Refining
Shell to sell downstream businesses in Finland and Sweden
Shell has agreed to sell the majority of its refining and marketing businesses in Finland and Sweden to Keele Oy. Keele Oy is the major shareholder of St1 Holding Oy, whose businesses include fuel retail networks in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Poland.
Workers end strike for three French refineries
Refinery workers have been on strike since October 12 over government plans, due to become law this week, to modify the national pension system and raise the retirement age. Finally after almost two weeks three refineries are seeing slight reprieve as workers at three of France’s twelve refineries have voted to end strikes after heeding government warnings over economy damage due to fuel shortages.
Genesis Energy grabs a 50% interest in Cameron Highway Oil Pipeline
Genesis Energy has executed a definitive agreement to purchase Valero Energy’s indirect 50% equity interest in Cameron Highway Oil Pipeline, a partnership, for $330 million in cash.
Chavez bemoans US regulation and Citgo profitability
The human quote machine and general despot of Venezuela Hugo Chavez is once again in the news, this time for bad mouthing the Venezuelan-owned company known as Citgo.
Petrobras inks ethanol supply contract
Petrobras Distribuidora (BR) and Petrobras Biocombustível (Biofuels) have executed with Açúcar Guarani S.A. (Guarani) a contract for the supply of up to 2.2 billion liters of ethanol during four years.
Axens delivers optimization software to Aromatics Oman
Axens (Performance Programs) has delivered to Aromatics Oman LLC (AOL) a process operations simulator (POS) for its ParamaX complex that started up in the beginning of 2010.
New process converts crude ethanol into bio-alkylate
Exelus, Inc. (www.exelusinc.com) has developed a process that converts low-cost, bio-derived, hydrous ethanol into “bio-alkylate”, a hydrocarbon fuel chemically identical to a conventional refinery blendstock called alkylate.
ExxonMobil commissions new ultra-low-sulfur diesel units
ExxonMobil has completed commissioning of new units to produce ultra-low-sulfur diesel at its Baytown, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, refineries.
Petroplus plans to convert Reichstett refinery site to a terminal
Petroplus Holdings AG announced an update on the strategic review of its Reichstett refinery in France that was launched in April to evaluate alternatives for the site.
Jacobs receives contract from Nexen Inc.
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has received a three year, performance based contract from Nexen Inc., for the provision of general maintenance services at the company's Long Lake bitumen production and upgrading facilities in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada.
- Aster Chemicals declares force majeure at Singapore naphtha cracker 8/29
- Orlen signs 1-yr deal with Equinor for supply of 15% oil it uses 8/29
- Novatek partially resumed processing at Ust-Luga complex 8/29
- Phillips 66 to begin winding down Los Angeles-area refinery next week 8/29
- Update: Mexico's Minatitlan refinery back online, Olmeca still down 8/29
- SIBUR produces test batch of first hexane plant in Russia 8/28
