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Europe

Global refined oil product demand to lag supply over next two years - IEA

More than 1 million bpd of new refining capacity is likely to come online this year, and a further 1.3 million bpd in 2013, compared with 400,000 bpd in 2011. The additions to capacity will grossly outpace demand growth for oil products, which the IEA estimates will average 800,000 bpd this year.

Statoil shuts Norway LNG plant after water leak

Statoil said production at the plant - the world's most northern and Europe's first LNG export facility - was halted after water leaked into gas dryers, with water ingression causing ice formation in the cooling circuit.

German chemical industry raises outlook for sales, producer prices in 2012

For 2012, the group expects prices to rise 2%, up from a May estimate of 1%, and sales to rise 2%, also up from 1%. Domestic demand and orders from the US and Asia should help offset weak European demand.

Shell to buy Norwegian LNG fuel supplier Gasnor

Gasnor operates in Norway’s small-scale LNG sector, supplying LNG as fuel to industrial and marine customers and operating an end-to-end supply chain. Assets include three small-scale production plants and distribution items including two tanker ships, a fleet of trucks and a terminal network.

Gunvor to raise $500mn credit for Belgian refinery crude oil, feedstock

The funds will be used to finance the purchase of crude oil and feedstock for the refinery. Cyprus-based Gunvor, one of the world's largest independent traders of commodities, bought the Antwerp refinery from insolvent Swiss-based refiner Petroplus Holdings AG earlier this year.

Gevo, Beta agree to develop integrated process for cellulosic isobutanol

The deal also anticipates commercialization of the technology upon project success, which could enable renewably-sourced, competitively-priced jet fuel as well as other chemicals and fuels made from isobutanol.

BP dragged into UK bribery probe over contractor

Investigators from the Serious Fraud Office have contacted BP over bribery allegations relating to engineering projects one of its contractors is undertaking in Azerbaijan, the Telegraph reports.

Aramco ships Europe fuel oil to Red Sea, eyes more

Saudi Aramco is shipping fuel oil from Northwest Europe to the Red Sea to meet Saudi Arabia's peak summer demand, taking advantage of arbitrage economics that have been favorable up until recently.

Coryton refinery becomes latest casualty of Europe industry doldrums

The site will live on in radically changed form as a distribution terminal employing no more than 50 permanent staff, a tenth of the current staff of 500 - which doesn't include an equal amount of contractors. A first batch of 180 dismissal notices were handed out in late June, with more to follow.

Lyondell to supply PP technology for Sibur in Russia

A SIBUR affiliate has selected the Spheripol process technology from LyondellBasell for a new 500,000 tpy single-line polypropylene (PP) plant to be built in Tobolsk, Russia. Start-up is scheduled for 2017.