Downstream news: weekend catch up
Australia
Shell is looking to complete the sale of its Geelong refinery and service station network to Vitol of Switzerland by the beginning of August. The Australian government’s Foreign Investment Review Board has approved the US$ 2.6 billion sale. The refinery has a processing capacity of 120 000 bpd and the network includes 870 service stations.
China
It has been reported that Total is looking to sell its stake in the West Pacific Petrochemical Corp. refinery. The share of the 200 000 bpd facility is likely to be sold to PetroChina. Total owns 22.4% of the facility which commenced operations in 1996.
Czech Republic
Unipetrol will reportedly take total control of the Czech refining sector after it buys ENI’s stake in the joint refining firm Ceska Rafinerska. Unipetrol has said that it will pay 30 million Euros for the 32.4% stake in the firm which operates two refineries in the country.
India
Essar Oil is apparently operating its Vadinar refinery at half capacity due to repair work at the pipeline linked to the crude unit. The reduced run commenced on Saturday 5th June and the plant is expected to return to full 400 000 bpd processing capacity by the middle of the week.
Iran
It has been reported that the Lavan refinery is to boost its production to Euro 4 standards by March of next year. As part of this upgrade, the plant’s processing capacity is also going to be increased by 20 000 bpd.
Kuwait
Petrochemical Industries Co., which is a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corp., has announced that it dealt with 100 000 cyber attacks between 19 – 22 June. Services were not disrupted during this period, despite the high volume of threats. The company has so far, reportedly located the source of 167 cyber attacks and break in attempts.
South Africa
Sasol is reportedly taking the South African government to court in an attempt to get the strict new air pollution laws thrown out. The filing to have the laws set aside have been submitted by Sasol Synfuels, Sasol Infrachem and Natref to the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
USA
The Silver Eagle refinery has been fined US$ 10 000 by the Davis County Health Department after an accident that occurred two months ago. As a result of the accident a noxious odour was released that disturbed residents for 23 hours. The release is said to be a violation of the Board of Health.
The Motiva Port Arthur refinery processed 615 000 bpd for the first time last week following a US$ 10 billion plant expansion. The plant is run by a joint operation between Shell and Saudi Aramco.
Vietnam
KSB AG of Germany has been awarded a contract to supply process pumps by Nghi Son Refinery & Petrochemical LLC. The contract is for the 200 000 bpd refinery and petrochemical facility that is being built in Thanh Hoa Province. KSB are going to deliver 189 process pumps that will be used for crude oil distillation and aromatic compounds production.
Edited from various sources by Claira Lloyd
Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/07072014/weekend_downstream_7_july/
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