Oil and gas processing news: Africa and Asia

Asia

India

A massive fire that broke out on Friday at a refinery in Southern India has killed four workers and left dozens injured.

‘The mishap occurred at a block in the refinery where a new tower is being constructed’, city police commissioner, B. Sivadhar Reddy said.

‘Four workers have been burned to death and about thirty are injured. Some of the injured persons are in critical condition’.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s state owned oil and gas company, PT Pertamina, plans to offer two refinery construction projects for international bidding.

President Director, Karen Agustiawan, has said that she hopes to get the lowest fiscal incentive request.

‘Any party could participate in the tender, including investors from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia’.

She added that although the project would be offered for bidding, cooperation for refinery construction with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and Saudi Aramco Asia Company Ltd would remain.

Iran

Iran wants to work with Qatar in order to improve gas production from the giant field that they share under the Gulf, Iran’s new Energy Minister has announced.

Since starting work last week, Zanganeh has made a rapid ramp up of production from South Pars a top priority, and suggested on Iranian state television that Qatar might be interested in boosting cooperation as Iran’s output grows.

‘We are ready to negotiate with this country…but the point is that Qatar shows willingness for talks anytime our conditions are conducive to recovery from this joint field’.

‘Under the present circumstances, we will definitely negotiate with the Qatari side and naturally they will pursue their own interests in recovery from this joint field’.

Africa

Kenya

Scientists believe that planting trees in African coastal deserts could capture carbon dioxide.

Additional benefits from planting trees would include reducing harsh desert temperatures, boosting rainfall, reversing soil degradation, and allowing for the production of inexpensive biofuels.

The proposal is outlined in a study published last month by Earth System Dynamics, based on data compiled in Mexico and Oman.

The Earth System Dynamics study states that ‘large scale plantations of Jatropha curcas, if established in hot, dry coastal areas around the world, could capture 17 – 25 t of carbon dioxide per hectare per year from the atmosphere (over a 20 year period).’

Nigeria

Dangote Group has said that it will borrow US$ 3.3 billion to build a US$ 9 billion oil refinery and petrochemical complex in Nigeria.

The Nigerian group also said it was seeking a further US$ 2.25 billion from development funds for the project, into which it would put US$ 3.5 billion of its own equity.

The loan will be signed with financiers on 4^th September.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/28082013/downstream_news_update_africa_asia600/