Americas
ConocoPhillips looking to sell Alliance refinery in Louisiana - report
ConocoPhillips is seeking buyers for its Alliance refinery in Belle Chasse, La., Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the company's plans. The refinery has 247,000 bpd of capacity, making it the 20th largest in the US, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Flint Hills acquires idled Nebraska biodiesel plant
Flint Hills Resources is acquiring an idled biodiesel plant in Beatrice, Neb., through a bankruptcy sale. The Beatrice plant was built in 2008 but was never in service. The plant is designed to produce 50 million gal/year of biodiesel.
Topsøe to supply equipment for new Petrobras refinery in Brazil
Topsoe has signed an agreement with Brazilian oil major Petrobras to supply critical equipment and materials for two SNOX plants. The SNOX plants will clean the off gases from three boilers in the refinery that supplies electricity and steam for internal use.
Developing nations seen making better efforts on climate change - official
Developing countries are making more effort to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions than the developing world and that imbalance is threatening the future of the Kyoto Protocol, Venezuela's climate change representative said Tuesday.
Jacobs to design sulfuric acid coolers for El Dorado
Jacobs said that its Canada-based Chemetics unit in Pickering, Ontario, has been awarded a design and fabrication contract by El Dorado Chemical Co. for three proprietary designed sulfuric acid coolers to be installed in the company's acid plant in El Dorado, Ark. The scope involves the design and fabrication of drying, interpass and final anodically protected sulfuric acid coolers.
US says nations must adhere to CO2 pact
The US said Monday that any future emission reduction accord must equally apply to industrialized countries and the major emerging economies such as China. The US, which isn't a member of the Kyoto Protocol, said it takes climate change seriously but any accord has to have equal application to the US and major emerging economies in order to be passed.
Dow, Saudi Aramco finalize Sadara chemical JV; senior officials named
Dow Chemical and Saudi Aramco on Monday announced the official formation of Sadara Chemical Co. (Sadara), a joint venture between the two companies. First production units are expected to come on line in the second half of 2015. All units are expected to be up and running in 2016.
GTL base oil shipments from Shell Qatar venture begin reaching Americas
Shell Lubricants says its first shipment of gas-to-liquid (GTL) base oil has reached the Port of Houston. The high-quality product, the first from the Qatar-based Pearl GTL plant to reach the Americas, will be stored at a hub in Houston and routed to Shell Lubricants' GTL-enabled blending facilities throughout the US, the company said.
Solutia closes deal to buy Southwall Technologies
US-based specialty chemicals firm Solutia has completed its previously-announced acquisition of Southwall Technologies, a producer of energy-saving films and glass products for the automotive and architectural markets. The acquisition was completed on Monday with a merger of a subsidiary of Solutia into Southwall.
Chilean power company Colbun considers partner in possible LNG project
Chilean power generator Colbun is considering a partner for a possible liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification plant, the company's chief executive said. LNG has become an important part of Chile's energy matrix in recent years.

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