Diesel Fuel News

U.S. Refiners Scale-Back Diesel Plans for 2010 ULSD Mandate: US EPA Survey

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) just-released 2009 refiner non-road ultra-low sulfur diesel regulatory pre-compliance report, total U.S. diesel fuel production and importation volume in 2010 would decrease compared with what EPA found in last year’s non-road pre-compliance report.

CARB Issues ‘Statement of Reasons’ for Low-Carbon Fuel Standard

California Air Resources Board officials on Dec. 2 unveiled their Final Statement of Reasons document for the agency’s trend-setting low-carbon fuel standard in a run-up to a board hearing in January 2010.

Taiwan Adds Euro-5 Vehicle Standards

Having already mandated Euro-5 (10 parts per million sulfur maximum) limits on diesel starting July 1, 2011, Taiwan has now added Euro-5 diesel vehicle emissions limits starting Jan. 1, 2012, as noted in a report from Hart’s International Fuel Quality Center.

Diesel Truck Cleanup Succeeds without Teamsters

The giant Port of Long Beach, Calif., is succeeding in its scheme to eliminate polluting, smoke-belching diesel trucks without a Teamster unionization scheme pushed by certain “green” groups, labor unions and some California politicians.

Ceres, Choren Ink Biomass Scheme for BTL

California-based Ceres and Germany-based Choren officials announced Nov. 24 a two-year bio-crop research and development project for future biomass-to-liquids plants.

Capstone Debuts Diesel Turbine Hybrid Car

California-based Capstone Turbine officials unveiled a turbine hybrid-electric concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show last week.

Cat Opens 3rd China R&D Center; Focus on Engines

Caterpillar, one of the world’s biggest diesel engine and non-road equipment builders, last week opened its third research & development center in China, this time focusing upon engines.

VW Joins Model Fuels Consortium

California-based Reaction Design officials announced Dec. 1 that Volkswagen is joining the “Model Fuels Consortium-II group focusing on advanced diesel and gasoline fuels and combustion.

Merichem Expanding Services in China

Houston-based Merichem officials announced Nov. 26 that they’ve opened a Shanghai office to boost customer service for China’s refining and gasification industries, focusing especially on sulfur removal technologies.

Preem Seen Debuting Tall-Oil-Based ‘Green Diesel’ in 2010

According to a new report from Sweden-based pulp-mill black-liquor gasification specialist Chemrec, the Preem petroleum refinery in Sweden will soon be processing a pulp-mill tall-oil product into “green diesel” fuel for the European market.

U.S. DOE, USDA Unveil US$600MM for Biorefinery Projects

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack on Dec. 4 announced 19 integrated biorefinery projects will get up to US$564 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants to accelerate the construction and operation of pilot, demonstration and commercial-scale facilities, plus a $54 million USDA loan guarantee.

‘Dibanet’ Renewable Diesel Aims to Emerge in Latin America, EU

A multi-country Development of Integrated Biomass Approaches NETwork (DIBANET) project funded by the European Union aims to develop a waste-derived, biomass-based production scheme for diesel miscible biofuels including ethyl levulinate as well as an upgraded pyrolysis oil.

Turkey’s Tupras OKs US$2 Billion ULSD Project

Tupras officials announced last week that they’re negotiating with Technicas Reunidas for a US$2 billion project that will convert high-sulfur fuel oil into Euro-5 (10 parts per million sulfur maximum) ultra low sulfur diesel fuel.

Global Gasoline Demand to Drop Sharply; Asia Dominates Growth

Asia-Pacific will dominate world growth in gasoline and middle distillates demand, accounting for more than 60% of the global growth from 2009 to 2030, according to a new global report released by Hart Energy Consulting.

Market Report: Distillate Stocks Slip, Prices Rise

Middle distillate prices in major world spot and futures markets moved up last week in response to declining output and stocks.

Distillate Watch

Distillate prices rose last week on falling output and stocks.

‘Anti-Circumvention’ Complaint Raised on U.S. Biodiesel Exports

European Biodiesel Board officials announced Nov. 26 that they’re bringing “anti-circumvention” charges against U.S. biodiesel exporters that are using fraudulent schemes to evade European Union anti-dumping tariffs on biodiesel imported into Europe.

Bribery Probe Seen Behind MAN Resignations

Germany-based diesel engine and truck maker MAN –subject to a German prosecutorial probe into bribery allegations – is suffering a rash of top-level resignations.

Audi Diesels Win 2 U.S. ‘Green Car’ Awards

Audi on Dec. 3 won the Green Car of the Year award for its A3 TDI diesel car, while its Q7 sport utility vehicle diesel simultaneously won the Earth, Wind & Power” environmental award as “most environmentally progressive truck of the year.”

Detroit Diesel Re-Enters N. American Diesel Bus Market

Daimler officials announced Nov. 27 that the company’s Detroit Diesel division has decided to re-enter the North American bus and coach diesel engine business with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2010 emissions-compliant engines.

Canadian Pacific Launches 5% Biodiesel Blend Test

Canadian Pacific and Natural Resources Canada officials announced Nov. 27 that they’ve begun tests of a soy-oil based 5% biodiesel blend in ultra-low sulfur diesel in locomotives running about 150 miles between Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.

Ohio Rail Panel Endorses Diesel Railcar Scheme

The Ohio Rail Development Commission last month endorsed a scheme that would favor self-propelled diesel railcars for public transportation through Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio.