- Key Market Prices
- Key Market Prices
- Public Policy
- Toyota Wins 2010 Zayed Future Energy Prize
- U.S. EPA Sets New Air Quality Standard for NO2
- CARB Updating ‘Low Carbon Fuel Standard,’ Biodiesel/Renewable Diesel Rule
- Margins & Economics
- Reliance Reports Improved Net Profits
- Crude Futures Rise Aided by Equity Markets
Fuels & Processing
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India’s Vadinar Refinery to Expand
Essar Oil officials announced this week that they will expand the capacity of Vadinar refinery in Gujarat to 18 million tons, 12.5% more than planned earlier, but within the original project cost of Rs 7,810 crore (US$1.7 billion).
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New Process to Produce Gasoline from CO2
Carbon Sciences Inc. Jan. 25 announced the development of certain process technologies that will allow for the production of gasoline, shorten the time to commercialization and reduce the system and operating costs of its CO2-to-fuel technology.
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JV Between PetroChina, PDVSA Gets Approved
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has approved a refinery project between PetroChina and Petroleos de Venezuela SA in Guangdong Province, but the Guangdong government has not publicly made the announcement, according to Sina news service Jan. 21, citing an unnamed Guangdong official.
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Topsøe Wins ULSD Contract at PetroPeru
Haldor Topsøe officials announced Jan. 25 that they’ve signed a contract to s supply technologies for an ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) project at PetroPeru’s Talara refinery in Peru.
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Energos WTE Plant Ahead of Schedule
While many gasification-based waste-to-energy (WTE) project developers in various parts of the world struggle with emissions permitting and financing issues, Norway-based Energos continues to forge ahead with commercial WTE projects.
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Rentech, ClearFuels Win US$23 Million DOE Biorefinery Grant
Hawaii-based ClearFuels Technology and Los Angeles-based Rentech officials announced Jan. 25 that they won a conditional US$22.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a joint project to construct a biomass gasifier at Rentech’s Energy Technology Center (RETC) in Denver.
Feature
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Boeing, Masdar, UOP Team-Up on Saltwater Bio-Jet-Fuel Scheme
Boeing, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Etihad Airways and UOP officials on Jan. 18 announced an agreement to establish the “Sustainable Bioenergy Research Project” (SBRP), aiming to develop “integrated saltwater agricultural systems to support the development and commercialization of biofuel sources for aviation and co-products.”
Key Market Prices
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Key Market Prices
Transportation & Logistics
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DFW Airport Awards Contract to Build, Operate New CNG Station
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. received a contract to build and operate a second CNG station at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. This new station will serve the airport’s 46 rental car center shuttle buses as well as CNG vehicles in the region.
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Kia Debuts PHEV at Chicago Auto Show
Korean automaker Kia will show-off a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) at the Chicago auto show next month, according to a report last week from Automotive News.
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Mackenzie Pipeline Project Receives Clearance from Review Panel
The Mackenzie Pipeline received the long-awaited news that the project would be recommended by the Canadian government’s seven-member Joint Review Panel. However, in keeping with the near decade-long battle to bring the project to fruition, the panel added that this recommendation was contingent on the project being able to meet a list of 176 recommendations in its 679-page report.
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Crosstex Completes Sale of East Texas System
Crosstex Energy completed the previously announced sale of its natural gas gathering and treating assets in East Texas to Waskom Gas Processing Co., a joint venture of Martin Midstream Partners LP, CenterPoint Energy Gas Processing Co. and Prism Gas Services, for US$40 million (see Gas Processors Report 12/16/09).
Margins & Economics
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Reliance Reports Improved Net Profits
Reliance net profits improved in the latest quarter, thanks to higher gas production and better refinery and petrochemical margins. Overall refinery utilization rates exceeded 100% capacity.
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Crude Futures Rise Aided by Equity Markets
Crude futures reversed course reflecting gains Jan. 25. The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for March delivery settled at US$75.26 per barrel (bbl), up 72¢, while Brent crude for March delivery gained 86¢, to close at $73.69/bbl.
Public Policy
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Toyota Wins 2010 Zayed Future Energy Prize
The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), has announced the winner and runners-up of the 2010 Zayed Future Energy Prize, which were awarded on Jan. 19 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, during the World Future Energy Summit.
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U.S. EPA Sets New Air Quality Standard for NO2
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Jan. 25 a new national air quality standard for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is now set at a level of 100 parts per billion (ppb). The EPA also is retaining the existing annual average standard of 53 ppb.
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CARB Updating ‘Low Carbon Fuel Standard,’ Biodiesel/Renewable Diesel Rule
California Air Resources Board (CARB) officials announced at a Jan. 20 workshop in Sacramento that updates to the agency’s pioneering “low carbon fuel standard” (LCFS) won’t be going for a formal CARB board vote right away.
