30 June 2014: global downstream news

Iran

The MD of the Arvand Free Zone has said that mini refineries in the area are to be fed by the Abadan oil refinery. Also, 110 small and medium sized petrochemical units are in the pipeline for construction in the Arvand free zone. The zone is 172 m³ with access by road, rail, marine and air.

A new propylene plant is to come online in Iran by March 2017. The new plant will have a production capacity of 450 000 tpy. Iran currently has a petrochemicals production capacity of 60 million tpy, but only 68% of this is utilised.

Malaysia

Technip-Flour has won a contract for the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) refinery in Johor. The value of the project management and consultancy contract has not been released but is reportedly in the range of US$ 270 – 680 million. Once complete, the RAPID project will have a 300 000 bpd refinery and petrochemical complex with a processing capacity of 7.7 million tpy.

Nigeria

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has announced that it is going to build two refineries in the country. IPMAN, along with partners and investors will build new refineries in Bayelsa and Kogi to the value of US$ 3 billion. The facilities are being built to help the curb the country’s dependence on imported refined products.

South Africa

It has been reported that approximately 10 000 South Africa workers across the country’s refineries and petrol distributors have signed a two year wage deal. This is said to be a big step forward in the country where labour relations have been hit with strikes recently. The agreement agrees to an 8.5% wage increase in the first year and an inflation plus 1.5% increase in the second. At the moment, South African inflation stands at 6.6%.

USA

Quantum Energy Inc has announced plans to build a network of micro refineries which will produce fuel for export. Each plant is expected to process 100 000 bpd into 20 000 bps of household gas, diesel fuel and petrochemicals. Five micro refineries are to be built near railheads.

PB Holding Company LLC has said it is to terminate the crude oil supply agreement it currently holds with Morgan Stanley Capital Group for its refinery in Ohio. The contract will come to an end on July 31. Another deal with J. Aron is due to end in July 2015.

Venezuela

Hyundai Engineering and Construction has won its third contract in Venezuela. The company has signed a contract to expand a refinery for PDVSA in conjunction with Wison Engineering from China. Hyundai E&C own 73% of the contract. The facility is 250 km from Caracas and the work is expected to take four years.

Edited from various sources by Claira Lloyd

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/30062014/30_june_2014_downstream_news/