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Air Products inks new hydrogen supply agreement with Motiva refinery in Louisiana

Air Products has agreed to a long-term deal with Motiva to supply additional hydrogen for Motiva’s Convent refinery in Louisiana. The hydrogen supply, which has already commenced, is from Air Products' industry-leading Gulf Coast hydrogen pipeline supply network that serves multiple refinery and petrochemical companies in the region, the company said.

Foster Wheeler starts second phase of Colombia refinery modernization

Foster Wheeler has begun the second phase of its existing contract with Ecopetrol S.A. for a refinery modernization project at Barrancabermeja (PMRB) in Colombia.

Eastman completes Sterling Chemicals acquisition

Eastman Chemical has completed its acquisition of Sterling Chemicals, a single-site North American petrochemical producer, for $100 million in cash. This acquisition includes Sterling’s plasticizer and acetic acid manufacturing assets in Texas City, Texas.

Air Products to supply hydrogen for Shell Deer Park refinery in Texas

Air Products announced a long-term agreement with Shell Oil to supply a significant portion of the hydrogen requirements at Shell's refinery in Deer Park, Texas. The hydrogen supply will commence in mid-2013, the company said.

Solazyme, Bunge JV plots Brazil renewable oil plant

US-based renewable oil and bioproducts company Solazyme has entered into a framework agreement with agribusiness firm Bunge for a joint venture focused on the production of triglyceride oils in Brazil. The venture anticipates building a 100,000 tpy renewable oil production facility located at a Bunge owned sugar cane mill in Brazil, it said.

NuStar, EOG to build rail offloading facility at Louisiana crude terminal

NuStar Logistics and EOG Resources have agreed to jointly develop, build and own a 70,000-bpd unit train offloading facility at NuStar’s crude oil terminal in St. James, La. The project will facilitate movement and storage of crude oil production from the Bakken, Eagle Ford and other developing shale plays in the US, the companies said.

US hikes storm forecast as Gulf season nears peak

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) elevated its forecast on Friday for the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, raising the number of expected named storms from its preseason outlook and potentially threatening refining and petrochemical operations along the US Gulf coast and eastern seaboard.

SunPower to develop solar panel plant in Mexico

SunPower Corp. plans to build a solar panel manufacturing facility in Mexicali, Mexico, to meet the demand of a growing North American solar market, the firm said on Friday. SunPower plans to lease an existing building, which has up to 320,000 square feet of capacity, it said.

PPG to acquire Colombia coatings business

PPG Industries has agreed to purchase the coatings businesses of Colpisa Colombiana de Pinturas, a privately-owned Colombian coatings company, and its affiliates, including Colpisa Ecuador. The transaction is expected to close no later than the end of the first quarter 2012, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, the company said.

Plains expands capacity of Texas crude pipeline

Plains All American Pipeline said on Thursday that it recently increased the available throughput capacity of its 80-mile Mesa pipeline system in Texas by 100,000 bpd to approximately 420,000 bpd overall.