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Refining

Romney to attack Obama over US gasoline prices

An improving job market is prompting Mitt Romney to focus on rising gas prices as evidence President Obama has mismanaged the economy. Obama's political team is concerned rising gas prices will diminish some of the political advantage the president may gain from the improving economy.

Valero to shut Aruba refinery by end of March

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

The Texas-based refiner says it will suspend operations at the 235,000 bpd Aruba refinery by the end of the month because weak margins have led to financial losses.

Hess to explore sale of St. Lucia oil terminal

Hess Corp. announced Monday that it is exploring the sale of its St. Lucia crude oil and refined products storage and transshipment terminal in the Caribbean. The news comes two months after Hess unveiled plans to shut down its Hovensa refinery venture in St. Croix.

Eni sees 2012–2015 output growth above 3% per year on higher capex

Eni SpA, Italy's biggest oil and natural gas company by volume, said Thursday that its new, four-year, EUR59.6 billion investment plan estimates average annual hydrocarbon production growth of more than 3% through 2015.

Essar commissions diesel hydrotreater unit in India

Essar Energy plc, the India-focused integrated energy company, announced that Essar Oil Ltd. has successfully commissioned diesel hydrotreater unit 1 (DHDT-1) as part of the Phase I expansion at its Vadinar refinery in India.

Sinopec orders advanced water treatment system for Yangzi complex

Siemens Industry Automation Division is providing another Zimpro wet air oxidation (WAO) system to treat wastewater at Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Co., Ltd.'s facility, near the Yangzi River in Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.

Total signs on for new refining project in China

Total signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) and Petrochemicals Industries Co. (PIC) for the planned development of a 300,000 bpd full-conversion refinery integrated with petrochemicals complex with Sinopec.

National fuel-retailing association speaks out on rising transportation fuel prices

"The retail fuels market is a complex system that is influenced by a wide number of factors. The best strategy for providing long-term relief and stability to consumers is to enact a comprehensive transportation energy policy," National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Vice President of Government Relations, John Eichberger, told Congress.

EIA raises oil price forecast for 2012

In its March "Short-Term Energy Report," the DOE/EIA raised its oil price forecast for 2012 to $106/bbl, up $5/bbl from the previous forecast amid concerns over geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, growth in world demand and supply constraints in non-OPEC countries.

OPEC pins high oil prices on speculators, IEA warns of supply woes

Leaders of some of the world's largest oil producing nations Wednesday pinned current high oil prices primarily on market speculators, just as consuming nations warned that even present increased output levels are being more than offset by numerous supply problems.