Refining
Sunoco completes spinoff of SunCoke Energy unit
US-based transportation fuels firm Sunoco completed the spinoff of its metallurgical coke manufacturing business SunCoke Energy. The planned separation was first announced in January 2011.
Saudi Aramco, Sinopec sign Yanbu refinery deal
State-giant Saudi Arabian Oil Co., or Aramco, signed a deal with China Petrochemical Corp., or Sinopec, to develop a 400,000 bpd oil refinery at Yanbu, on the Saudi Red Sea coast. The Aramco-Sinopec deal marks the latest effort by China and Saudi Arabia to strengthen energy ties.
Oil India plans to buy up to $200mn in US, Australia shale gas assets
State-run Oil India plans to buy shale gas assets worth up to $200 million and is scouting for potential acquisitions in the US and Australia as it seeks to gain expertise in the field ahead of India's plans to auction blocks in the country, a senior executive said Monday. India is seeking to tap into its shale gas resources to meet rising gas demand from power plants and factories.
BP may throw financial lifeline to Petroplus - report
BP is considering offering financial assistance to struggling independent oil refiner Petroplus Holdings, the London-based Sunday Times reported, without citing sources. The refiner had lost access to all its credit lines, forcing it to shut down the remaining three refineries.
China coal to lose competitiveness versus imports by 2015 - study
China's domestic coal production is poised to lose competitiveness against imports by 2015, a shift that may prompt its state companies to buy overseas coal assets and ship in vast amounts more foreign coal. At present, costs are evenly spread whether China is importing or exporting coal.
Origin Oil partners with US DoE on conversion of algae into renewable crude
Renewables firm OriginOil plans to co-develop an integrated system with the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for direct conversion of raw algae into a renewable crude oil that can be used by existing petroleum refineries.
EU remains uncertain on timing of Iran oil embargo
A European Union embargo on Iranian oil could be enacted after a six-month grace period under one of the options being considered, but there is still no consensus on the matter. EU diplomats familiar with the discussions said Friday that while six months is one of the possible options, there is no convergence yet.
Chevron warns of weakening downstream results
Chevron expects 2011 fourth-quarter downstream earnings to be down significantly from the third quarter amid lower margins and refinery input volumes. In the US, Gulf coast refining margins fell substantially in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter, the company said.
Samsung lands EPC contract for clean diesel unit at Qatar refinery
South Korea's Samsung Engineering has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction contract for a clean diesel-producing unit at the Qatargas-operated Laffan refinery, as the Gulf state looks to increase refined product exports. The project will come on-stream in the 2014 first quarter.
European refinery shutdowns open doors for Indian diesel exports
Indian refiners are likely to increase their presence in Europe's diesel market as smaller, less complex European refineries come offline amid weak refining margins.
- Sinopec, Aramco start building $10-B petchem complex in China's Fujian province 11/18
- Clariant EnviCat N2O-S catalyst to cut CO2eq by 690,000 tpy at Hengli’s nitric acid plant in China 11/18
- Russia's Ilsky refinery has asked for gov't help over high rates, modernization 11/18
- North Dakota (U.S.) approves Summit Carbon pipeline permit 11/18
- China's oil refinery output falls from a year ago for a seventh month 11/18
- European oil giants step back from renewables path 11/18
