Maersk Line announced September 19 that it’s launching a test of a Belco marine diesel emissions-scrubbing system that could enable continued use of relatively cheap high-sulfur, heavy fuel oil (HFO) in “emissions control areas” (ECAs) created by International Maritime Organization Marpol Annex-6 legislation.

Japan-based Isuzu announced September 23 that it will build large trucks in China with joint-venture partner, Qingling Motors – with sales expected to start in China and Japan in 2015.

Volvo on September 21 announced a new “XE13” powertrain package for its “VN” series diesel tractors that enables the engine to cruise at 1,150 revolutions per minute (rpm) at 65 miles per hour (mph) – about 200 rpm less than the average diesel truck sold today.

Wärtsilä announced September 20 that its dual-fuel engines, capable of running on natural gas, distillates or heavy fuel oil, have now racked-up three million hours of running time in both land- and marine-based applications – a record that “cannot be matched by any other engine manufacturer.”

The Alaska Superior Court has been asked to issue a preliminary injunction against Robert E. Derecktor, Inc., MTU Friedrichshafen GMBH and MTU Detroit Diesel in an ongoing lawsuit involving allegedly defective marine-diesel engines employed in the Alaska Fast Vehicle Ferry (FVF) system.

Axens announced September 23 that it won contracts from Saudi Aramco for several of its technologies for the Jazan refinery and terminal project in Saudi Arabia.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) on September 19 revealed proposed specifications for construction of a US$5-billion, 10 million ton-per-year (214,000 barrel-per-day) oil refinery in Izmir, Turkey, to serve the requirements of Petkim Holding.

Lukoil will invest US$3 billion to expand capacity at its Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez refinery over the next decade, according to a September 22 report from Prime-Tass (Russia).

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts in its new International Energy Outlook 2011 report that gas-to-liquids (GTL) and coal-to-liquids (CTL) would collectively account for about two million barrels per day (b/d) of global liquid fuels supply by 2035.

Neste Oil announced September 20 that it has now started-up Europe’s largest renewable diesel plant at Rotterdam, Netherlands.

If most ship owners fail to install onboard emissions-scrubbing systems and thus are forced to switch from heavy, high-sulfur heavy fuel oil (HFO) to marine gasoil (MGO) or marine diesel oil (MDO), then they’ll pay about US$1,300 ton for MDO/MGO – more than double today’s price for HFO, according to a new study.

Diesel vehicle owners in South Africa can’t count upon BP plc to have Euro-4 (50 parts-per-million sulfur) ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) available at 100% of retail stations until 2012.

If diesel and gasoline retail prices in India were to be calculated on a “purchasing power-parity” (PPP) basis – comparing the average Indian consumer income against average incomes in other nations – then the PPP-adjusted fuel prices would be among the highest in the world.

Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) prices in major spot and futures markets fell last week as economic gloom descended over global financial markets.