Americas
API says decision on Keystone pipeline project essential to jobs
API called on the US Department of State today to approve the Keystone pipeline project as soon as possible “as a matter of critical national interest.” The pipeline, which would be built by TransCanada Corp., would be part of a pipeline system bringing oil from Alberta’s oil sands region in Canada to US refineries.
Hovensa to pay $5.3 million penalty for Clean Air Act violations
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Justice announced today that Hovensa LLC, owner of the second largest petroleum refinery in the United States, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of more than $5.3 million and spend more than $700 million in new pollution controls that will help protect public health and resolve Clean Air Act violations at its refinery in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.
Hovensa closing units and reducing crude distillation capacity
Hovensa plans to shut down certain processing units on the west side of its refinery in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. This action will reduce the refinery’s crude oil distillation capacity from 500,000 bpd to 350,000 bpd, with no impact on the capacity of its coker or fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit.
Fieldbus Foundation welcomes latest EDDL enhancements
The Fieldbus Foundation today announced it welcomes the latest enhancements to electronic device description language (EDDL), which are incorporated in the second edition of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61804-3 standard.
Endicott Biofuels building second-generation biorefinery in Texas
Endicott Biofuels (EBF) has signed an agreement with KMTEX to construct a 30-million gpy biorefinery in Port Arthur, Texas, that will employ EBF’s proprietary technology for the production of high-purity biodiesel.
Enerkem gets loan guarantee for Mississippi waste-to-fuel biorefinery
Enerkem Corp. has obtained a conditional commitment for an $80 million loan guarantee by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), for the construction of its waste-to-biofuels project in Pontotoc, Mississippi, which will transform Northeast Mississippi’s municipal solid waste into ethanol.
ONEOK Partners invests in additional natural gas processing plant in North Dakota
ONEOK Partners plans to invest another $260 million to $305 million between now and the end of 2014 for additional projects in the Bakken Shale in the Williston Basin of North Dakota.
NPRA says EPA decision on E15 could hurt consumers
Charles T. Drevna, president of NPRA, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, issued the following statement in response to the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency today approving a 50 percent increase in the amount of ethanol allowed in gasoline used by cars and light trucks manufactured in the 2001-2006 model years.
NPRA praises President Obama’s action on regulations
President Obama’s announcement today that he has ordered a review to identify federal regulations that can be eliminated because they hinder economic growth and job creation is welcome news for every American.
Samsung Engineering breaks into the US plant market
Samsung Engineering has signed a contract for a $411 million chlor-alkali plant with Dow-Mitsui Chlor-Alkali LLC, a joint-venture comprised of Dow Chemical (US) and Mitsui (Japan).
- LyondellBasell to likely begin closure of Houston refinery (U.S.) this weekend 1/22
- Enilive (Eni) starts SAF production at 400,000-tpy Gela biorefinery in Sicily 1/22
- Digital Exclusive (sponsored): Improve efficiency via centralized data and advanced collaboration 1/22
- Topsoe to provide technology to Chuangui Lingang New Energy's 300,000-tpy SAF/renewable diesel plant in China 1/22
- Sri Lanka agrees with China's Sinopec to fast-track $3.7-B refinery 1/22
- South Korea's GS Caltex plans Yeosu refinery maintenance in late February 1/22
