Biofuels
REG makes second US biodiesel facility acquisition in three weeks
The US-based Renewable Energy Group (REG) has announced the purchase of a 15-MMgpy biodiesel production plant near Atlanta, Georgia. The company has not yet set a production date for the restart of the facility, which has operated intermittently since January 2008.
EPA denies request to waive US ethanol mandate for gasoline blending
The EPA said Friday it hadn't found any evidence that its renewable fuel standard is causing economic harm. Cattle ranchers and dairy farmers, who use corn to feed cattle, have complained for several months that the ethanol mandate was driving up demand for dwindling supplies of corn.
Consider new technologies to raise diesel yield in bottom-of-barrel products
The debate continues over adding a new delayed coker vs. a residue hydrocracker upstream of an existing delayed coker.
HP Viewpoint: Age of turbulence: Charting the refining course toward a profitable future
High-performing enterprises draw on external expertise during all project phases, from scouting and front-end engineering and development through to operations.
HP Brief: Brief
Marathon Petroleum Corp. plans to purchase BP’s Texas City refinery and related assets Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC) has signed a definitive agreement to purchase BP’s 451,000-bpcd Texas Ci..
HP Construction: Europe
Alfa Laval has an order to supply its compact heat exchangers to a petrochemical company in Western Europe. The order is valued at approximately SEK 70 million. Delivery of the exchangers is scheduled..
HP Innovations: Innovations
Neste Oil makes progress on microbial oil plantFinland’s Neste Oil recently completed the first phase of a pilot plant for producing microbial oil. The €8 million plant is expected to be com..
REG to buy, restart east Texas biodiesel refinery
The New Boston facility began production in June 2008 and has been idled for approximately four years. Brad Albin, REG vice president of manufacturing, said the plant will undergo some construction and minor upgrades prior to the facility's start-up, which is expected in the first quarter of 2013.
BP cancels plan for Florida cellulosic ethanol plant
While ending its pursuit of commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production in the US, BP continues to invest in and operate its world-class biofuels research facility in San Diego, California, and a demonstration plant in Jennings, Louisiana, to further develop next-generation biofuel technologies.
EU proposes to reduce use of food-based biofuels
The European Commission is proposing to limit the share of energy from food crop-based biofuels to no more than 5% of the total energy used in the transport sector in 2020. That represents roughly the current amount of food crop-based biofuels used in EU transport fuels.

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