Biofuels
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.
Murphy Oil to spin off US downstream business
Murphy Oil on Tuesday said it expects to complete the spinoff of Murphy USA in 2013. Murphy USA’s business will consist of retail marketing of petroleum products, a chain of retail gasoline stations, seven product distribution terminals and two ethanol production facilities in North Dakota and Texas.
HP Innovations: Innovations
Invensys introduces new technology offeringsSoftware and technology provider Invensys Operations Management recently released a program to help clients modernize and improve the performance of aging c..
HP Construction: North America
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has a contract from Methanex Corp. to provide engineering, procurement and construction services for a methanol production facility in Louisiana. Officials estimate the c..
HP Construction: Europe
Clariant has inaugurated what is said to be Germany’s biggest pilot plant for producing climate-friendly cellulose ethanol from agricultural waste. Located in Straubing, Bavaria, and supported by..
Eni to convert Venice refinery to biofuels plant
The Italian firm plans to start biofuels production in January 2014 and complete the conversion in the first half of 2015, citing a crisis hitting the European refining sector.
Valero restarts US ethanol plants as margins swell
Valero idled operations in Nebraska and Indiana in June, citing unprofitable returns. Each plant has the capacity to produce 120 million gal/year of ethanol. “Ethanol margins improved to the point where it became feasible to operate the plants again,” said Bill Day, Valero spokesman.
EU plans to limit use of food-based biofuels
The European Union's climate-change commissioner Connie Hedegaard and energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger said Monday they wanted to cap the share of energy in the transportation sector from food crop-based biofuels - such as rapeseed or palm oil - at current levels.
- UPM unlocks new bio-based markets as Leuna biorefinery produces its first commercial product 12/19
- Stamicarbon awarded technology licensing contract for new urea plant in Eastern China 12/19
- Ford takes $19.5-B writedown on EV business 12/19
- Babcock & Wilcox awarded $40-MM contract for advanced wet gas scrubbing technology at Canadian petroleum refinery 12/19
- Aarti Industries secures methanol and toluene feedstock supply through multiple long-term contracts 12/19
- bp picks first outsider CEO Meg O'Neill after abrupt Auchincloss exit 12/19

