Regions
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.
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.
