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Refining

EU extends import duties on US biodiesel to 2020

The EU first set the duties in 2009 on several US producers of biodiesel, including Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill. In making the decision, the European Commission came to the conclusion that the US tax credit of $1/gal of biodiesel was harming European producers.

KBC wins new reliability, engineering contracts from major Russian refiner

This contract follows the initial study phase performed by KBC, with this awarded implementation phase being an 18-month engagement. The services provided are aimed at enhancing maintenance and reliability performance at multiple refining sites to allow the client to deliver stronger results.

ExxonMobil to build Singapore synthetic lube plant

When completed in the second half of 2017, the new ExxonMobil facility will be the only plant in the Asia-Pacific region producing Mobil 1, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil.

API: Study shows US ethanol mandates in RFS as safety risk

HP Editorial Staff: HP Editorial Staff

The statutory biofuel mandates in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are infeasible to achieve in 2015 and beyond and may harm US consumers, according to the API study.

Flint Hills contracts Wood Group for engineering of Corpus refinery upgrade

Wood Group Mustang completed the conceptual and front-end engineering design phases of the project and is now providing detail engineering, procurement services, module fabrication oversight and construction engineering support services. Work is being done in Houston and Bogota, Colombia.

Total limits Texas refinery operations after worker dies in bulldozer accident

Thomas Courts, a 66-year-old contractor from Denton, Texas, drowned in the large pit beneath the coker after the bulldozer he was driving flipped over early on Saturday.

Fire injures four at REG’s biorefinery in Louisiana

The fire injured four people, REG reported, including one REG employee and three contractors. All are being treated at the Baton Rouge General Hospital. REG noted that emergency crews quickly responded to contain the fire, and it was declared completely extinguished by 4:20 a.m.

Gevo completes first US marine sales of gasoline blended with isobutanol

Gevo's bio-based isobutanol helps meet renewable fuel and clean air standards, while solving concerns that many boaters have with ethanol-blended fuels, which can damage internal engine parts.

API: New EIA report shows US crude oil exports could lower fuel costs

“The EIA report provides a final, non-partisan confirmation that ‘70s-era trade restrictions on US oil are bad for American consumers,” said Kyle Isakower, the API's vice president of regulatory and economic policy.

Unload the SRU to reduce operating costs and plugging problems

Thiosolv LLC: Anderson, M.C.
Wood Group Mustang: Kolodziej, R.

The SWAATS process can unload SRU capacity and reduce plugging problems and operating costs in a safer and environmentally-friendly way, especially as refiners find rising amounts of ammonia and SWSG.