Refining
Chemtex awarded loan guarantee from US to build cellulosic ethanol refinery
Once operational, the facility is expected to convert 600,000 tpy of energy grasses into an estimated 20 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol using a proprietary enzymatic hydrolysis process. The plant will produce biofuels for eastern transportation markets using non-food biomass feedstocks.
Argentina files complaint against EU over Spanish blockage of biodiesel
Argentina's Foreign Ministry said Spain's rules were an attempt to stop developing countries from gaining more control of global value chains and evolving beyond their role as suppliers of raw materials, according to a statement. With the complaint, Spain now has 60 days to show its rules are fair.
US oil, gasoline demand slips to near four-year low
Total petroleum demand for the year to date was down 2.3%, according to the API. Gasoline demand fell more, down 2.2% from June and down 3.8% from July a year ago to hit the lowest July level since 1997. Despite weakening demand, refinery production remained strong.
EPA opens review into US corn ethanol mandate
The Environmental Protection Agency said it received formal requests from the governors of Arkansas and North Carolina to ease the renewable-fuel standard, triggering a 90-day review that could lead to the agency's first-ever decision to reduce or waive the mandate.
Canada newspaper owner proposes $13bn refinery
David Black, owner of the British Columbia community newspaper chain Black Press, said the refinery built near Kitimat would process crude oil from Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline into refined products, including gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel. The refinery would process 550,000 bpd of oil.
Honeywell develops fuel-saving flight management software for airliners
Some estimates place potential benefits at as much as 3% in savings on reduced fuel use. Others project as much as $200,000 in annual savings per plane while cruising long oceanic routes. United Continental Holdings is running demonstration flights to verify such estimates.
US appeals court rejects industry challenge to EPA ethanol blend decision
Trade groups representing the oil and auto industries had challenged the decision. Bob Greco, downstream director at the American Petroleum Institute, said it is "astounding that the court does not accept that refiners, who must comply with the ethanol mandate, have standing to bring this case."
Novozymes pressured by weak US biofuels market
Bioethanol production and profitability has been hampered by the drought in the US, which has pushed up the prices for corn, the main ingredient in the production of biofuel. Additional pressure has been added by a decline in overall fuel consumption in the US, the Novozymes executive said.
BASF joins collaboration to develop bio-acrylic acid
BASF, Cargill and Novozymes recently signed an agreement to develop bio-based technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable feedstocks. The annual global market volume of acrylic acid is around 4.5 million tons, with a value of $11 billion at the end of 2011.
Syntroleum secures EPA registration for renewable gasoline blendstock
Dynamic Fuels LLC, Syntroleum Corp.'s joint venture with Tyson Foods, has been granted Part 79 registration for its renewable gasoline blendstock 10 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- CTCI awarded $417-MM EPC contract to build ethylene storage in Qatar 11/15
- Russian refineries cut oil runs due to losses, closures loom 11/15
- Spain's Moeve swings to quarterly loss on weak refining margins 11/15
- Asia naphtha supply expected to remain tight over next two years 11/15
- Countries, companies lag in response to tackle methane emissions, U.N. says 11/15
- U.S. energy draws up a wish list for new Trump administration 11/15
