Asia/Pacific
Thailand soars from 11th to 8th in global LNG import rankings with 25% surge
Thailand has jumped from eleventh to eighth in the world ranking for imports of LNG, after purchases through October soared 25% from the same period in 2022.
China sets minimum size for new refiners as it caps overall capacity
China has set a minimum size for new oil refineries and will ban small crude processors that claim to be chemicals or bitumen producers under its plan to limit total capacity at 1-B metric tons by 2025.
Philippines seeks gasoline price cut with higher ethanol blend
The Philippine government aims to lower domestic pump prices for gasoline by calling for a higher ethanol blend of 20% on a voluntary basis, from the current mandatory 10%.
Vitol to launch specialist biofuel bunker barges in early 2024
Global energy trader Vitol will be delivering specialized bunker barges at Singapore in early 2024, and will be able to offer a range of biofuel blends through its subsidiaries V-Bunkers and Vitol Bunkers.
Japan's Eneos shuts crude distillation unit at Sakai oil refinery
Japan's biggest oil refiner, Eneos Corp, shut the 141,000 bpd crude distillation unit at its Sakai refinery on Oct. 16 after a glitch.
Saudi minister says oil firm acquisitions show that hydrocarbons 'here to stay'
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said that acquisitions by major oil firms such as Chevron's $53 B all-stock deal to buy Hess showed that hydrocarbons were here to stay.
Evergreen and CIP team up to explore green shipping fuels
Evergreen Marine Corporation and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly explore production and usage of carbon-neutral e-fuels.
Singapore to roll out electronic bunker delivery notes from November
Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority will launch a digital bunkering initiative on Nov. 1, making the city-state the first port in the world to use electronic bunker fuel delivery notes.
Asia's lack of biofuels demand hinders investments
A lack of biofuels demand in Asia-Pacific is making it hard for companies to justify pumping billions of dollars into projects in the region despite growing decarbonization efforts worldwide.
Stamicarbon secures contracts for ultra-low energy urea plant in China
Shandong Lianmeng Chemical Company awards licensing and equipment supply contracts for a grassroots urea melt and prilling plant in China to Stamicarbon, the nitrogen technology licensor of MAIRE Group.

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