Global Refining & Fuels Today

Wärtsilä Fitting NOX, HC Catalysts to Diesel Ships; Converting to ULSD

Wärtsilä announced October 24 that it won orders from Finland-based Arctia Offshore Ltd. to retrofit two diesel-powered icebreaker vessels with urea-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems and diesel-oxidation catalysts (DOCs).

Lower-CO2 Vehicles Would Benefit from Lower-Sulfur Gasoline, Studies Show

Detroit – A growing body of automotive industry research papers is pointing to ultra low sulfur gasoline (less than 10 parts per million [ppm] sulfur) as an enabler for advanced technologies such as lean-combustion gasoline direct injection (lean-GDI) that can slash tailpipe-carbon dioxide (CO2) and boost fuel economy.

UNICA: 107 RFS2-Registered Brazilian Sugar-Cane Mills Can Ship Ethanol to U.S.

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) on October 19 reported that as of the beginning of October, registration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has now been obtained by 107 Brazilian sugar cane processing facilities.

Gulf Coast Aromatics Prices Mixed for Week Ending October 28

U.S. Gulf Coast aromatic spot prices and other prices were mixed for the week ending October 28.

Gulf Coast 3-2-1 Crack Spread Falls 10% for Week Ending October 21

The 3-2-1 crack spread for the Gulf Coast lost 10% from US$35.52 per barrel (/bbl) to $32.07/bbl for the week ending October 21. The New York 3-2-1 crack spread declined 12% from $37.88/bbl to $33.33/bbl for the same period.

NYMEX WTI Ends Week Lower

NYMEX light, sweet crude for December delivery closed at US$93.32/per barrel (/bbl), down 64¢ on October 28, in response to macroeconomic reports that analysts described as positive.

ExxonMobil’s 3Q Downstream Earnings Up 33%

ExxonMobil Corp. reported third-quarter downstream earnings of US$1.6 billion, up $419 million from the third quarter of 2010.

CB&I Wins Two Contracts in China

CB&I October 25 announced that Lummus Technology has been awarded a contract by China Coal Shaanxi Yulin Energy & Chemical Co. Ltd. for the license and engineering design of two light olefins recovery units. The plants will be located in Yulin, Shaanxi Province, China. The start-up of the first unit is expected in 2013, according to the company. In a separate announcement from CB&I the same day, Lummus Technology was also awarded a contract by Ningbo Haiyue New Material Co. Limited for the license and engineering design of a grassroots sulfuric acid alkylation unit to be built near Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, China.

FRIM Produces Biodiesel from Non-Food Feedstocks

Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), a tropical forestry research institute, has successfully produced biodiesel from non-food resources such as jatropha curcas, bintangor laut (Collyphylum innophylum L.), perah (Elateriospermum tapos) and industrial effluents, FIRM announced October 25.

Praj to Establish Distillery for Illovo Sugar in Tanzania

Praj Industries reported October 19 that it has received an order for the turnkey installation of a 40,000-liter-per-day “Extra Neutral Alcohol” plant from Illovo Sugar, one of the large sugar groups in Africa.

Nissan to Launch PHEVs in 2015

Nissan, which pioneered the global commercial electric-vehicle (EV) market with its “Leaf” car, will expand its offerings with a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) starting in 2015.

Fuso Touts Long-Haul Diesel-Electric Hybrid Truck

Daimler announced October 26 that its Fuso division is revealing first results of tests of a long-haul, diesel-hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) truck in Japan, in contrast to the short-haul-market typically targeted for hybrids.