Several Asian and European oil majors have expressed interest in building Uganda’s first petroleum refinery – with an expected capacity of 200,000 barrels per day – according to an October 28 Dow Jones (DJ) report citing the country’s minister of state for energy.

Construction on a new US$25-million corn-ethanol plant in Lake Wales, Fla., could begin in 60 days, according to an October 27 report citing the city’s economic development director.

Alternative Fuel Technology, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alternative Fuel Technologies, Inc. (AFT), announced October 27 that it has won a U.S. Army Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project valued at US$715,000.

India’s Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) on October 22 said it will shut two units at its 660,000 barrels per day (b/d) Jamnagar refinery in the Gujarat state for maintenance.

Korea-based refiner S-Oil announced October 28 that net profit tripled in third quarter 2010 compared to 3Q2009.

Cuban News Agency reported this month that Cuba will expand its Cienfuegos port facilities in a venture with Venezuela. The port expansion will add facilities to allow large supertankers to berth and offload crude to the island nation, according to the report.

Audi officials on October 19 touted the environmental benefits of U.S. diesel cars running on Rentech biomass-to-liquids Fischer-Tropsch diesel, at publicity events including one with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R).