Refining

PwC US has said that US oil and gas deal activity stalled in the first quarter of this year due to low oil price environment.

It has been reported that the skills shortage in the energy sector is one of the biggest challenges facing new government.

Syzran Refinery, a Rosneft subsidiary, has switched to Euro 5 diesel fuel as part of a large scale investment programme.

Alon USA reported net income of US$36.5 million for the first quarter of 2015, compared to US$42.2 million for the same period last year.

Albemarle Corporation reported 1Q15 earnings of US$43.1 million, compared to 1Q14 earnings of US$56.6 million.

HollyFrontier reported first quarter net income attributable to stockholders of US$226.9 million for the quarter ended 31 March 2015.

EY has said that oil and gas companies are gearing up for transactions post slump.

Oil and gas equipment and services deal market remains slow as debt offerings lift total to US$2.6 billion for March 2015.

Net income attributable to Western Refining, excluding special items, was US$113.3 million, or US$1.18 per diluted share.

GlobalData has said that Asia’s planned refinery projects pose a threat to disadvantages European refiners.

Maroš Šefcovic, Vice President for Energy Union, delivered the keynote speech at the EU Energy Security Conference 2015.

The US Energy Information Administration has said that during February, crude by rail accounted for over half of East Coast refinery supply.

A new report from Consumer Watchdog shows that oil refiners have made large profits from gasoline price spikes recently, and over the last decade.

It has been reported that the energy sector’s enthusiasm for growth has diminished over lingering oil price declines.

PIRA Energy Group looks at movements in the oil market over the past week.