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Americas

EIA: Global oil markets expected to tighten in Q3 2017, then loosen through 2018

Forecast world production of crude oil and other liquids in 2017 and 2018 was revised slightly downward in the June edition of EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), which was issued after the May 25 announcement by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) of an extension to production cuts that were originally set to end this month.

US judge orders more environmental analysis of Dakota pipeline

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — A federal judge ordered the US Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider its environmental review of the Dakota Access Pipeline on Wednesday, opening up the possibility that the line could be shut at a later date.

Fire breaks out at Mexico's top refinery, 9 people hurt

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) — A major fire broke out at Mexican state oil producer Pemex's Salina Cruz refinery on Wednesday after a crude spill, injuring nine people and extending the shutdown of the plant into a second day, the company said.

US EPA extends delay of oil, gas rules to two years

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The US Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it would propose a two-year stay of the previous administration's oil and gas industry methane emissions standards while the agency reconsiders the regulation.

Mexico's Pemex says can restart Salina Cruz refinery operations

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) — Mexico's state-owned oil firm Pemex said on Tuesday on Twitter that conditions are present to safely restart operations at its Salina Cruz refinery in the southern state of Oaxaca.

Emerson, Aramco sign agreement to collaborate on digital transformation

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Emerson signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Aramco during the recently held Saudi-US CEO Forum in Riyadh. The agreement signed by David N. Farr, Emerson’s chairman and chief executive officer and Amin H. Nasser, Saudi Aramco President and CEO, will help bring advanced digitization and automation technologies to one of the leading energy and chemicals companies.

BASF to divest its oleochemical surfactants business in Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — BASF Mexicana, S.A. DE C.V. has entered an agreement to sell a portion of the oleochemical surfactants business in Mexico to the Stepan Company for an undisclosed price. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2017, subject to applicable regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of certain other requirements.

Mexico's Pemex fined $20 MM for anti-competitive fuel practices

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) — Mexico's antitrust watchdog has fined a division of state-owned oil company Pemex for failing to establish a competitive fuel market, the agency said on Monday.

GE wins US antitrust approval for Baker Hughes deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — General Electric Co won US antitrust approval to merge its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes Inc to form a new publicly traded company, the Justice Department said on Monday.

IHS Markit: Methanol demand growth driven by methanol-to-olefins, China demand

HOUSTON — Methanol, a basic chemical used to produce fuels and other traditional chemicals, is increasingly used in China to produce olefins in a process called methanol-to-olefins (MTO). By 2021, nearly one in five tons of global methanol production will be utilized for MTO production to satisfy expanding Chinese chemical demand, according to new analysis from IHS Markit.