- Regulation & Legislation
- Euro-5 ULSD Debuts in Beijing
- N.C. Labor Department Rejects ‘Diesel-Poisoning’ Death Claim
- Technology
- Rosneft, Oxford Team Up on Russia GTL Demonstration Plant
- CTL Diesel Would Cost Up to US$3.27/Gal - NETL Study
- JM Touts Catalyst for U.S. EPA ‘RICE NESHAP’ Emissions Limits
- Bosch Buys Koller + Schwemmer; Expands Diesel Product Line
- Distillate Markets
- Study Raises Doubts about ‘Dirty’ Oil-Sands Crude, ULSD Products
- IEA: Global Oil Consumption to Hit 90 Million b/d in 2012
- Uzbekistan GTL Feasibility Study Due by January 2013
- Chevron Lummus Joins ARA’s ‘ReadiJet’ Alt-Fuel Initiative
- Neste Oil Touts Fish-Fat ‘NExBTL’ for U.S., EU Renewable Fuels
- UOP Inks ‘Green Diesel’ License Deal with Emerald Biofuels
- Despite Cheap Natural Gas Prices, U.S. Truckers Still Skeptical of LNG
- KiOR Posts US$16.8-Million Net Loss for 1Q 2012; First Plant ‘Mechanically Complete’
- TravelCenters of America Posts US$14-Million Loss for 1Q 2012
- APR Wins Cyprus Diesel-Power Deal
- Market Report: Distillates Keep Falling on Economic Worries
- Distillate Watch
- Transport News
- Volvo Launching 13-Liter LNG Engine for N. America Trucks in 2014
- Diesel Emissions Retrofits Continue to Decline in U.S.
- John Deere FY 2Q 2012 Net Income Rises Year-over-Year
- Mærsk Group Posts Slight Year-on-Year Gain in 1Q 2012
- China Yuchai 1Q 2012 Profits Dip; Diesel Engine Sales ‘Sluggish’
- Wärtsilä Wins ‘ECO2’ Dual-Fuel Inland Waterway-Vessel Powertrain Deal
- High Bunker Fuel Prices Partly to Blame for NOL 1Q 2012 Loss
Regulation & Legislation
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Euro-5 ULSD Debuts in Beijing
While the rest of China continues to lag far behind Europe, North America, Australia and many other countries on fuel desulfurization, at least China is now switching to Euro-5 (10 parts-per-million [ppm] sulfur) ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel, according to Hart Energy’s International Fuel Quality Center (IFQC).
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N.C. Labor Department Rejects ‘Diesel-Poisoning’ Death Claim
The North Carolina Department of Labor announced May 11 that an alleged case of diesel-exhaust poisoning linked to the death of a bus driver was instead a case of acute pneumonia.
Technology
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Rosneft, Oxford Team Up on Russia GTL Demonstration Plant
United Kingdom-based Oxford Catalysts announced May 17 that its microchannel Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology will be used by oil giant Rosneft for a 100 barrel-per-day (b/d) gas-to-liquids (GTL) demonstration plant in Russia.
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CTL Diesel Would Cost Up to US$3.27/Gal - NETL Study
The required selling price (RSP) of Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel produced at a notional U.S. coal-to-liquids (CTL) plant would be in the range of US$2.68 to $3.27 per gallon (/gal), according to an updated study for U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
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JM Touts Catalyst for U.S. EPA ‘RICE NESHAP’ Emissions Limits
Johnson Matthey (JM) announced May 7 the introduction of “Modulex” three-way and two-way catalysts that enable stationary diesel or gas engines to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) limits.
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Bosch Buys Koller + Schwemmer; Expands Diesel Product Line
Bosch announced May 7 that it signed a deal to buy Nuremberg-based Koller + Schwemmer GmbH, which will expand Bosch’s diesel product line.
Feature
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Siemens Unveils ‘eHighway’ Diesel-Electric Truck with Overhead Wires
Siemens on May 7 unveiled what it calls the “eHighway of the Future” concept where “green” diesel-electric hybrid trucks would be connected to overhead electric wires on highways – but switching to diesel power whenever the wires aren’t available.
Transport News
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Volvo Launching 13-Liter LNG Engine for N. America Trucks in 2014
Volvo Trucks announced May 18 that it will launch a 13-liter liquefied natural gas (LNG) engine – employing diesel fuel pilot injection – for North America trucks in 2014.
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Diesel Emissions Retrofits Continue to Decline in U.S.
The Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association (MECA) ton May 18 announced that total retrofits of diesel emissions control devices in the U.S. in 2011 fell compared to 2010 and 2009, to 20,177.
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John Deere FY 2Q 2012 Net Income Rises Year-over-Year
John Deere announced May 16 that net income for its fiscal year (FY) second quarter (2Q) 2012 rose to US$1.056 billion, up from $904 million in FY 2Q 2011.
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Mærsk Group Posts Slight Year-on-Year Gain in 1Q 2012
Mærsk Group announced May 16 that it posted a net profit of US$1.17 billion for first-quarter (1Q) 2012, up 1% from 1Q 2011.
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China Yuchai 1Q 2012 Profits Dip; Diesel Engine Sales ‘Sluggish’
China Yuchai on May 14 reported first-quarter (1Q) 2012 net earnings of RMB 167.9 million (US$26.7 million), down from RMB 230.5 million (US$36.4 million) in 1Q 2011.
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Wärtsilä Wins ‘ECO2’ Dual-Fuel Inland Waterway-Vessel Powertrain Deal
Wärtsilä announced May 8 that it won a contract to supply a diesel/liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel powertrain for the “ECO2 Inland Vessel” project in Europe.
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High Bunker Fuel Prices Partly to Blame for NOL 1Q 2012 Loss
Singapore-based Neptune Orient Line (NOL) on May 9 announced a first-quarter (1Q) 2012 net loss of US$254 million, compared with a net loss of US$10 million 1Q 2011.
Distillate Markets
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Study Raises Doubts about ‘Dirty’ Oil-Sands Crude, ULSD Products
A new study by Jacobs Consultancy for the government of Alberta, Canada, raises doubts about European Union (EU) claims that oil-sands crudes (and products) necessarily have a higher net greenhouse gas (GHG) impact than other crude oils refined in Europe.
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IEA: Global Oil Consumption to Hit 90 Million b/d in 2012
Global oil consumption is expected to rise by 0.8 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2012, to 90 million b/d, according to the latest International Energy Agency (IEA) monthly Oil Market Report (released May 11).
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Uzbekistan GTL Feasibility Study Due by January 2013
A “phase-two” feasibility study for the proposed US$2.7-billion, 1.4 million-ton-per-year, gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuels plant in Uzbekistan is expected to be completed by January 2013, with plant startup targeted for 2017.
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Chevron Lummus Joins ARA’s ‘ReadiJet’ Alt-Fuel Initiative
New Mexico-based Applied Research Associates (ARA) announced May 14 that refinery technology provider Chevron Lummus Global (CLG) has joined ARA’s “ReadiJet” initiative to develop 100% hydrocarbon kero-jet and diesel fuels from vegetable oils.
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Neste Oil Touts Fish-Fat ‘NExBTL’ for U.S., EU Renewable Fuels
Neste Oil announced May 15 that it’s expanding feedstocks for its “NExBTL” renewable diesel plant Singapore, this time using fish-fat production waste – which enables “renewable fuel standard” compliance under European Union (EU) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules.
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UOP Inks ‘Green Diesel’ License Deal with Emerald Biofuels
The UOP division of Honeywell announced May 8 that it signed a license deal for the UOP/Eni “Ecofining” technology with Chicago-based Emerald Biofuels LLC.
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Despite Cheap Natural Gas Prices, U.S. Truckers Still Skeptical of LNG
U.S. truck fleet operators remain skeptical about the potential for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in long-range, heavy-duty trucking operations – even though U.S. natural gas prices currently are at historically low levels versus crude oil and U.S. diesel fuel retail prices.
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KiOR Posts US$16.8-Million Net Loss for 1Q 2012; First Plant ‘Mechanically Complete’
Texas-based cellulosic biofuel producer KiOR announced May 14 that it posted a US$16.8 million net loss in first quarter (1Q) 2012, compared to a $13.4 million net loss in 1Q 2011.
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TravelCenters of America Posts US$14-Million Loss for 1Q 2012
U.S.-based diesel truckstop giant TravelCenters of America (TA) on May 7 announced a US$14.18-million net loss for first-quarter (1Q) 2012, an improvement over its $16.57-million net loss in 1Q 2011.
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APR Wins Cyprus Diesel-Power Deal
Florida-based international temporary power provider APR Energy announced May 8 that it won a contract with the Electric Authority of Cyprus (EAC) for the supply of 120 megawatts of temporary power.
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Market Report: Distillates Keep Falling on Economic Worries
Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) prices in major spot and futures markets continued to slide last week – compared to the prior week – thanks to economic worries, especially in Europe.
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Distillate Watch





