Global refining news: 11 June

Canada

Pacific Future Energy Corp. is pitching to build the world’s greenest refinery in British Columbia. The US$ 10 billion oilsands refinery will connect Alberta’s oilsands resources to the Asian market while hopefully dodging the environmental hurdles other projects have encountered. The plant is reportedly going to be built in partnership with the BC First Nations.

India

Indian Oil Corp is to begin the commercialisation and marketing of its in house technologies. The company is to shortly begin a large scale marketing campaign for its refinery formulated catalysts. The company is looking to market its own developed and researched technologies to help combat shrinking refinery margins.

Iran

An Iranian government official has reportedly said that the country is looking to become self sufficient in the production of gasoline by 2016. This will follow the construction of a major new oil refinery in the Southern part of Iran. Following the beginning of operations at the Persian Gulf Star Gas Condensate Refinery, the country also expects to become a net gasoline exporter.

Iraq

It has been reported that following the seizure of Iraq’s second biggest oil refinery by an al Qaeda splinter group, the group have now advanced to take over the oil refinery town of Baiji. The refinery was originally protected by 250 guards who were apparently convinced to withdraw by a delegation of local tribe leaders, with the promise of being safely delivered to another town when they stood down.

Nigeria

A prominent traditional ruler in the Niger Delta reportedly announced at the National Conference that operators of illegal refineries in the region are ‘his boys’. The ruler did however say that the delegates who voted against allowing illegal refineries to operate in the country did the right thing.

Turkey

An official ceremony has been carried out to sign a contract confirming the construction of the STAR refinery in the Port of Aliaga, Turkey. SOCAR will build the refiner with the support of 23 commercial and investment banks who have collectively allocated US$ 3.29 billion for the project. This is the largest and longest long term loan agreement in Turkey’s history.

USA

MDU Resources Inc. is reportedly pursuing a number of projects within North Dakota. A Greenfield refinery, interstate gas pipeline and production from Bakken shale are on the company’s list. The refinery is expected to have a processing capacity of 20 000 bpd which will include 7000 bpd of diesel which will help fulfil North Dakota’s demand for the product.

Edited from various sources by Claira Lloyd

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/11062014/11_june_global_refining_news_-2014/