Regions
Continental Refinery of Kentucky Plans for Biodiesel Future
Hemisphere Ltd subsidiary Continental Refining Company (CRC) of Kentucky recently announced that it is considering a full conversion of its 5,500 barrel per day crude oil refinery in Somerset, Kentucky into a biodiesel production site. This refinery was permanently idled earlier this year and had been considered for outright redevelopment before this conversion plan materialized.
The UK's Green Industrial Revolution
The UK’s Green Industrial Revolution The UK recently announced an ambitious 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. Including clean energy, the blueprint will allow the UK to forge ahead with eradicating its contribution to climate change by 2050. Central to the plan is the further develo..
Italy Pens Draft for National Hydrogen Strategy
Italy has released a draft National Hydrogen Strategy in an ongoing effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy.
Energia Costa Azul reaches FID
Energia Costa Azul reaches FID Sempra Energy announced that its subsidiary ECA Liquefaction (ECA LNG), a joint venture between Sempra LNG and Infraestructura Energetica Nova (IEnova), had reached a final investment decision (FID) for the development, construction and operation of the ECA LNG Phase ..
PTTGCA’s ethane cracker in Ohio delays FID
PTT Global Chemical America (PTTGCA) recently announced that it has delayed a previously anticipated final investment decision (FID) for its 1.5 million tons per year (MMtpy) ethane cracker project in the Ohio River Valley. The company had planned on reaching FID in the first quarter of 2021 as recently as this past September.
Fortescue, Origin assess green ammonia, hydrogen plants in Australia's Tasmania
Fortescue Metals Group and Origin Energy Ltd announced separate plans to assess building ammonia export plants in the Australian island state of Tasmania, as both seek to tap opportunities in renewable energy.
Environmental Groups Appeal Illinois Approval of DAPL Expansion
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Environmental groups are appealing a decision made last month by Illinois regulators to allow the expansion of the Dakota Access oil pipeline (DAPL), according to documents filed with the state.
Max Midstream Announces Binding Open Season
HOUSTON (P&GJ) — Max Midstream Texas announced it is launching an open season to solicit shipper commitments for services in the Eagle Ford region on its Seahawk crude oil pipeline.
Yellow Hydrogen: A Carbon Free Method of Developing More Cost-Effective Hydrogen
In the hydrogen industry blue and green hydrogen get most of the press. They are seen as the two best methods of developing hydrogen while lowering carbon emissions. Blue hydrogen is the more economic choice for the near term while green is the long-term choice with the expectation that costs will be driven down through government incentives and economies of scale. But there are other methods of developing carbon free hydrogen today with lower costs. Nuclear facilities around the world are already generating large amounts of clean electricity and heat.
Support for wind's growth
The International Energy Agency (IEA) report, Renewables 2020 released on 10 November 2020, proclaims that renewable power is defying the Covid crisis with record growth this year and next. It goes on to say that renewables will account for almost 90% of the increase in total power capacity worldwide in 2020 and will accelerate in 2021 to their fastest growth in the last six years. Wind and solar additions are set to jump by 30% in both the United States and China as developers rush to take advantage of expiring incentives.
Destination China for Australia
Australia remains far and away the largest LNG exporter to China, accounting for 40% of Chinese imports in September 2020, four times the imports from the next highest suppliers, Qatar, Indonesia and Malaysia. Increased custom’s authority restrictions so far don’t appear to have affected Australian exports of LNG to China, despite other products being so. An estimated 23.5 million tonnes has already been delivered this year, much in keeping with last year’s volume.
Solar Installed capacity is dominated by China and United States
Looking into data available from the International Renewables Energy Agency (Irena) it is clear from the information that China and United States are leading the way when it comes to solar installed capacity and looks to continue
Potential $9.2 billion renewable fuel complex under study in Louisiana
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards recently announced that Fidelis Infrastructure portfolio company Grön Fuels LLC of Houston is currently preparing a feasibility study for a significant renewable fuel complex to be placed in the Port of Baton Rouge.
Shell halves production in Singapore under its energy transition plan
Royal Dutch Shell recently announced that its long running complex on the small island of Pulau Bukom in Singapore will reduce its 500,000 barrel per day production by half as the company continues to implement its plan to become a net-zero emissions business by 2050.
Firm Led by Former Alaska Governor Seeks to Take over LNG Project
(Reuters) - Former Alaska Governor Bill Walker said this week he was a founding member of Alaska Gasline & LNG LLC (AGLNG) that wants to take over the state's Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project and complete it by March 2028.
Nord Stream 2 Sanctions Included in U.S. Defense Bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sanctions that could hinder one of Moscow's most important projects in Europe, the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, have been included in the annual U.S. defense policy bill, two congressional aides said on Wednesday.
Enbridge releases energy transition strategy for a lower carbon future
Canada’s largest pipeline operator Enbridge Inc. released a long-term strategy in early November to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) 35% by 2030 and achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
McDermott wins contract for large Russian ethane cracking project
McDermott International, Ltd recently announced it had secured the upcoming phase for the large ethane cracker project from China National Chemical Engineering & Construction Corporation Seven, Ltd (CC7).
Shell announces it will close the Convent refinery in Louisiana
Royal Dutch Shell announced on Thursday afternoon that it plans to shut down its Convent refinery in Louisiana due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This closure is expected this month and will be the largest facility in the United States to close since the pandemic began its effect on the economy.
PipeChina's LNG operations
PipeChina’s LNG operations As of 1 October 2020, China Oil & Gas Pipeline Network Corporation, better known as PipeChina, became operator of five large existing LNG import terminals, and a further two, large, under construction LNG import terminals in China. Four of the existing terminals were pre..
Solid capacity growth in China’s solar sector
Data recently released by the Chinese government indicates a rise in solar capacity in 2020 over the same period in 2019. According to the National Energy Administration (NEA), China added a further 18.5 gigawatts (GW) in the first three quarters of 2020, compared to just 16GW in 2019. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak during the early parts of the year, utility-scale projects installed made up 54 percent or just over 10GW and small-scale, on-site or off-grid solar capacity made up 46 percent or just over 8.5GW during the period January to September 2020.
Azerbaijan to Proceed with Gas Pipeline Extension, Despite War
BAKU (Reuters) - Azerbaijan will press ahead with plans to feed natural gas into an extended pipeline network to southern Europe, a senior official said, even as conflict rages for a sixth week in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.
BASF and its partners place $4 billion petrochemical complex in India on hold
BASF of Germany announced that a multipurpose petrochemicals complex in India under planning with ADNOC, Adani, and Borealis AG has been placed on hold due to the ongoing global economic challenges caused by COVID-19. A statement from the company said that the pandemic effect has “led the partners to review the timing for undertaking this investment.” No new possible startup date was given at this time.
Tough decisions loom for Australian refiners
Operating refineries in Australia have been operating at loss level measures due to the impact felt nationally from the pandemic driven destruction demand, even as the country comes out of lockdown and government assistance begins to form. The GEI Data Warehouse is tracking four refineries in the country that are having to make hard choices on whether they keep operating, convert to terminal operations, or possibly shut in altogether.
China to Step Up E&P, Pipeline Construction
China said it would step up its exploration of oil and gas, and speed up the construction of oil andgas pipelines and storage facilities, the Communist Party said, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
Dominion Energy Proposes Largest Slate of New Solar Facilities for Virginia Customers
Dominion Energy Virginia proposed its largest slate yet of new solar projects as the company moves forward to provide customers with more clean energy. The nine solar facilities would bring nearly 500 megawatts (MW) of new renewable energy to customers, enough to power around 125,000 homes at peak output. The proposal comes just months after enactment of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) and builds on what is already the third-largest solar portfolio among utility holding companies in the United States.
Canada confident in future of Keystone XL Pipeline despite US election
While a Biden presidential win could be the final blow for the Keystone XL Pipeline, O’Regan is confident the project will remain on track to come online in 2021 regardless of who’s in power.
Oman’s Duqm petrochemical project postponed for now
The Duqm Refinery and Petrochemicals Industries Company (DRPIC) of Oman stated recently that the petrochemical portion of its Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Complex has paused its progress. The COVID-19 effect on the company’s economics has been called the likely reason for this postponement.
Samsung Engineering signs on for next phase of Mexico’s Dos Bocas Refinery
Samsung recently announced that its consortium comprised of Samsung Ingenieria Manzanillo, S.A. de C.V. and Asociados Constructores DBNR, S.A. de C.V. (AC DBNR) have been awarded a $3.6 billion contract for the next phase of work at the Dos Bocas Refinery. This refinery is located at the Dos Bocas Harbor in Mexico’s Tabasco State.
Shell announces plans to reduce its refining portfolio
Royal Dutch Shell recently announced that it plans to reduce its refinery portfolio down to a count of six as the company plans to increase its lower carbon projects and to further support future cash planning. A time frame was not specified but could be completed in the next five years.
