Early September downstream news: Asia and the Middle East

Asia

India

The death toll in the HPCL Visakha refinery accident has increased to 25.

A blast and fire occurred in the cooling tower of the refinery on 23^rd August 2013.

A total compensation amount of Rs 4.8 crore has been handed over to the District Collector so far. Eight contract workers are currently undergoing treatment in private hospitals. The condition of seven workers undergoing treatment at the National Burns Centre in Mumbai is reported to be stable.

Middle East

Iraq

A series of attacks in close proximity to an oil refinery in the north of Baghdad led to the deaths of eight people on Monday.

Two roadside bombs exploded nearly simultaneously along a main road near the Baji oil refinery, which lies within Salaheddin province of north Baghdad, leaving two people dead and three injured.

Also on Monday, gunmen opened fire on a police checkpoint near Tikrit, killing three policemen. Attacks elsewhere in Baghdad left three people dead.

Kazakhstan

During the visit of China’s President, Xi Jinping, to Kazakhstan contracts worth US$ 30 billion are to be signed.

President Nursultan Nazarbayev, is reported as having said that ‘during the visit, 22 contracts worth US$ 30 billion are to be signed, with the largest ones being related to the oil and gas industry. Notably, we have agreed to construct an oil refinery in Kazakhstan.’

Syria

The price of oil topped US$ 110/bbl on Friday as Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said that his country would continue helping Syria even if it comes under attack.

Benchmark oil for October delivery rose US$ 1.87, or 1.7%, to US$ 110.47/bbl in afternoon trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil rose more than 2% for the week and moved back closer to it 52 week high of US$ 112.24.

Edited from various sources by Emma McAleavey.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/10092013/september_downstream_news_middleeast_asia633/