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Refining

Shell receives offer for Stanlow refinery in the UK

Shell today confirmed it has received an offer from Essar Energy to buy its 272,000 bpd Stanlow refinery and associated local marketing businesses in the UK for a total expected consideration of some $1.3 billion.

Total sells stake in Spanish company to Abu Dhabi entity

Total and IPIC have signed an agreement whereby Total will sell its 48.83% share in the capital of CEPSA. IPIC, a wholly owned entity of the Abu Dhabi government, is currently a shareholder of CEPSA with a stake of 47.06%.

Atlas Inspection Technologies expands across US

Atlas Inspection Technologies, a Seattle-based provider of remote visual inspection solutions for the industrial and manufacturing sectors, announced further expansion across North America.

15 groups seek to bar EPA funding for E15

NPRA, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, was one of 15 organizations signing a letter to the leadership of the US House of Representatives supporting a measure by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Oklahoma) that would bar the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using federal funds to cover EPA costs involved with increasing the amount of ethanol in gasoline from the current 10% to 15%.

Ethanol companies join RFA to form advocacy council

Leaders in the world’s ethanol industry recently announced that they are coming together in conjunction with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) to form the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC).

US refining margins improve, but some refineries remain at risk

During the fourth quarter of 2010, US refining industry performance improved relative to the prior quarter. While the US Gulf Coast crack spreads were somewhat lower in the fourth quarter, the light-heavy crude oil price differential (LLS-Maya) continued to favor refineries with heavier crude slates.

KBR and Valero startup benzene reduction projects

KBR today announced that Valero Energy has successfully started up advanced reformate splitters at three of its US refineries.

Catalyst recycling comes to Oklahoma

Veolia ES Technical Solutions and Oklahoma Materials Recycling (OMR) have signed a teaming agreement whereby Veolia will exclusively provide up-front sales and marketing services for OMR’s catalyst recycling plant currently under construction in Atoka, Oklahoma.

Association says CFATS should be made permanent

In written testimony before a US congressional panel, the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) said existing Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) are effective and should be made permanent. The association’s statement was given to the US House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies.

Mubarak exits stage right

What will this mean for IOCs doing business in the region?