Refining
Engineering Breakthrough – The Davis Refinery Project in North Dakota will be the World’s First Net Zero Carbon Refinery
Design of the Davis Refinery has now established GHG emissions from Davis have been reduced to less than 50% of industry average levels, and the remaining GHG emissions are offset by coprocessing vegetable oil in its Diesel Hydrotreater Unit to produce Renewable Diesel. Davis will be the first refinery to achieve the Net Zero Carbon threshold.
Johnson Matthey and bp Technology Chosen for the World’s Largest Fischer Tropsch SAF Production Plant
Johnson Matthey (JM), a global leader in sustainable technologies, today announced that DG Fuels has selected its award-winning Fischer Tropsch (FT) CANS™ technology – codeveloped with bp – for DG Fuels’ first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The plant would be the largest deployment of FT CANS to date, seven times larger than any previously announced project using this technology.
China: TotalEnergies and SINOPEC Join Forces to Produce Sustainable Jet Fuel at a SINOPEC's Refinery
TotalEnergies and China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (“SINOPEC”) have signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) to jointly develop a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production unit at a SINOPEC's refinery in China.
Energy Map of Trinidad and Tobago 2023
The Energy Map of Trinidad and Tobago is a comprehensive map of the country's energy infrastructure, including oil and gas fields, pipelines, refineries, petrochemical plants, the LNG facilities and ownership of onshore and offshore license blocks. The map is sponsored by the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC).
Cepsa and Bio-Oils begin construction on the largest 2G biofuels plant in southern Europe with investment of 1.2 billion euros
Cepsa and Bio-Oils, a subsidiary of Apical, are beginning construction of the largest second-generation biofuels plant in southern Europe. This facility, which will flexibly produce 500,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel (hydrogenated vegetable oil or HVO) annually, will allow the joint venture formed by both companies to double its current production capacity. The new 2G biofuels plant, along with the existing facilities operated by Cepsa and Bio-Oils in Huelva, Spain, will form the second largest renewable fuel complex in Europe, with a total production capacity of 1 million tons per annum.
Eni Moves Ahead with Conversion of the Livorno Refinery into a Bio-refinery
Today, Eni confirms its decision to build Italy's third bio-refinery in Livorno. The project, first announced in October 2022 and followed by an application for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in November 2022, is awaiting official authorisations and includes the construction of three new facilities for the production of hydrogenated biofuels: a biogenic feedstock pre-treatment unit; a 500,000 tonnes/year Ecofining™ plant; and a facility to produce hydrogen from methane gas.
Shell invests to repurpose German Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland
Shell Deutschland GmbH has taken a final investment decision (FID) to convert the hydrocracker of the Wesseling site at the Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland into a production unit for Group III base oils, used in making high-quality lubricants such as engine and transmission oils. Crude oil processing will end at the Wesseling site by 2025 but will continue at the Godorf site.
Acelen Renewables Selects Honeywell For SAF And Renewable Diesel Fuel Production
Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) announced that Acelen Renewables has selected its Ecofining™ technology to help support the efficient production of a targeted 20,000 barrels per day of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel. The fuels will be processed at Acelen's facility in Bahia, Brazil, from a blend of inedible seed and waste oils. With this agreement, Acelen Renewables becomes the 50th site to license Honeywell's renewable fuels technology.
Topsoe Selected as Technology Provider for Preem's Renewable Fuels Plant in Sweden
Topsoe, a global technology and solutions provider for the energy transition, has signed a licensing and engineering agreement with Preem, Sweden’s largest fuel company, to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, using Topsoe’s HydroFlex™ technology.
Petronas Moving Forward with its RNEST Train One Expansion to Complete Early Next Year
A representative of Petronas of Brazil stated on January 17 that the company is intending to complete its expansion plans for Train One at its long-lived Abreu e Lima Refinery in the first quarter of 2025. This plan had begun years ago but was delayed due to a corruption scandal that began in 2014.
Chevron Lummus Global Awarded New Licensing Contract for HPCL's Integrated Hydrocracker and Catalytic Dewaxing Unit
Chevron Lummus Global LLC (CLG) announced the award of a new licensing contract by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) for the development of a grassroots integrated hydrocracker and catalytic dewaxing unit and a full catalyst reload of their existing lube oil upgrading program (LOUP) at the Mumbai Refinery in India.
Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery Begins Production After Multiple Delays
The Dangote oil refinery in Lagos, Nigeria has begun production of diesel and jet fuel after many years of delayed construction, according to Dangote company officials on social media. With this startup, test runs are expected to continue with an eventual move to full capacity potentially reached as early as the end of 2024.
Mexico's New Olmeca Oil Refinery Now Expected to reach 243,000 bpd in 2024
Pemex CEO Octavio Romero has estimated that the Dos Bocas (AKA Olmeca) refinery will process 243,000 bpd of crude in 2024, with a full peak of 340,000 bpd in 2025.
Azure Announces Plans to Develop an SAF Production Facility in Kansas
Azure 2023 Inc. , a leading developer in the sustainable aviation fuel ("SAF") industry, today announces its planned development of an SAF production facility in Cherryvale, Kansas.
Topsoe Selected by Santa Maria Renewable Resources LLC to Deliver Technology for Renewable Fuels Project In Texas
Topsoe has signed licensing and engineering agreements with Santa Maria Renewable Resources LLC (Santa Maria) to provide its HydroFlex™ and H2bridge™ technologies to produce renewable fuels. Santa Maria will build a grassroots plant to produce 3,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of renewable diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Petrobras Technology Enables Riograndense Refinery to Process 100% Renewable Feedstocks
The Riograndense Petroleum Refinery (RPR) has accomplished a historic achievement by successfully processing 100% soybean oil in a Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Unit at the Refinery. This milestone was made possible through innovative technology developed by the Petrobras' Research, Development, and Innovation Center (CENPES), processing 100% renewable feedstocks, adopting process and catalyst innovations, and generating fully renewable petrochemical products. This trial represents a groundbreaking achievement, marking the first of its kind worldwide.
Eni and Saipem: Agreement to Develop New Biorefineries
Eni and Saipem have signed an agreement for the development of biorefining. It was signed today by Giuseppe Ricci, Chief Operating Officer for Energy Evolution at Eni, and Alessandro Puliti, Chief Executive Officer at Saipem, to support the transformation path of traditional refineries and the development of new Eni biorefineries.
Data Director's Q4 Update
Peregrine Bush, Director of Data and Technology, shares his Q4 2023 update
Repsol Selects Honeywell Ecofining™ Technology For Biofuel Production In Spain
Honeywell announced today that Repsol has licensed Honeywell Ecofining™ technology to produce renewable fuels from feedstocks such as used cooking oil and waste animal fat at Repsol’s facility in Puertollano, Spain. Repsol is designing this plant to convert approximately 240 thousand metric tons per annum (KMTA) of waste feeds/feedstocks to renewable diesel and other products.
Final Investment Decision on Green Hydrogen and HVO/SAF projects
Galp has taken the final investment decision on two large scale projects to reduce the carbon footprint of the Sines refinery and of its products. The projects include a 270 ktpa advanced biofuels unit, in partnership with Mitsui, and 100 MW of electrolysers for the production of green hydrogen. Both units are expected to have its first start up during 2025.
PT Pertamina International chooses Topsoe technology at Cilacap facility in Indonesia
Topsoe, a global leader in developing solutions for a decarbonized world, has been selected by PT KPI as a technology licensor to provide its HydroFlex™ technology for the production of renewable fuels at the Cilacap Refinery Complex in Central Java, Indonesia. Once complete, the grassroot unit will use Topsoe’s technology to convert bio-feedstock into SAF and renewable diesel, with plans to produce 6,000 bpsd.
Aemetis Completes Expansion of India Biodiesel Plant One Year Ahead of Schedule, Increases Annual Production Capacity to 60 Million Gallons
Aemetis, a renewable natural gas and renewable fuels company focused on negative carbon intensity products, announced today that the company’s Universal Biofuels subsidiary has completed an expansion of its India biodiesel plant annual production capacity to 60 million gallons more than one year ahead of schedule, supplying the expanding demand for biodiesel by India government-owned Oil Marketing Companies (OMC’s).
VARO announces plan to invest $600m to build major Sustainable Aviation Fuel manufacturing facility in Rotterdam, which will meet up to 7% of the EU's 2030 SAF target
VARO Energy (“VARO”) today announces the construction of a large-scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) manufacturing facility at the Gunvor Energy Rotterdam site, investing $600m with the aim of helping its airline customers decarbonise. This facility alone is expected to contribute up to 7% of the EU’s 2030 SAF target.
Nigeria Oil Minister Expects the Country’s State-owned Oil Refineries Operational by the End of 2024
Heineken Lokpobiri, the new Oil Minister of Nigeria, stated recently that refurbishment plans at the country's four state oil refineries are continuing and will be completed by the end of 2024. These refineries have been considered very inefficient and decrepit for some time, and Nigeria is hoping to eventually end fuel imports to the country.
Fluor Awarded Front-End Engineering and Design Contract for LanzaTech Sustainable Aviation Fuel Facility
Fluor Corporation announced today that it has been awarded a contract by LanzaTech UK Limited to provide front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for one of the United Kingdom’s (UK) first planned commercial sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facilities in Port Talbot, Wales. Fluor recognized the award in the second quarter of 2023.
Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies sign deals to build $11bn Amiral petrochemicals complex
Saudi Aramco and France's TotalEnergies have awarded contracts to build the $11 billion Amiral petrochemicals complex in the city of Jubail in the kingdom's Eastern Province. The awarding of the engineering, procurement and construction contracts for main processing units and associated utilities marks the start of construction work on the major project, following the final investment decision made in December 2022, the companies said on Saturday.
A brighter horizon for sustainable aviation fuel: Sasol and Topsoe to form a future business to accelerate global SAF production
Sasol, the global chemicals and energy company, and Topsoe, a global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies, have signed a landmark agreement to establish a 50/50 joint venture (subject to approval by relevant authorities), solidifying their commitment to produce sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.
TotalEnergies Steps up Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production at Grandpuits
Ahead of the Paris Air Show held in Le Bourget, TotalEnergies is stepping up production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and low carbon energies of its Grandpuits site.
Saunders Secures $42 Million Contract for bp Kwinana Renewable Fuels Project
Saunders International Limited ( is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $42 million contract to provide tank refurbishment and modification services for bp at its Kwinana energy hub, in Perth, Western Australia.
LyondellBasell Announces Delay in Refining Business Exit
LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) today announced plans to delay its refining business exit from year-end 2023 to no later than the end of the first quarter 2025. Favorable inspections and consistent performance have given the company confidence to continue safe and reliable operations at the Houston site. LyondellBasell anticipates moderate maintenance spend to support this extension in 2023 and 2024 but remains committed to ceasing operation of its oil refining business. The extension will minimize workforce impacts as the company continues to develop future options for the site and will enable a smoother transition between the shutdown and the implementation of the retrofitting and circular projects.
