Economics
BASF invests in increasing production capacity of Neopor® at Ludwigshafen site
BASF is strengthening its styrene value chain at its Ludwigshafen site by expanding the production capacity of Neopor® by 50,000 tpy. This increase is aimed at meeting the growing market demand for the grey insulation material. The start-up of the new production facilities is scheduled for early 2027.
Vopak Energy Park Antwerp starts market consultation for ammonia storage
Vopak is launching a market consultation for the storage of ammonia at its Vopak Energy Park Antwerp site in Belgium. The market consultation aims to gauge market interest and to gather detailed insight into customer demand. Vopak Energy Park Antwerp intends to finish the currently ongoing pre-FEED study by the end of 2024. Subject to market interest and a positive FID the start of operations is currently foreseen in 2029.
KKR to take 25% stake in Eni biofuel unit, valuing it at $13 B
U.S. fund KKR is buying a 25% stake in Italian energy group Eni's biofuel business Enilive, in a deal that values the unit at €11.75 B ($12.7 B) including debt.
U.S. crude, gasoline inventories rise, distillates draw down
U.S. crude oil and gasoline inventories rose while distillate inventories fell last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday.
U.S. fuelmakers to report lower 3Q profits on weaker margins, fuel demand
U.S. oil refiners' third quarter profits are expected to fall from last year on weakening margins as fuel demand softened and new refining capacity came online.
BGEN signs five-year contract with INEOS O&P UK
BGEN has announced that it has signed a five-year contract with the petrochemical manufacturer INEOS O&P UK. BGEN will provide a range of services to help INEOS optimize plant efficiency at its site in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire.
Australia fuel supplier Viva Energy's retail and refining challenges continue to hurt
Viva's downbeat update comes a few days after bigger rival Ampol, the only other domestic fuel supplier in the country, warned of similar challenges facing the refining sector and flagged a hit of A$100 MM in its earnings.
As U.S. Permian crude turns lighter, it risks losing favor with refiners
Companies drilling for the crude that turned the U.S. into the world's top oil producer face an unexpected dilemma: their West Texas Midland crude is getting lighter, which could make it less appealing to some refiners.
Digital Feature: WASCO’s Energy Efficiency Roadmap: Leveraging software and AI for operational excellence
This case study details how WASCO introduced an innovative Energy Efficiency Roadmap that uses proprietary simulation software and artificial intelligence to address the critical challenges of operational costs and carbon emissions in an liquified petroleum gas plant.
India eyes $87 B investment in petrochemicals sector over next decade
India is expected to receive investments worth $87 B in the next decade to meet the nation's rising demand for petrochemicals, the country's oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.
- Valero Energy Q4 profit beats estimates; shares surge 1/30
- Dow launches "Transform to Outperform" to raise the competitive industry benchmark for productivity and growth to enable improved returns 1/30
- Russian oil refineries' peak maintenance expected in January and September 1/30
- U.S. lifts some Venezuela sanctions to ease oil sales 1/30
- Keppel, Aster plan sustainable aviation fuel project in Singapore 1/30
- Boeing, Israel's Technion to develop sustainable aviation fuel, as sector grapples with 2050 goal 1/30

