- Regulation & Legislation
- EU Aims for Vehicle Fuel CO2 Tax Scheme Next Year
- IEA Shows Energy Impact of ‘Radical’ Greenhouse Target
- U.S. EPA OKs Urea-SCR for Diesel Engines, Vehicles
- Technology
- Oxford Inks BTL Demo Deal with SGC Energia
- West Australian Reports ‘Encouraging’ CTL Prospect
- Fuel-Efficient Turbos, Dual-Clutch Transmissions Seen Growing Fast
- Distillate Markets
- China Oil Demand Seen Accelerating in 2010
- Distillate Watch
- IEA: Oil Demand Forecast Rising; Distillates Still Weak
- Saras Diesel Refining Slips, But IGCC Holding Up
- Algae Biofuels 10 Years Off; Cost $8 to $30/Gallon: Study
- $50/Barrel ‘Renewable Diesel’ From CO2, Sunlight, Microbes
- Market Report: Middle Distillate Prices Falling
- ASTM Balloting Cetane Test for B5 Biodiesel Blend
- U.S. Diesel Retail Seen Hitting Nearly $3/Gallon in 2010
- ASTM Balloting Conductivity Standard in D975
- Exxaro Confirms Coal for Proposed Sasol Mafutha CTL Project
Regulation & Legislation
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EU Aims for Vehicle Fuel CO2 Tax Scheme Next Year
The European Commission is expected to propose adding a carbon dioxide tax to various fuels next year, along with revisions to diesel (gasoil) and biofuels minimum taxes, according to a report last week from the Brussels-based Euractiv news service.
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IEA Shows Energy Impact of ‘Radical’ Greenhouse Target
International Energy Agency forecasters calculate that “radical and coordinated policy actions” across the globe would be required to meet an assumed 450 parts-per-million carbon dioxide concentration limit, to head-off what some predict could be catastrophic “global warming.”
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U.S. EPA OKs Urea-SCR for Diesel Engines, Vehicles
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials Nov. 9 published a “notice” in the Federal Register announcing that the agency has approved diesel vehicle/engine-maker application of urea-selective catalytic reduction technology to meet the EPA’s new limits on nitrogen oxides.
Technology
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Oxford Inks BTL Demo Deal with SGC Energia
United Kingdom-based Oxford Catalysts officials announced Oct. 27 the signing of a definitive joint-development agreement with Portugal-based SGC Energia for biomass-to-liquids and waste-to-liquids applications.
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West Australian Reports ‘Encouraging’ CTL Prospect
West Australian Metals officials Nov. 10 reported that “early stage drill results from its 100% owned Scaddan Project that has potential for a large lignite deposit suitable for coal to liquids conversion.”
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Fuel-Efficient Turbos, Dual-Clutch Transmissions Seen Growing Fast
BorgWarner officials announced Nov. 9 that their company expects to see US$1.8 billion of new business between 2010 and 2012 in vehicle fuel-efficiency equipment sales, especially turbochargers and dual-clutch transmissions.
Feature
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Big Diesel Growth in India, China; Huge Energy Challenge Faces Asia
Diesel demand is expected to double in India between now and 2030, while China diesel demand in transport is seen growing at a 4.5% per year annual clip – outrunning even the red-hot gasoline car market growth in China, according to a new ADB study.
Transport News
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China ‘Critical’ to Cat Strategy: Exec
In an interview last week with the official Xinhua news service, Caterpillar-China executive Rich Lavin said China is a “strategically critical market for us.”
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Mobile Fleet Fueling Expands in Recession-Slammed U.S. Market
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based SMF Energy officials Nov. 9 announced they’re expanding the company’s mobile fueling operation to three more cities, bringing the company’s total diesel fuel delivery logistics network to 34 cities in 11 U.S. states.
Distillate Markets
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China Oil Demand Seen Accelerating in 2010
The president of Sinopec – China’s largest refiner – sees in-country oil demand accelerating in 2010, according to a Nov. 12 report from Reuters news service.
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Distillate Watch
Distillate prices fell in major world spot markets last week.
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IEA: Oil Demand Forecast Rising; Distillates Still Weak
International Energy Agency experts are revising upward their global oil demand forecasts for 2009 and 2010.
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Saras Diesel Refining Slips, But IGCC Holding Up
Saras officials this month reported that third-quarter 2009 earnings in refining dropped sharply, but its Sarlux integrated gasification combined cycle margins (expressed in U.S. dollars per barrel) held up relatively well.
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Algae Biofuels 10 Years Off; Cost $8 to $30/Gallon: Study
Algae biofuels won’t become commercial for another decade and carry an uncompetitive cost of between US$8 to $30 per gallon, according to a new study by New York-based management consultant Accenture.
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$50/Barrel ‘Renewable Diesel’ From CO2, Sunlight, Microbes
Honolulu, Hawaii-based Joule Biotechnologies officials Nov. 10 announced what they’re calling a “breakthrough” scheme for converting carbon dioxide, sunlight and microbes into “renewable diesel” fuel without the use of algae or harvesting.
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Market Report: Middle Distillate Prices Falling
Middle distillate prices in major world spot and futures markets slipped last week as stock levels remained hefty.
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ASTM Balloting Cetane Test for B5 Biodiesel Blend
ASTM members this month are balloting a proposed revision to the D975 diesel standard to recognize the use of the D4737 cetane test method for B5 (5% biodiesel) blends.
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U.S. Diesel Retail Seen Hitting Nearly $3/Gallon in 2010
U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook report forecasters see U.S. retail diesel prices averaging about US$2.94 per gallon (gal) in 2010, about 13¢/gal higher than U.S. average gasoline retail prices.
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ASTM Balloting Conductivity Standard in D975
ASTM members are balloting this month, wording revisions to the conductivity requirement in the D-975 (diesel fuel) standard.
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Exxaro Confirms Coal for Proposed Sasol Mafutha CTL Project
South African coal miner Exxaro confirmed a 4.5-billion-ton coal reserve in the Waterberg region where Sasol is proposing to build its Mafutha 80,000-barrels-per-day coal-to-liquids plant.
