Eni restructures its chemicals business to unlock value and improve profitability
Eni, the Italian energy company, announced on Thursday that it had approved a new structure for its business aimed at developing main units, speeding up a revamp of its chemical business, and integrating both its upstream activities and its trading activities. The new structure aims to unlock some of the "satellite companies" of the group, including Plenitude, Enilive and others.
Grangemouth Oil Refinery in Scotland to close by 2025 and lose 400 jobs
Petroineos, the operator of Scotland's sole oil refinery, announced on Thursday that it would close the facility in 2025, resulting in the loss of 400 positions. The closure is part of plans for the site, which has been around 100 years, to be converted into a fuels-import terminal. Petroineos will shut down the refinery in the second quarter next year. This is subject to employee consultations, according to a spokesperson for the company.
Rural towns in New Mexico's arid region are looking to treated oil wastewater for a drought solution.
Stephen Aldridge, a pilot of a four-seater helicopter, could see a dozen lagoons filled with toxic waste glistening in the distance between drill rigs. The mayor of Jal, a tiny town nestled in the middle of U.S. Oil Country near the Texas border, saw the scene as a chance to find water for the state that is suffering from a worsening drought. Aldridge belongs…
German chemical sector recovers loses momentum in Q2, according to industry group
The second quarter saw a slight slowdown in the German chemical sector, according to a report released by VCI, the industry association. Both domestic and international orders, particularly in the pharmaceutical branch, were down in April-June. In a press statement, VCI's Director Wolfgang Grosse Entrup stated that the global economy had not picked up as fast as expected.
Methanex acquires OCI's methanol division in a $2.05 billion deal
Methanex, a Canadian methanol manufacturer, announced on Sunday that it would acquire the methanol division of Dutch green fuel maker OCI Global for $2.05 billion. The deal involves $1.15 billion cash and the issuance 9.9 million Methanex shares valued at $450 millions, according to the methanol manufacturer. It also includes $450 in debts and leases. OCI…
The policy uncertainty highlighted by the rise in US executives' election talk
U.S. executives are more concerned about the presidential election this year than they were four years ago. A wider policy divide between Donald Trump and Kamalah Harris raises concerns over taxes, tariffs, and pricing power. According to a LSEG Workspace screen on S&P 500 companies, mentions of the "election" and "White House" in earnings calls were 34% more than they would have been for the corresponding period of 2020.
Survival of the fittest: petrochemical manufacturers battle global glut
The survival mode of petrochemical producers is on in Europe and Asia. Years of capacity building in China, the top market for petrochemicals, and high energy prices in Europe have pushed margins down two years in a row. The weakness of the sector is concerning for an oil industry that looks to petrochemicals as a way to maintain profits in future years when transportation fuel demand will fall with the energy shift.
Aramco to Acquire 40% Stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan
Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, signed definitive agreements to acquire a 40% equity stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd. (“GO”).GO, a diversified downstream fuels, lubricants and convenience stores operator, is one of the largest retail and storage companies in Pakistan. The transaction is subject to certain customary conditions…
Exxon Banks Record $56B Profit in '22
Exxon Mobil Corp posted a $56 billion net profit for 2022, the company said on Tuesday, taking home about $6.3 million per hour last year, and setting not only a company record but a historic high for the Western oil industry. Oil majors are expected to break their own annual records on high prices and soaring demand, pushing their combined take to near $200 billion.
Has Green Hydrogen Sprung a Leak?
The green hydrogen express is gathering pace, but it may have a worrying problem with leaks.As governments and energy companies line up big bets on the much-touted fuel of the future, some scientists say the lack of data on leaks and the potential harm they could cause is a blind spot for the nascent industry.At least four studies published this year say hydrogen loses its environmental edge when it seeps into the atmosphere.
Cheniere to Fix Louisiana LNG Plant After Failing Pollution Test
Top U.S. LNG exporter Cheniere Energy Inc said it will repair and replace equipment at its Louisiana terminal after tests showed it exceeded newly-imposed hazardous emissions limits on certain known carcinogens, but the work will have no material impact on operations.A round of testing showed at least one of Cheniere's turbines at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Louisiana failed the new standards…
Cheniere Asks Biden Admin to Drop Pollution Rule
Cheniere Energy Inc has asked the Biden administration to exempt it from limits on emissions of cancer-causing pollutants, arguing they would force the top U.S. exporter of liquefied natural gas to shut for an extended period and endanger the country's efforts to ramp up supplies to Europe, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.The request imposes an…
NYK to Build Two LPG Dual-Fuel Very Large LPG / NH3 Gas Carriers
NYK ordered its first two liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dual-fuel very large LPG / ammonia (NH3) gas carriers (VLGCs) from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., both to be built at the KHI Sakaide Works shipyard and are set delivery in 2024.Both ships will be equipped with separate cargo tanks designed to carry LPG and ammonia at the same time to flexibly respond to various trade patterns.
MHI Invests in C-Zero to Accelerate Production of Clean Hydrogen
$11.5M Series A Funding Round Also Includes Breakthrough Energy Ventures, ENI Next and AP Ventures Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has invested in C-Zero, a hard tech startup located in Santa Barbara, Calif., to accelerate the first commercial-scale deployment of C-Zero's drop-in decarbonization technology, which will allow industrial natural gas consumers to avoid producing CO2 in applications like electrical generation…
Shell to Slash Jobs and Capacity at Major Singapore Refinery
Royal Dutch Shell will halve crude processing capacity and cut jobs at its Pulau Bukom oil refinery in Singapore as part of an overhaul to reduce its carbon emissions.The refinery on Pulau Bukom, a small island in the Southeast Asian city-state, can process 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil and is Shell's largest wholly-owned refinery worldwide.The move brings the total refining capacity cuts by Shell in recent months to 571…
Shell to Shut Its Convent, La. Refinery Amid Pandemic
Royal Dutch Shell said on Thursday it will shut down its refinery in Convent, Louisiana, the largest U.S. facility to close since the coronavirus pandemic first hit and devastated economic demand worldwide.The shutdown, to occur this month, comes after Shell failed to find a buyer.The refinery is the ninth in North America either to announce a shutdown or to be idled since the pandemic…
Oil Industry Veterans to Launch Hydrogen Investment Fund
Two energy industry veterans plan to launch an investment fund focused on hydrogen this year as more and more governments include the niche fuel in their global warming battle plans.Hydrogen has long-been touted as a potential clean fuel as it only emits water vapour but it has failed to gain traction, mainly because of historically high production, transportation…
China's Sinopec Starts Hiring for New Risk Management Unit
China Petrochemical Corp, or Sinopec Group, has started hiring for six top management positions for a new commodities risk management unit, according to a statement posted on the state energy company's official wechat account on Sunday.Formally known as Sinopec Chaoyang Risk Management Co and with a registered capital of 300 million yuan ($42.40 million)…
BP to Sell Petrochemicals Business to Ineos for $5B
British oil major BP will sell its global petrochemicals business to Ineos for $5 billion, a transaction delivering BP's divestments target a year earlier than originally scheduled.Brian Gilvary, BP’s chief financial officer, said: “With today’s announcement we have met our $15 billion target for agreed divestments a full year ahead of schedule, demonstrating…
EU Hydrogen Plan Splits Supporters Down Color-coded Lines
Energy industry lobbyists and advocates of renewable hydrogen are divided over whether the bloc should support low-carbon hydrogen produced by fossil fuels ahead of a new EU strategy next month.The EU's executive Commission plans to publish its hydrogen strategy on July 8, which will form the basis for EU regulation and funding to scale up production of the…
