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Europe

Gasoline profits decline for European refiners amid weak demand - analysts

Massimo Vacca, head of investor relations at Italy's Saras, said the recent rise in crude prices and in gasoline stocks had contributed to the squeeze on refiners' profits. Profits on gasoline in Northwest Europe have nearly halved to $10.73/ton from $19.23/ton, the lowest level in over two months.

Clariant buys full share in Ukraine catalyst venture

The Süd-Chemie Alvigo Catalysts GmbH (SCAC) venture is a leading producer of syngas catalysts, based in the Ukraine. The signing of the deal took place at the end of June, with closing subject to merger control approval, according to company officials. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Foster Wheeler wins top UK achievement award on health, safety performance

The Order of Distinction is RoSPA’s highest achievement award and is presented to those companies which have attained at least 15 consecutive RoSPA Gold Awards for outstanding health and safety performance on projects around the world. It is the fifth successive year that Foster Wheeler has won.

TNK-BP, Sibur to partner on hydrocarbon feedstock

The Russian companies reached agreement on the indefinite continuation of their Yugragazpererabotka gas processing joint venture, with contracts under the joint venture framework extended through 2026.

Essar, Barclays reach crude oil supply deal for UK Stanlow refinery

Under the three-year deal announced Wednesday, Barclays has already started buying crude for the Stanlow refinery, the UK's second largest at 296,000 bpd. Barclays has also taken control of inventories of crude oil and refined products on the site worth $700 million, Essar said.

Eni forms partnership with Genomatica, Novamont on bio-based butadiene

The partnership, on the basis of which a joint venture will be established, will develop a comprehensive end-to-end process for production of polymer-grade butadiene from biomass, Versalis said. The agreement aims to bring together the core competencies of all three companies.

Evonik, BioAmber agree to develop catalysts from bio-succinic acid

Germany-based Evonik Industries signed an agreement with US renewable company BioAmber to develop and manufacture catalysts for the production of BDO, THF and GBL from bio-based succinic acid. In parallel, BioAmber and Evonik have started to develop a new generation of BDO catalysts.

API to shut Falconara Marittima refinery for 2013

Italy-based API Anonima Petroli Italiana SpA, the refiner and service-station operator also known as Api, will shut its Falconara Marittima refinery from January for a year to revamp its power engine. The refinery, located on the Adriatic coast, has a capacity of 85,000 bpd.

BP, Russian partners discuss stake sale in TNK-BP crude oil venture

The talks set up an end game for what has proved to be a highly profitable, but tempestuous BP adventure in Russia, one that could yet draw in other major players in the country's state-dominated energy sector.

Jacobs to supply gas heat exchangers for INEOS UK sulfuric acid plant

INEOS selected Jacobs' proprietary Chemetics radial flow gas-gas heat exchanger design over other available designs, citing the “most appropriate design and technical solution” for its plant. The equipment is expected to be fabricated at Jacobs' facility in Pickering, Ontario.