Europe
BASF foam chemical plant suffers further setback
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- BASF has suffered a further setback at its Ludwigshafen plant which makes materials for soft foams used in mattresses and car seats, saying a technical defect in a new reactor would reduce output into next year.
Oil slips further below $56 on report of US inventory jump
LONDON (Reuters) -- Oil slipped further below $56 a barrel on Wednesday as an industry report showing a large rise in US crude inventories signaled ample supply, even as OPEC achieves record compliance with its supply-cut accord.
Field narrows in bidding for Italy's TotalErg petrol stations
MILAN/LONDON (Reuters) -- The field of prospective bidders for the Italian petrol station network belonging to Total and Italian energy group Erg has narrowed, leaving only a handful of interested parties undertaking due diligence checks on the business, sources familiar with the matter said.
Rosneft faces $100-MM bill to boost safety at Bashneft refineries
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia's top oil producer Rosneft will have to spend up to $100 million to improve standards at ageing refineries it bought last year, industry sources have told Reuters.
China steps up Russian oil imports as teapots buy Urals crude
MOSCOW/SINGAPORE (Reuters) -- Russian crude imports to China have risen in early 2017 as the country's independent, or teapot, refiners have expanded their diet to include the Urals grade, trade sources said on Tuesday.
BP to fuel McLaren F1 team after ExxonMobil split
LONDON (Reuters) -- BP and its Castrol brand will supply the McLaren Formula One team with fuel and lubricants this season in addition to rivals Renault.
Oil rises on signs of widespread OPEC deal compliance
LONDON (Reuters) -- Oil prices rose about $1 on Friday after reports that OPEC members delivered more than 90% of the output cuts they pledged in a landmark deal that came into force in January.
Rosneft's Volga refineries in limbo over tax reform, low oil prices
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Some of the domestic refineries of Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft have been hit hard by tax reforms and weaker oil prices, putting a strain on profits, sources and analysts told Reuters on Friday.
UK grocer first in Europe to use new trucks fueled by food waste
ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) -- A British supermarket has become the first retailer in Europe to use a new type of tank that keeps trucks motoring on fuel made from food waste for 500 miles, almost twice the current average.
Russia to boost Urals exports in first half despite cutting oil output with OPEC
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia is set to post higher exports of Urals crude for the first half of this year despite cutting oil production ahead of schedule under a deal with OPEC aimed at boosting prices.
- bp's Whiting refinery union workers reject contract extension 2/2
- China's CNPC set to restart Dalian refinery to process Russian oil 2/2
- Dow announces 2029 startup of Phase 1 of its $7.5-B Path2Zero ethylene project 2/2
- Valero Energy Q4 profit beats estimates; shares surge 1/30
- Dow launches "Transform to Outperform" to raise the competitive industry benchmark for productivity and growth to enable improved returns 1/30
- Russian oil refineries' peak maintenance expected in January and September 1/30

