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Europe

Braskem signs partnership with Haldor Topsoe to develop biobased MEG

SAO PAULO — Braskem, the American producer of thermoplastic resins, and Danish-based Haldor Topsoe, a company in catalysts and surface science, have signed a technological cooperation agreement to develop a pioneering route to produce monoethylene glycol (MEG) from sugar. The agreement calls for the construction of a demonstration plant in Denmark, with operation slated to begin in 2019.

China's CEFC, Rosneft to study South China petchem complex

BEIJING/MOSCOW (Reuters) — Private conglomerate CEFC China Energy and Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft have agreed to study the possibility of building a petrochemical complex in South China, Rosneft said on Friday.

Alfa Laval Wins $6.6 MM Refinery Order

LUND, Sweden — Alfa Laval, a company in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling, has won an order to supply welded heat exchangers to a refinery in the Middle East.

Poland's Lotos gets first delivery of crude oil from US ‍​

WARSAW (Reuters) — Poland’s state-run refiner, Lotos, got its first shipment of crude oil from the United States on Thursday, part of its wider plan to diversify oil supplies and reduce reliance on Russian deliveries.

Neste, Bapco renew base oils agreement produced at Bahrain plant

A new commercial agreement defines a renewed cooperation model for calendar year 2018. It secures Neste a significant share of the output of the base oils JV plant for 2018, allowing Neste to continue supplying its full customer portfolio, and enabling Bapco to launch its own brand to the global market from Jan. 1, 2018.

OPEC says electric vehicles could lead oil demand to plateau in 2030s

LONDON (Reuters) — A rapid adoption of electric vehicles could cause world oil demand to reach a plateau in the second half of the 2030s, OPEC said in a report, a potential setback for the oil exporter group's longer-term prospects.

Ethanol-based fuel becomes top-selling petrol in France

PARIS (Reuters) — Gasoline containing up to 10% of ethanol has become the top-selling petrol in France, its largest market in the European Union, helped by a tax break that made the crop-based fuel more attractive to drivers, French ethanol producers said on Tuesday.

Italy seizes 100 t of diesel on ship sailing from Libya

ROME (Reuters) — Italian police said on Saturday they had seized more than 100 t of contraband diesel from a ship which set sail from Libya and arrested the captain for smuggling and money-laundering.

Oil near 2-yr high as tightening market attracts buyers

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) — Oil prices rose on Friday, nearing their highest levels in more than 2 yr, with buyers attracted by expectations of an extension to a global pact to cut output that has reduced oversupply.

CB&I awarded engineering, procurement, supply contract for LUKOIL

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — CB&I announced it has been awarded a contract by LUKOIL NizhegorodNefteorgSyntez, a subsidiary of JSC LUKOIL, for the detailed engineering, procurement and supply of process equipment, including two proprietary delayed coking heaters for the Deep Conversion Complex in Kstovo City, central Russia.