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Europe

Urals and Azeri Light differentials weaker

MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Urals differentials BFO-URL-E BFO-URL-NWE weakened in a Surgutneftegaz tender because of higher than expected supply in January, though trading activity was quite low before the long Christmas weekend in Europe.

SOCAR signs license agreements with Technip, Axens, others

On Dec. 20, technology license agreements were signed between SOCAR and Technip, Univation, Axens, and SinopecTech. The agreements envisage advanced processing of natural gas and production polymer products using technology as a part of SOCAR GPC project.

Petronas to adjust crude production

Following the pact made in Vienna, Austria on Dec. 10 between OPEC and non-OPEC producers, Petronas will make a voluntary adjustment to Malaysia’s crude oil production starting from January 2017.

Axens awarded PolyFuel supply contract for Petrobrazi refinery

OMV Petrom has selected Axens to supply the PolyFuel technology for its project at the Petrobrazi Refinery. The capacity of the project is 200,000 tpy.

Neste implements NAPCON controller to Forchem Oy distillation plant

Neste Jacobs has implemented NAPCON Controller to Forchem Oy's tall oil distillation plant. Forchem Oy owns and operates a world scale tall oil distillation plant in the city of Rauma on the West Coast of Finland.

Russia to cut oil exports outside FSU by 380,000 t in Q1

MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia will cut oil exports to foreign markets outside the former Soviet Union (FSU) by 380,000 t in the first quarter of 2017 from the fourth quarter of 2016, oil pipeline monopoly Transneft said on Tuesday.

Three new reactors arrive at ExxonMobil's Rotterdam refinery

Three brand new reactors for ExxonMobil’s new hydrocracker arrived at the Rotterdam, Netherlands, refinery site last week. After the arrival of the vacuum tower early this fall, the arrival of the new reactors highlights the progress of the construction that is well underway at the Rotterdam refinery.

Neste enters Viking Line partnership to deliver low-sulfur fuel

Neste and Viking Line have entered into a partnership contract for the delivery of low-sulfur marine fuel in 2017. The contract covers Viking Line's Baltic Sea passenger ships.

Oil tanker firm Frontline sees strong start to 2017

OSLO (Reuters) -- Crude tanker operator Frontline expects strong demand for its vessels at the start of 2017 and could benefit from oil producers' pact to cut output if it forces Asian buyers to go further afield for supplies, its chief executive said.

Russia’s first catalyst test center opens at the Gazprom Neft refinery

Gazprom Neft has opened an engineering center for the testing of secondary-refining catalysts in Omsk. Russia’s first ever pilot facility for catalytic cracking has begun work within the center, allowing catalysts to be tested on various types of feedstock, as well as identifying the conditions and regimes most appropriate for catalytic cracking facilities throughout Russia’s refineries.