Europe
Iran’s lack of storage access limits oil exports to European refiners
Some 45-50 million barrels of Iran's oil are estimated to be held in tankers at sea, barely changed from the amounts thought to be in floating storage before sanctions were lifted at the start of the year.
Morocco’s refiner Samir appeals liquidation ruling
Samir, controlled by Corral Petroleum, halted production last August due to financial difficulties. "We had 10 days to file an appeal and we finally did it on Thursday," Samir's lawyer said.
Russia exports more oil as refineries go offline
Russian refineries traditionally have the largest offline capacity in April, as companies scramble to finish maintenance before consumption of oil products peaks in summer.
EU clears Statoil to buy Shell’s Danish fuels unit
The European Commission had been concerned that the deal could have led to Danish consumers paying more for their fuel, diesel, gasoline and light heating oil.
US expands imports of Nigerian oil as refiners turn to West African crudes
Nigeria was the fourth-largest supplier of foreign crude to the US last week, displacing Mexico and also competing with Iraq and Colombia, according to preliminary figures from the EIA.
Britain sees first sustained improvement in fuel consumption since 2007
More traffic is resulting in the first sustained increase in fuel consumption since 2007, a development welcomed by refiners and retailers but which complicates the government's climate plans.
Russia’s Lukoil starts diesel exports by pipeline
Industry sources said that March supplies of ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) from Vysotsk will total 350,000 tons, of which 100,000 tons will be shipped via the spurt of Sever (North) trunk.
Morocco’s court orders liquidation of refiner Samir
Samir has 10 days to lodge an appeal against the decision. Samir, controlled by Corral Petroleum Holdings, halted production last August at its 200,000-bpd Mohammedia refinery.
Nigeria turns to crude swaps to ease domestic gasoline shortages
While the country is Africa's biggest oil producer, it is almost entirely reliant on imports for oil products, especially gasoline, after successive governments allowed its refineries to fall into disrepair.
Russia’s oil producers raise sales to Asian refiners
"Russian crude is really attractive to us due to its fast delivery time and also cheap prices," said a spokeswoman from SK Innovation, which owns South Korea's largest refiner.
- CNOOC completes construction on $2.9-B, 1.8-MMtpy integrated complex in east China 8/22
- bp's Whiting refinery (U.S.) continues to flare days after severe thunderstorm 8/22
- Bachmann introduces latest version M-Target for Simulink 8/22
- U.S. to rule on biofuel waivers, but big oil refiners may need to wait 8/22
- Chinese independent refiner Hongrun buys Canadian, Brazilian crude 8/22
- Ukrainian attack suspends Russian oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia 8/22
