Regions
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.
NIPSCO Announces New Indiana-Based Solar Projects to Power 270,000 Homes by 2023
Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), today announced that it will bring an additional 900 megawatts (MW) to Indiana with the Dunns Bridge I, Dunns Bridge II and Cavalry Solar Energy Centers as part of the company’s long-term generation strategy. NIPSCO has finalized three build transfer agreements with subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and the sun and a leader in energy storage. The solar projects are expected to begin construction in 2022 and expected to be operational in 2022 and 2023.
An Arctic solution
Novatek’s plans to build two LNG trans-shipment terminals in Russia have taken a step closer to becoming realized. Two giant FSRU’s are on order with Daewoo’s Geoje shipyard in South Korea for delivery by end-2022, although they may not be operational until 2023/24. Each one is expected to have a storage capacity of 360,000cm, and be capable of receiving shipments from Novatek’s expensively assembled Arc7 Arctic-class fleet and transferring it to more conventional vessels for onward delivery.
ULSFO refinery in Duqm expected to proceed
Canada Business Holdings (CBH) recently announced that the company will go ahead with its plans for an ultra-low sulfur fuel oil (ULSFO) refinery in Oman’s Duqm Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
EGP expands wind portfolio
Enel Green Power (EGP) recently commissioned the final wind turbine at its 148MW Nxuba wind farm in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The 200 million euro, 47-turbine farm was one of the five projects awarded to EGP in the fourth round of the country’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) in 2015.
Solar power in charge across South Australia
In October, the Australian state of South Australia reported that for one hour on the eleventh of the month, 100 percent of its electricity was generated by solar power. South Australia being the largest jurisdiction in the world to do so. The power generated came from 77 percent rooftop systems and the remaining 23 percent from the states utility-scale solar projects.
TC Energy Sees Higher Costs for Coastal Gaslink Pipeline
(Reuters) — TC Energy Corp said it expects costs for its Coastal Gaslink pipeline in British Columbia to rise compared to the previously disclosed estimate due to increased scope, permit delays and COVID-19 impacts.
Renewable refinery conversions increase across Europe
The energy transition continues across the globe as Preem AB of Sweden recently announced that it is indeed proceeding with its newly announced plan to convert the long-running Lysekil refinery into what is designed to become the largest renewable fuel facility in Scandinavia.
Nigeria’s Waltersmith modular refinery moves closer to startup
Phase one of the anticipated Waltersmith modular refinery in Nigeria is reportedly imminent, as pre-commissioning has been completed, according to Nigeria’s Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). This facility is in Nigeria’s Ibigwe, Ohayi/Egbema Imo State, and is slated to begin by the end of the year with a capacity for 5,000 barrels per day.
"Yes, Joe Biden really does want to end America’s oil and gas industry," says Gulf Energy Information CEO
The Biden energy plan has dire consequences for the oil and gas industry and the American economy.
Repsol announces plans to build the first advanced biofuels plant in Spain
Repsol of Spain recently announced its intention to construct an advanced biofuels plant at the company’s existing Cartagena facility site to supply transportation fuels with a reduction in emissions.
Judge: Michigan Regulator Can Evaluate Enbridge Pipeline Tunnel Plan
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Public Service Commission has some authority over Enbridge's plans to build an oil pipeline tunnel beneath the channel that connects two of the Great Lakes, a state administrative law judge ruled Friday.
Chevron Phillips Chemical delays the FID on its Gulf Coast petrochemical project
Chevron Phillip Chemical (CP Chem) has reportedly chosen to delay a final investment decision (FID) on a proposed 2 million ton per year ethane cracker and a 2 million ton per year high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit with its partner Qatar Petroleum.
Pipelines to restore harmony
The Eastern Mediterranean region has been a much-discussed area in recent months, with claim and counterclaim flying around. Turkey has managed to antagonize almost every nation in the region at some point, inparticular neighbouring countries Greece and Cyprus, with its maritime claims and offshore surveys and drilling. It even threatened to suspend diplomatic relations with the UAE over their proposed deal with Israel. However, beyond the geopolitics, 2 pipeline projects may restore some semblance of harmony in the near future.
The UK to rely even more on Qatar
The UK to rely even more on Qatar | Qatar Petroleum and National Grid of the UK, operator of the 14.80 million t/y Grain LNG import terminal, recently entered into a long-term agreement for LNG storage and regasification capacity.
Crude Oil to Chemicals technology: a revolution for the petrochemicals industry
Refiners are looking to integrate petrochemical activity into their production in a big way. Crude-oil-to-chemicals (COTC) projects will be a powerful tool for refiners looking to maximize chemical production through increasingly efficient technology expected to consistently improve in chemical yields from the crude feedstock.
Electricity’s new king will be solar PV
The latest World Energy Outlook published in October from the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests that solar photovoltaic generation will be the largest source of power by 2040. Unlike other sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic the renewable electricity market has remained buoyant throughout 2020. The IEA suggests that renewables is set for rapid growth. In the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), renewables will rise by two-thirds between 2020 to 2030.
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland to Expand Hydrogen Footprint
The Government of Alberta released its long-term Natural Gas Vision and Strategy in October, detailing key initiatives to strengthen the provinces’ hydrogen sector.
Formosa Plastics postpones construction on its Sunshine petrochemicals project in Louisiana
Formosa Plastics subsidiary FG LA LLC recently announced that it has chosen to defer the primary construction at the two-phase Sunshine petrochemicals project in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The negative effects on the industry caused by COVID-19 was named as the cause for delay.
SABIC and Saudi Aramco are reevaluating their plans for the upcoming Yanbu COTC project
SABIC recently announced that it was reevaluating and likely expanding its vision for the crude oil-to-chemicals (COTC) project in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia with the integration of existing infrastructure.
EDF Renewables North America and Geenex Solar Transact on a 4.5 gigawatt (GWac) Solar Development Portfolio
EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) and Geenex Solar, LLC (Geenex), announced the close of an agreement of up to 4.5 gigawatt (GWac) pipeline of solar development assets throughout PJM. The pipeline acquisition brings to EDF Renewables the regional development expertise of Geenex, a leader of utility-scale solar development, while EDFR contributes with its financial and late-stage development expertise from a long-term owner and operator perspective. The transaction will accelerate EDFR growth in the PJM wholesale electricity market to meet the growing demands of corporate and utility customers seeking cost-effective renewable energy sources. The portfolio of project assets in the transaction exceed 20 solar projects in various stages of development. The first projects expect commercial operation in 2023 with other projects to follow.
Marathon begins permit approval process for Martinez renewable diesel conversion
Marathon Petroleum recently announced that it has begun the permit application process for the conversion of its idle Martinez refinery into a renewable diesel facility.
How to utilize solar potential
In an age where traditional methods of energy generation, such as burning coal and gas to generate electricity emit greenhouse gases, the energy transition movement has seen the need to investigate alternative or renewable energies. Wind and solar seem to be favored forms of alternative energies to be scaled up first.
Trans Mountain Agrees to Reroute Pipeline Around Indigenous Area
(P&GJ) — The Trans Mountain pipeline has agreed to reroute a portion of its expansion project around an indigenous area, according to a filing with Canadian energy regulators.
As COVID-19 conditions persist, some struggling refineries are trending towards renewable diesel conversions to survive
With the continuing pandemic driven reduction in fuel demand, refineries in North America have worked to survive in ways ranging from reducing production, additional maintenance scheduling, and the permanent shutting in of some complexes altogether. But another direction has begun to persist in North America and abroad with the decision to convert aging refineries away from traditional crude oil production into renewable diesel plants.
Mountain Valley reweighs timeline, budget due to regulatory hurdles
Earlier this month, Equitrans Midstream Corp. said that the timeline and budget for the planned Mountain Valley Pipeline will depend on ongoing litigation and impending federal permits. In a recent statement, the company said "As the litigation process progresses and as we receive additional inform..
BP Says Trans Adriatic Pipeline to be Ready by End of 2020
BAKU (Reuters) — Oil major BP has confirmed plans to start shipping natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe by the end of the year.
Saudi Aramco, Investors Discussing $10 Billion Pipeline Deal — Sources
DUBAI (Reuters) — Saudi Aramco is in talks with BlackRock and other investors on a planned deal worth over $10 billion to sell a stake in its pipeline business, sources said.
Gas flows to U.S. LNG export plants down ahead of hurricane Delta
Cheniere Energy Inc and Cameron LNG reduced the amount of natural gas flowing to their LNG export plants in Louisiana on Thursday as Hurricane Delta approaches the Gulf Coast. Officials at both companies were not immediately available for comment but have said they were watching the storm and have procedures in place to keep plant workers and equipment safe.
