Biofuels
Oxford Catalysts to design new biomass-to-liquids plant in Oregon
The BTL project was recently awarded a $4.1 million grant from the US Department of Defense (under the Defense Production Act, Title III), which will help fund detailed engineering for a 1,100-bpd BTL facility. The project will have an opportunity to apply for a further grant.
Royal Dutch Shell appoints van Beurden next CEO
The Board of Royal Dutch Shell has announced that Ben van Beurden will succeed Peter Voser as CEO, effective January 1, 2014. Mr. Van Beurden, 55, has been Shell’s downstream director since January 2013.
Vivergo Fuels opens major, wheat-fed bioethanol plant in UK
The greenfield biorefinery from Vivergo Fuels, operating on UK feed wheat, is highly energy efficient with distillation, dehydration and evaporation integrated uniquely, reducing energy consumption. The plant adheres to EU sustainability criteria for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) savings.
REG starts up new biorefinery in Northeast Texas
The largest US biodiesel producer hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of major upgrades at the New Boston biorefinery, located about 150 miles east of Dallas. REG acquired the 15 million gal/year refinery in November 2012 after it had been shut down for nearly four years.
HP Brief
Gazprom Neft refines Euro 5 diesel fuelGazprom Neft’s Moscow oil refinery has launched production of Euro 5 diesel fuel. Starting last month, all diesel fuel supplied by the Moscow oil refinery t..
HP Construction Profile: European refiner makes significant processing advancements
At the Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi refinery, Eni is moving forward with leading-edge technological breakthroughs to produce “clean” transportation fuels. This refinery has a balanced 190,00..
Haldor Topsøe, Phillips 66, others produce gasoline from woody biomass
In the future, biomass may be a significant feedstock source and Haldor Topsøe expects that the combination of technologies used will be part of the solution to future fuel supply. The integrated pilot plant consists of Andritz Carbona gasification and Andritz Carbona/Haldor Topsøe catalytic reforming.
US Supreme Court rejects challenges to E15
The court is refusing to consider legal challenges by several industry trade groups against an Environmental Protection Agency move to expand ethanol use in the US.
Technip wins process design work on new Finland biomass-to-liquid plant
Technip will develop the process design package of the hydrogen production unit of the plant, based on its steam reformer proprietary technology, and will prepare the FEED for the hydrogen production, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and refining units. Work is scheduled to be completed in early 2014.
Neste Oil to buy algae oils from Cellana to use as biofuels feedstock
The agreement will enable Neste Oil to purchase Cellana's algae oil for use as a feedstock in the future for producing renewable fuel. The deal is contingent on Cellana's future production capacity and on compliance with future biofuel legislation in the EU and US, among other factors.

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- Digital Feature: Flare system design—The importance of periodic evaluation of existing facilities 7/2
- Valmet to deliver Valmet DNA DCS to a bio-based process plant in Portugal 7/2
- EIA: U.S. crude and gasoline inventories rise, distillates draw down 7/2
- Indonesia's Pertamina seeks spot gasoline, including Singapore cargoes 7/2
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