- Regulation & Legislation
- U.S. Senate Democrats Kill ‘Greenhouse’ Legislation; CNG Pushed Instead
- Urea-SCR Diesel Vehicles Grossly Violating NOx Limits: Navistar
- CME: Obama’s Derivatives Bill ‘Strengthens’ Markets
- Iowa DNR Wants Tougher EIS for Hyperion Refinery Project
- U.S. Congressional Budget Office Report Questions Continued Biofuels Subsidies
- India State Governments Cutting Diesel Taxes
- Technology
- Locomotive SCR, Ship Seawater Scrubber Win U.S. EPA Clean-Diesel Grants
- Port of Houston Eyes ‘Leapfrog’ Tier 4 Marine, Locomotive Diesel Demo
- U.S. EPA Adds Syngas-Regenerated DPF to ‘Emerging Technology List’
- Delphi to Debut Lower-CO2 Urea-SCR System in 2012
- Distillate Markets
- NY Gov. Signs Bill Mandating Ultra-Low-Sulfur Heating Oil
- EU Produces 65% of World Biodiesel Despite Import Subsidies: Report
- Amyris to Sell Cane-Based Renewable Diesel in Brazil in 2011: Report
- Sinopec Boosts Diesel Output 13.3% in First-Half 2010
- BP Launching “Phase 2” ULSD Project for Locomotive/Marine Diesel
- OMV: Q2 2010 Distillate Margins Improve
- Esso OKs Euro-4 Upgrades at Thailand Refinery
- UK Farmers Hit by Biodiesel Fuel Filter Plugging
- Abu Dhabi Boosts Diesel Prices
- US$305 Million Seen Wasted on ‘World’s Most Expensive’ Diesel Power Plant
- ‘Shell Diesel Extra:’ Correct Name for IDO Fuel
- Market Report: ULSD Deliveries, Futures Prices Both Rising
- Distillate Watch
Regulation & Legislation
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U.S. Senate Democrats Kill ‘Greenhouse’ Legislation; CNG Pushed Instead
Seeing the impossibility of garnering the required 60 votes, U.S. Senate Democrats July 22 announced that they’ve given up on trying to pass “greenhouse gas” legislation this summer, likely killing any chance of passage in 2010. -
Urea-SCR Diesel Vehicles Grossly Violating NOx Limits: Navistar
Navistar officials revealed at a joint California Air Resources Board (CARB)/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) workshop July 20 a new report showing that competitor diesel trucks using urea-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for CARB/EPA 2010 nitrogen oxides (NOx) compliance can run “effectively” even when urea supply runs-out. -
CME: Obama’s Derivatives Bill ‘Strengthens’ Markets
CME group – owner of the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), where a big part of global energy futures and options contracts are traded – views the financial reform bill signed by U.S. President Barack Obama July 21 as a “strengthening” of futures trading. -
Iowa DNR Wants Tougher EIS for Hyperion Refinery Project
Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) director Richard Leopold is petitioning South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to conduct a full-blown environmental impact statement (EIS) study on the proposed 400,000 barrels/day Hyperion Energy Center (HEC) oil refinery and 200-megaWatts integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) project. -
U.S. Congressional Budget Office Report Questions Continued Biofuels Subsidies
U.S. Senate Energy Committee chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico) this month released a report from the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that questions the value of continued U.S. taxpayer subsidies for biofuels. -
India State Governments Cutting Diesel Taxes
State governments in India are seen likely to cut diesel fuel taxes in the wake of the Delhi government decision to cut diesel value-added tax (VAT) to 12.5%, from 20%.
Technology
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Locomotive SCR, Ship Seawater Scrubber Win U.S. EPA Clean-Diesel Grants
“Emerging technologies” including a urea-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for a diesel locomotive and a novel ship stack emissions scrubber are among the winners of a new round of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clean-diesel grants. -
Port of Houston Eyes ‘Leapfrog’ Tier 4 Marine, Locomotive Diesel Demo
Port of Houston Authority (PHA) this week will consider authorizing a marine and locomotive diesel engine “leapfrog” demonstration meeting upcoming U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “Tier 4” emissions limits. -
U.S. EPA Adds Syngas-Regenerated DPF to ‘Emerging Technology List’
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this month added Engine Control Systems “Actifilter SG” diesel particulate filter (DPF) – regenerated with synthesis gas rather than diesel fuel – to EPA’s “Clean Diesel Emerging Technology List.” -
Delphi to Debut Lower-CO2 Urea-SCR System in 2012
Delphi officials announced July 21 a new urea-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that when commercially introduced in 2012 could cut diesel vehicle carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 1 gram/kilometer “over any comparable system.”
Feature
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CEA Warns of Scheme to Add ‘Low Carbon Fuel Standard’ to U.S. Senate Bill
Washington, D.C.-based Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) officials warned July 21 of behind-closed-doors efforts to attach a low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) provision to upcoming energy legislation in the U.S. Senate.
Transport News
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UP Profits Increase Despite 46% Diesel Price Hike
Union Pacific railroad officials July 22 reported a 53% hike in net income (to US$711 million) for second quarter 2010 versus Q2 2009, despite a 46% jump in diesel prices. -
Navistar: EGR Beats SCR on Total ‘Fluid Economy’
Navistar officials announced July 19 that based upon independent Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Type IV testing of three U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2010-compliant trucks, a 2010 Navistar truck using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) delivered better net “fluid economy” (diesel fuel plus urea consumption) than competitor 2010 trucks employing urea-selective catalytic reduction (SCR). -
Cat Q2 2010 Profits Jump 91%
Caterpillar officials July 22 announced that second-quarter 2010 profits jumped 91% (to US$707 million) compared to Q2 2009 profits, while sales and revenues also jumped 31%. -
Cummins Wins U.S. EPA/CARB 2010 Certification for ISX11.9 Diesel Engine
Cummins officials announced July 20 that they’ve won U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2010 emissions certification for their “ISX11.9” diesel engine typically used in vocational trucks. -
Toyota Launches 1st Diesel Corolla in India
Toyota officials last week launched commercial sales of their first “Corolla” diesel sedan in India, following on earlier launches elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Distillate Markets
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NY Gov. Signs Bill Mandating Ultra-Low-Sulfur Heating Oil
New York Gov. David Paterson (D) July 20 announced that he signed a bill mandating ultra-low sulfur heating oil (gasoil) containing 15 parts per million (ppm) maximum sulfur) starting July 1, 2012. -
EU Produces 65% of World Biodiesel Despite Import Subsidies: Report
European Biodiesel Board (EBB) officials July 22 release a study showing that European Union (EU) producers make 65% of world biodiesel, despite an influx of subsidized exports to the EU. -
Amyris to Sell Cane-Based Renewable Diesel in Brazil in 2011: Report
The Brazilian division of California-based Amyris Biotechnologies aims to start selling a cane sugar-derived renewable diesel fuel next year, according to a report from EFE news service. -
Sinopec Boosts Diesel Output 13.3% in First-Half 2010
Sinopec officials announced July 20 that they boosted crude refining output 16.7%, to 101.41 million metric tons of crude, in first-half 2010 versus 1H 2009. -
BP Launching “Phase 2” ULSD Project for Locomotive/Marine Diesel
BP officials last week announced that they’re now working on permitting for “phase two” of hydrotreating capacity expansion for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) production at their Cherry Point, Washington, refinery. -
OMV: Q2 2010 Distillate Margins Improve
Austria-based OMV officials July 20 announced in a “trading statement” that refining margins (especially for middle distillates) have improved during second quarter 2010 versus Q1 2010. -
Esso OKs Euro-4 Upgrades at Thailand Refinery
Esso officials announced this month that they’ve approved a US$394 million investment to upgrade their refinery in Thailand to produce Euro-4 (50 parts per million sulfur) diesel and gasoline by the Jan. 1, 2012, government deadline. -
UK Farmers Hit by Biodiesel Fuel Filter Plugging
Farmers in the UK reportedly have tripled their purchase of specially additized diesel fuel in recent months because of fuel filter clogging caused by biodiesel oxidation, according to a report from Farmers Weekly (UK). -
Abu Dhabi Boosts Diesel Prices
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) this month raised the price of diesel fuel by 12%, to US$0.64 per liter, according to a report from The National (Abu Dhabi). -
US$305 Million Seen Wasted on ‘World’s Most Expensive’ Diesel Power Plant
The U.S. government essentially wasted US$305 million building a huge diesel-fueled power plant in Afghanistan when shortly after its completion, the country found cheaper power available from a neighboring country. -
‘Shell Diesel Extra:’ Correct Name for IDO Fuel
Shell’s fuel supply contract with Turkish ferry service IDO is for a product called “Shell Diesel Extra” rather than “V Power,” Shell clarifies. -
Market Report: ULSD Deliveries, Futures Prices Both Rising
Ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) prices in major world spot and futures markets moved up on stronger demand last week, despite rising refiner output. -
Distillate Watch
Distillate futures prices moved up last week.



