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Refining

Egypt looks for fuel supplies from Arab producers to ease local shortage

Egypt is still talking with some Arab oil and gas producers to secure fuel supplies to ease its shortages. The negotiations with Qatar, Iraq, and Libya, members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are still ongoing in order to secure the best formula to serve the interest of Egypt.

US monthly oil demand inches higher despite sharp decline in gasoline use

Gains in demand for distillate fuel [diesel/heating oil] and catch-all other oils, which include feedstocks for petrochemical plants, offset the fall in gasoline use to nudge total demand higher.

Valero targets more North American crude supply for Quebec refinery

Valero plans to invest between $106 million and $192 million to overhaul its handling capacity at the Quebec refinery, including increased tankage and new crude carrying ships, in order to increase access to North American crude. That will provide it with a competitive advantage.

India's Essar Oil to supply fuels to PetroChina after receiving Chinese loan

The likely deal with China Development Bank will be supported by an agreement to supply fuel products from Essar's refinery to PetroChina. Essar group said it has been in discussions with several international banks, including Chinese banks, to replace its local debt.

SOCAR awards engineering contracts to construct largest Turkey refinery

A consortium comprised of Itochu and foreign firms won an order from the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic to build Turkey's largest oil refinery in the western city of Izmir. Other members of the consortium are Tecnicas Reunidas, Saipem and GS Engineering and Construction.

WEC unveils new South Texas refinery project

The Whitetail refinery site was chosen to take advantage of production from the nearby Eagle Ford Shale play, according to WEC officials. This is the first of several planned operations by WEC in the region.

Flood of Russian diesel puts European refiners under pressure

HP Editorial Staff: HP News Services

Russia's slowing domestic economy is leading to a flood of Russian diesel exports flowing toward Europe, which could soon force a new round of European refinery closures.

Canadian Prime Minister Harper takes Keystone XL lobbying campaign to US

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper took his case for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline to the United States, burnishing Canada's environmental credentials and saying the arguments for the project are "overwhelmingly on the side of approval."

Brazil environment leaders join Petrobras to appeal refinery work stoppage

Petrobras was informed that a federal judge suspended environmental licenses granted by INEA for the refinery under construction in Rio de Janeiro state. The judge ruled that IBAMA had jurisdiction over licensing the project, forcing a halt in construction until IBAMA issued new licenses.

HollyFrontier reports unplanned outages at Kansas, Wyoming refineries

HollyFrontier disclosed that unplanned outages at two of its refineries will reduce its crude throughput in the 2Q by about 7.5% from what it had been expecting. HollyFrontier spokeswoman Julia Heidenreich said the company felt the event was material and should be reported to shareholders.