- Key Market Prices
- WTI Falls More Than 2%, Settling at US$88.86/bbl
- Public Policy
- Greens Rap EU Emissions-Limits Delays, but Bunker-Fuel Desulfurization to Proceed
- Toronto, Chicago Hit on Diesel Passenger Train Emissions
- Margins & Economics
- 2010 Marked Improvement for Refining Sector: Report
- U.S. Crude Inventories Up Unexpectedly
- WTI Falls Ahead of Expiry; Brent Moves Below US$97/bbl
- Fuels & Processing
- BP Reportedly Restructuring Spanish Retail Gasoline Station Portfolio
- SOCAR Plans Switch from Euro-2 Diesel to Euro-3 Gasoline
- Valero, Darling Get US$241 Million DOE Loan OK for Renewable Diesel Plant
- CB&I Unit Wins Contract for Russian Ethylene Plant
- Foster Wheeler to Build Czech Power Plant’s Steam Boiler
Fuels & Processing
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BP Reportedly Restructuring Spanish Retail Gasoline Station Portfolio
BP is rethinking its retail gasoline marketing structure in Spain, according to a report by local news source, Expansion. The report noted that the reorganization is expected after the company’s retail business in Spain’s retail fuel marketplace “failed to gain a foothold” as cooperatives and hypermarket brands took market share.
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SOCAR Plans Switch from Euro-2 Diesel to Euro-3 Gasoline
The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) will utilize a benzene extraction facility as part of the Heydar Aliyev oil refinery’s catalytic reforming installation to produce Euro-3 (350 parts-per-million [ppm] sulfur) gasoline, according to a January 18 report by Trend News Agency (Azerbaijan ) citing a market source.
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Valero, Darling Get US$241 Million DOE Loan OK for Renewable Diesel Plant
Valero Energy and Darling International won a “conditional commitment” for a US$241 million loan guarantee from U.S. Department of Energy for a proposed renewable diesel plant that would produce all-hydrocarbon diesel from waste animal fats.
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CB&I Unit Wins Contract for Russian Ethylene Plant
Texas-based Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. announced January 19 that its Lummus Technology business unit has been awarded a contract by Salavatnefteorgsintez JSC (SNOS) for the engineering, procurement and supply of materials for a third SRT VI cracking heater at its ethylene plant in Salavat, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russian Federation.
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Foster Wheeler to Build Czech Power Plant’s Steam Boiler
Foster Wheeler AG announced January 20 that a subsidiary of its Global Power Group has been awarded a contract by Kraftanlagen Power Plants GmbH (KAP) to design, supply and erect a circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) steam generator and the associated auxiliary equipment for the Alpiq Generating (CZ) s.r.o. Kladno Power Plant in the Czech Republic.
Feature
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EPA to Defer GHG Permit Requirements for Industries Using Biomass
On January 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will defer the greenhouse gas (GHG) permitting requirements for carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions from biomass-fired and other biogenic sources for three years.
Key Market Prices
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WTI Falls More Than 2%, Settling at US$88.86/bbl
Transportation & Logistics
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Report: Global NGV Sales to Increase 68% by 2016
Worldwide natural gas vehicle (NGV) sales will increase from 1.9 million vehicles per year in 2010 to more than 3.2 million units annually by 2016 – prompting growth in the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel, according to a recent report by Pike Research.
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Mitsubishi to Launch Eight EVs by Fiscal 2015, Slash CO2 Footprint
Mitsubishi Motors announced January 20 that a new “mid-term business plan” includes the launch of eight new electric vehicles (EVs) by fiscal 2015, including pure battery-electric cars as well as plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
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Chevrolet to Install Coulomb EV Recharging Stations at ‘Volt’ Dealers
Chevrolet will be installing Coulomb electric-vehicle (EV) recharge stations at new-car dealerships, Coulomb Technologies announced January 19.
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GE Inks Diesel Locomotives Deal with China
GE announced January 19 that it signed a letter-of-intent with China’s Ministry of Railways (MOR) whereby GE would provide US$350 million worth of U.S.-built diesel locomotives, locomotive sub-assembly kits, service support and signaling systems for China’s railway upgrade.
Margins & Economics
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2010 Marked Improvement for Refining Sector: Report
Strong global economic growth at the close of 2010 created the second biggest demand spike in the past 30 years, according to Ernst & Young's Oil & Gas quarterly report. Demand is expected to continue to increase, though less dramatically, in 2011.
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U.S. Crude Inventories Up Unexpectedly
U.S. crude stockpiles rose by 2.6 million barrels – contrary to analyst expectations – and gains in refined product inventories surpassed predictions, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) report for the week ended January 14.
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WTI Falls Ahead of Expiry; Brent Moves Below US$97/bbl
NYMEX light sweet crude for February delivery settled at US$88.86 per barrel (/bbl), down $2.00 on January 20, on renewed speculation China will raise interest rates, curbing demand growth.
Public Policy
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Greens Rap EU Emissions-Limits Delays, but Bunker-Fuel Desulfurization to Proceed
The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) – an umbrella group from some 170 “green” advocacy groups in Europe – on January 19 slammed what it termed as “the European Commission’s failure to provide clarity on the future of important air legislation, based on the outcome of a meeting [January 18] between all 27 European Commissioners.”
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Toronto, Chicago Hit on Diesel Passenger Train Emissions
A Toronto, Canada-based group calling itself “Stop Dirty Diesel Trains” on January 19 launched a publicity campaign aiming to pressure Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal Party) to cancel a planned diesel-powered passenger train service between downtown Toronto and the Pearson International airport.
