Global Refining & Fuels Today

USDA, DOE Award Eight R&D Projects Worth US$47 Million

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu May 5 announced a total of US$47 million to fund eight research and development projects that will support the production of biofuels, bioenergy and high-value, biobased products from a variety of biomass sources.

Proposed Senate Bill Would Merge U.S. EPA, DOE

Senate Republicans are pushing a plan to morph the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) into one massive agency, according to a May 5 Politico report.

PBF Wins Permits for Gasification Shutdown at Delaware Refinery

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC) announced May 3 that it has issued permits to PBF Energy LLC for major changes at the former Valero Energy Corp. Delaware City Refinery.

U.S. EPA Risk-Assessment on Platinum Raises Emissions-Control Concerns

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed health-risk assessment from halogenated platinum salts could potentially complicate the production and use of platinum in engine emissions-control systems, including clean-diesel systems.

Ecopetrol 1Q 2011 Net Income Rises 62%; Refining Losses Continue

Colombia’s mostly state-owned Ecopetrol on May 4 reported that corporate-wide net income (upstream and downstream) rose 62% in first-quarter 2011 versus first-quarter 2010, but its refining segment continued to post losses.

Sunoco Cites Crude Prices, Outages for US$101-Million 1Q Loss

Pittsburgh-based transportation fuels provider Sunoco, Inc., reported a US$101-million, first-quarter loss that it attributed to rising crude oil prices and unplanned outages at its Philadelphia and Marcus Hook refineries in Pennsylvania.

Gulf Coast 3-2-1 Crack Spread Up Nearly 10% for Week Ended April 29

The 3-2-1 crack spread for the Gulf Coast advanced 9.6% from US$26.06 per barrel (/bbl) to $28.57/bbl for the week ended April 29. The New York 3-2-1 crack spread gained 6% from $27/bbl to $28.67/bbl for the same period.

U.S. Crude Futures End Lower After Rebound Fizzles

NYMEX light sweet crude for June delivery finished at US$97.18 per barrel (/bbl), down $2.62 on May 6, after experiencing an extremely wide low/high range during the session.

Gulf Coast Aromatic Prices Mixed for Week Ended May 6

U.S. Gulf Coast aromatic spot prices were mixed with benzene falling and slight gains for toluene and methanol. Other prices were mostly lower for the week ended May 6.

India’s BPCL Plans US$2.5-Billion Bina Refinery Expansion

India’s state-owned Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. (BPCL) on Wednesday said it will raise capacity at its recently commissioned Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh province to nine million tonnes, according to a May 5 report by Asia Pulse Pte. Ltd. (Singapore).

KBR Appoints New Head of Technology Unit

KBR has appointed John Derbyshire as president of its technology business unit, succeeding Tim Challand, who has led the business unit since its inception in 2007 and is retiring after 23 years.

German Refiners Cut ‘Shunned’ E10 Gasoline Production

German refineries have reduced output of cleaner, high-ethanol gasoline known as E10 after motorists shunned the fuel, according to a May 6 Bloomberg report.

Germany Aims to Boost EV Subsidies, Rollout One Million EVs by 2020

The German government wants to allocate billions of Euros in government subsidies as part of a plan to support the rollout of one million electric vehicles (EVs) by 2020.

Rome Researchers Tout Better EV Battery Chemistry

Scientists at the University of Rome in Italy are reporting research results on an advanced lithium-ion battery that could boost prospects for electric vehicles (EVs).