Asia/Pacific
Global: Russia’s plan to dominate fuel supply to Asia
Russia hopes to become a major supplier of gasoline, diesel fuel and other oil products to the Asia-Pacific region during the next several years, with help from the planned launch of large-scale refineries in the Far East that will be built with the participation of Asian investors.
Refining: Alkylation—What’s a refiner to do?
Within the refining industry, gasoline production and alkylation capacity are running at near all-time highs.
Editorial Comment: Ingenuity out of necessity
One of the main focal points in this issue of Hydrocarbon Processing is the environment.
Praxair starts up VPSA plants in South Korean petchem complex
DANBURY, Conn. — Praxair, Inc. announced it has started up three new vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) plants at the Daesan petrochemical complex located on the west coast of the Korean peninsula. Praxair will start up a fourth VPSA plant in early 2018.
Idemitsu restarts Chiba naphtha cracker
TOKYO (Reuters) — Japan's Idemitsu Kosan said on Wednesday it restarted the 414,000 tpy Chiba naphtha cracker after works to increase its capacity to process propane were completed.
S.Korea's SK Innovation to build new desulfurization unit by 2020
SEOUL (Reuters) — The owner of top South Korean oil refiner SK Energy said on Wednesday that it would spend about $897.8 MM to build a new desulfurization unit by 2020, part of a push to churn out cleaner shipping fuels.
Asian imports of Iranian oil hit highest in 6 mos
TOKYO (Reuters) — Imports of Iranian crude by major buyers in Asia rose in September for a third straight month to their highest since March, boosted by a surge in purchases in China and South Korea.
China's Sinopec mulls US oil projects ahead of Trump's visit
SINGAPORE (Reuters) — China's state oil major Sinopec is evaluating two projects in the United States that could boost Gulf Coast crude oil exports and also expand storage facilities in the Caribbean, two people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, with US President Donald Trump set to visit Beijing next week.
S.Korea's S-Oil expects strong refining margins for next 2 yr
SEOUL (Reuters) — South Korea's S-Oil corp said on Monday that profits from refining crude oil would stay strong for the next couple of years due to a tight outlook for supply.
Iran's crude, condensate exports to tumble to 19-month low in Oct
TOKYO/SINGAPORE (Reuters) — Iran's total crude and condensate exports for October are expected to tumble by nearly a fifth from the previous month to a 19-month low, dented by production issues, a person with knowledge of the country's tanker loading schedule said.

- Transition Industries signs agreements for the Pacifico Mexinol Project, an ultra-low carbon chemical production facility 7/3
- Bangkok Airways introduces SAF on commercial flights 7/3
- EcoCeres secures SAF contract with British Airways to help reduce carbon emissions 7/3
- Air Liquide to invest up to $200 MM in Louisiana, U.S. to support industrial growth 7/3
- MOL completes the acquisition of LBC Tank Terminals 7/3
- BHP awards charter contracts for two ammonia dual-fueled vessels 7/3