing oversupply of distillate.

Syrian refinery takes hit as US leads new strikes against Islamic State

Near al-Hawl, five of the strikes hit two tactical units and destroyed seven buildings and a fighting position, while near Albu Kamal, two strikes hit a gas and oil separation plant and a refinery.

China seeks urban ban on high-sulfur diesel sales

The tighter fuel standards are an attempt to tackle air pollution. Emissions from automobiles, especially from diesel-burning trucks, are one of the main contributors to the choking smog in China.

IHS CERAWeek: Global refiners expect margins to drop from 2015 levels

HP Editorial Staff: HP News Services

This year, the IEA has said it expects demand growth of 1.2 million bpd, down from last year's unusually high rate, as the global economy slows and new car purchases decline.

Fluor opens craft training center on US Gulf Coast

The new training center supplements Fluor’s ongoing investments in craft workforce development. Fluor currently provides no cost, after-hours training at many of its jobsites.

Shell unveils changes to leadership, downstream structure in US, Canada

The Athabasca oil sands project and the Scotford upgrader in Canada will join Shell's global downstream organization under downstream director, John Abbott.

US refiner HollyFrontier shrinks loss as costs fall

Refining has remained a bright spot during the prolonged slump in oil prices due to healthy gasoline demand, bolstering the companies that turn cheap crude into gasoline and diesel.

China’s emergence as diesel exporter dampens Asian refining margins

The surge in Chinese shipments has been felt the most in the diesel market, where benchmark Asian margins recently slumped to 6-year lows following an almost 80% jump in Chinese exports.

Azerbaijan’s Socar aims to restart Iran fuel trades

Possibilities include trading refined products with Iran in the Gulf, where one option is to supply Iran with gasoline and to buy naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).