11th November: Global downstream roundup

Australia
A small town in Western Australia has been fighting for over 20 years in an attempt to prove emissions from a refinery is the cause of illness in the area. It has now been reported that the famous American activist and lawyer Erin Brockovich has come on board to help back the fight.

India
Indian Oil Corp has moved the date of bringing the Paradip refinery online to April – May rather than March. The 300 000 bpd refinery launch has been delayed as cyclone Phailin has caused a labour shortage in the area. There were originally 24 000 workers at the site before the cyclone and now only half have reportedly returned to the site.

Indonesia
Pertamina have restarted and refining and petrochemical plant in East Java. The facility was once owned by TPPI and has been idled for two years due to debt. The reopening is hopefully going to reduce the number of imports of oil products.

Nigeria
An illegal mini refinery has been uncovered in Ahiajoku Estate. The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) made the discovery and have sealed off the area to investigate further. The Joint Patrol Team of Kogi State also found an illegal refinery near the River Niger. No one was arrested when the refinery was discovered as all the people involved in it fled the scene.

Sri Lanka
It was announced at the end of last week that Sri Lanka’s only refinery is facing temporary closure. This is due to cancellations of crude shipments due to the cancellation of a consignment that was suspected of containing Iranian oil and another which arrived from the wrong port.

USA
A court order has been obtained for the CITGO refinery to carry out investigations in to last month’s fire. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Morgan and Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow are seeking US$ 150 00 in damages from the company. The fire broke out in the Lemont refinery in Suburban Chicago.

Venezuela
On 10^th November a fire broke out at the El Palito refinery. The fire at the 146 000 bpd plant was brought under control and has apparently not harmed operations at the facility.

NuStar Energy LP has announced that effective 1^st January 2014 it will terminate its crude supply agreement with PDVSA. The original termination date was March 2015.

Wales
Angle and Tenby RNLI volunteers have thanked Valero’s Pembroke refinery for donating fuel oil during the summer months. Fuel is one of the greatest costs for the organisation.

Edited from various sources by Claira Lloyd

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/11112013/11th_nov_downstream_news/