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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

Axens: Morel, F.  |  Duddy, J.  |  Wisdom, L.

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

Shell Global Solutions International BV: Ozmen, S. M.

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

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

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

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Meche, Helen

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

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Blume, Adrienne

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.