Americas
US grants $5m to Gevo to develop cellulosic jet fuel
Renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels firm Gevo received a $5 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the development of biojet fuel from woody biomass and forest product residues.
Linde wins top award for chemical railcar safety
The North American business of gases and engineering firm Linde has been awarded the top chemical safety award for 2010 from Norfolk Southern. This is the fourth year in a row and the 10th time that Linde in North America has been recognized by Norfolk Southern since the award was instituted 15 years ago.
Enterprise, Enbridge plan Cushing-to-Gulf pipeline
Enterprise Products and Enbridge are planning to design, construct and operate a new pipeline to transport crude oil from the oversupplied Cushing hub in Oklahoma to the Texas Gulf Coast refining complex outside Houston.
Shell shuts down large Singapore refinery after fire
Shell is in the process of shutting down its 500,000 bpd refinery in Pulau Bukom, Singapore, following the recent fire at the facility, company officials said on Thursday. The fire, which began on Wednesday and may have been started during maintenance work, has been extinguished. However, there are still traces of fuel vapor, according to Shell officials.
API seeks delay of US EPA refinery emissions rules
The American Petroleum Institute (API) is asking the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for additional time to make comments on EPA's proposed rules for emissions from the production of oil and natural gas. API also asked for the EPA to delay its proposed rule for refinery emissions to allow adequate time for EPA to review emissions data submitted by industrial facilities this month, it said.
Albemarle forms new pollution control division
US-based specialty chemicals firm Albemarle has formed an environmental division, seeking to enhance what it called an “important market segment” within the air pollution control industry. Albemarle’s environmental division is focused on expanding the product and service offerings for the company’s environmental business through the development of multi-pollutant control technologies, it said.
Honeywell wins top automation solutions award
Frost & Sullivan recognized Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) with its 2011 global award for customer value enhancement in the world automation services space. Honeywell’s "customer first" approach is reflected in its innovative, customer-friendly, and value-added service offerings, the firm said.
Gateway Energy acquires New York natgas pipeline
Gateway Energy has closed on its acquisition to acquire a natural gas pipeline in New York from American Midstream for an undisclosed price. The pipeline delivers natural gas into a plant owned by Owens Corning in Delmar, New York.
Yara opens fertilizer import terminal in Louisiana
Yara has opened its new NOLA import fertilizer terminal in Convent, St. James Parish, La., located approximately 60 miles up the Mississippi River from New Orleans. With its opening, the fully-operational terminal will provide increased access to imported urea to agricultural markets both locally and throughout the Midwest and Eastern US via rail.
Amyris, Michelin to develop renewable isoprene
US renewable chemicals and fuels firm Amyris has agreed to work with tire company Michelin on the development and commercialization of renewable isoprene, the chemical building block in rubber tires and other products that use synthetic and natural rubbers.

- Ergon to invest $400 MM to expand gasoline production at Vicksburg refinery (U.S.) 4/2
- DB Schenker to use Neste's renewable diesel to decarbonize logistics in Asia 4/2
- U.S. EPA's upcoming proposal on biofuel blending mandates to cover two years 4/2
- ExxonMobil to invest more than $100 MM in Baton Rouge upgrade to produce high-purity isopropyl alcohol 4/2
- Stockholm Exergi to begin building one of the world's largest carbon capture projects using CATACARB Enhanced HPC 4/2
- Quaker Houghton completes its acquisition of Dipsol Chemicals and announces its acquisition of Natech 4/2