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Refining

Russia’s first catalyst test center opens at the Gazprom Neft refinery

Gazprom Neft has opened an engineering center for the testing of secondary-refining catalysts in Omsk. Russia’s first ever pilot facility for catalytic cracking has begun work within the center, allowing catalysts to be tested on various types of feedstock, as well as identifying the conditions and regimes most appropriate for catalytic cracking facilities throughout Russia’s refineries.

Saudi Arabia crude exports fall, refined products rose

DUBAI (Reuters) -- Saudi Arabia's crude oil exports fell in October by 176,000 bpd from the month before, despite high production, but its refined products shipments rose as the kingdom expands its refining power, official data showed on Monday.

Idemitsu buys fewer Showa Shell shares after family opposes deal

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Idemitsu Kosan Co said on Monday it completed the purchase of just under a third of rival refiner Showa Shell Sekiyu KK, cutting the amount of shares it planned to buy after facing opposition from Idemitsu's founding family.

Indonesia assigns Pertamina to build Bontang refinery

JAKARTA (Reuters) -- The Indonesian government has assigned state energy company PT Pertamina to build and operate a refinery at Bontang in East Kalimantan in a bid to speed up development of the project, a state official said on Friday.

As bruising year ends, US refiners brace for more costly regulations

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- US refiners such as Valero Energy Corp and Marathon Petroleum Corp are bracing for stricter, smog-busting gasoline regulations set to hit in January, threatening more headwinds for an industry that has just endured its least profitable year since the shale boom started five years ago.

Thai IRPC to invest $280 MM to expand petchem output capacity

BANGKOK (Reuters) -- Thailand's integrated oil refiner IRPC Pcl plans to invest $280 million next year with an aim to expand the production capacity of a petrochemical product and boost its long-term earnings growth, a top executive said.

Shell, Varo in talks on German refinery stake sale

LONDON (Reuters) -- Royal Dutch Shell and Varo Energy are in advanced talks on the sale of Shell's 37.5% stake in the 220,000 barrels per day refinery in Schwedt, Germany, they said on Thursday.

Tecnicas Reunidas wins Aramco Ras Tanura clean fuels contract

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) -- Spanish engineering and construction firm Tecnicas Reunidas has won a contract from Saudi Aramco to build a clean fuels unit at its Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia, three industry sources said on Thursday.

CB&I announces alkylation and hydrocracking awards in China

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- CB&I announced it has been awarded two contracts for a grassroots refinery in China. The scope of work includes the license and engineering design of an alkylation unit and two Chevron Lummus Global (CLG) diesel hydrocracking units along with catalyst supply.

CNOOC to start new Huizhou refinery in Q2, plans Saudi supply

BEIJING (Reuters) -- China National Offshore Oil Corp, or CNOOC, is expected to start operating a new refinery in southern China in the second quarter of 2017, with Saudi Arabia as the potential crude supplier, three sources familiar with the plan said on Wednesday.