New greenfield chemical plant in Siberia to use SUEZ technology

SUEZ has signed a contract for a large wastewater treatment project and has been awarded an associated 10-year service agreement with Irkutsk Polymer Plant of Irkutsk Oil Company, one of the largest independent oil and gas producers located in Russia

Alfa Laval to test new fuels for more sustainable shipping

Alfa Laval will soon start testing two new types of marine fuels in its strive towards zero carbon shipping.

Caribbean refinery to test promises on poverty and pollution

St. Croix is a long way from the U.S. mainland. But the battle over the refinery's pollution on this Caribbean island and tourist resort is one of the first tests of how the Biden administration will prioritize environmental justice.

Missile strikes hit oil refineries in north Syria, killing one

Deadly explosions rocked local oil refineries near the towns of al-Bab and Jarablus, sparking large fires and injuring several people.

Spain's Cepsa expects COVID-19 to keep squeezing oil refining margins

Spanish oil company Cepsa said it expects the coronavirus pandemic to keep downward pressure on its refining margins and demand for refined products in Europe in the next few months.

Latam lags in energy transition race; urgent needs unmet

As oil majors and developed nations push for a faster transition to clean energy, much of Latin America is struggling just to cover its basic supply needs for fossil fuels, which is forcing some countries to actually rely more on dirty energy sources. Experts speaking at this year’s all-virtual CERAWeek conference said a portion of Latin America could fall behind in the energy transition due to outdated policies and resource nationalism in nations like Venezuela and Mexico, combined with an urgent need for cheap imported fuel.

UK to introduce petrol with 10% bioethanol

E10 fuel – petrol blended with 10% bioethanol – is set to be introduced in the UK in September.

Prax concludes purchase of Total’s UK refinery, downstream assets

Prax Group has completed its proposed acquisition of Total SE’s UK downstream business, including subsidiary Total Lindsey Oil Refinery Ltd.’s 109,000-b/d refinery in North Killingholme, Immingham, Lincolnshire, and associated logistics assets.

IChemE announces 2021 Medals and Prizes recipients

ICHEME has announced that it is recognising more than 30 chemical engineers with prizes and medals for their exceptional contributions to the profession within research and academia.

Partners move closer to first-of-its-kind CO2-to-methanol plant

CIVIL engineering is now underway for a first-of-its-kind 110,000 t/y carbon dioxide (CO2)-to-methanol plant that will recycle industrial waste gases. This follows project partner Carbon Recycling International (CRI) achieving a major milestone by completing and delivering the process design package.

Drax scraps plan for new gas-fired power plant

DRAX has decided to abandon a controversial plan to build Europe’s biggest gas-fired power plant, in North Yorkshire, UK.

Equinor and Engie announce hydrogen partnership

EQUINOR and Engie have announced a partnership for the development of low-carbon hydrogen.

UK announces nuclear waste competition winners

FOURTEEN companies have won contracts in a £3.9m (US$5.5m) competition aimed at developing a waste toolkit that will contribute to meeting the aims of the nation’s nuclear sector deal.

Consortium investigates Australian P2X industry

A RESEARCH consortium led by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Australia is investigating the potential to grow a new power-to-X (P2X) industry to benefit a range of New South Wales (NSW) infrastructure. The industry could contribute to accelerating a hydrogen economy.

Accelerating novel vaccine inactivation method

SEEKING to accelerate a novel method for producing inactivated vaccines to market and ensure competitivity, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation has partnered with a specialist machinery manufacturer and an information analysis company. The novel method could make vaccine production faster, safer, and cheaper.

Velocys signs agreement for commercial-scale biomass-to-jet fuel in Japan

VELOCYS has signed a collaboration agreement with Toyo Engineering to produce renewable fuels in Japan at commercial scale.

ExxonMobil creates low-carbon business

EXXONMOBIL has created a new business unit to commercialise its low-carbon portfolio, which it is calling Low Carbon Solutions (LCS).

Howard Energy completes purchase of Javelina gas plant

AstraZeneca plans to expand European vaccine manufacturing

ASTRAZENECA has signed a deal with IDT Biologika to explore options to accelerate manufacturing of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine in Europe.

Closure of Altona refinery fuels concerns about Australian manufacturing

EXXONMOBIL is closing its Altona refinery in Victoria, Australia. The decision comes hot on the heels of BP’s plans to shut the Kwinana refinery and has elevated concerns about fuel security and the future of downstream manufacturing in Australia.

UK offers £40m for manufacturers to plan and deploy greener technologies

THE UK Government is offering £40m (US$56m) in funding for energy-intensive companies to conduct feasibility and engineering studies, and deploy greener technologies.

Petrobras finds buyer for RLAM refinery

Australia plans network of hydrogen clusters

A NETWORK of hydrogen technology clusters is to be established across Australia with the aim of creating a globally competitive hydrogen industry.

IOC adding new processing unit at Haldia refinery

Indian Oil Corp.has broken ground on construction of a new processing unit to improve quality and production capacity of lubricant base oils at its recently expanded 8-million tonnes/year refinery in Haldia, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India.

CVR Energy advances alkylation unit revamp at Wynnewood refinery

CVR Energy Inc. has let a contract to KBR Inc. to provide a suite of additional services for the second phase of a proposed project to convert process technology of an existing hydrofluoric acid alkylation unit at a subsidiary refinery in Wynnewood, Okla.