Europe
HP Viewpoint: Cautious optimism for growth seen in US natural gas market
With the advantages of a large resource base, relatively reasonable costs, and environmental pressures on competing fuels, such optimism is justified. However, the industry’s hopes are not guaranteed to be fulfilled.
HP Viewpoint: LNG’s future: Branching out
The liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry is mature and poised to branch out in many new directions in the coming decades as it continues to grow in capacity.
HP Construction: Europe
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has a contract to provide detailed engineering, procurement support and support services during construction of a new ester production plant at OXEA GmbH’s existing ..
KBR wins technology, engineering design deal for Egyptian ammonia plant
KBR was awarded a contract by Tecnimont for the license and basic engineering design (BED) of a new ammonia plant to be built by Chemical Industries Holding Co. (Kima) in Aswan, Egypt. The plant will support regional development plans in Aswan as well as Egypt’s drive to build modern fertilizer complexes.
Spain's Repsol buys Russian oil company Eurotek
Spanish oil company Repsol said Thursday it has agreed to buy Russian oil firm Eurotek for $230 million, its second deal in the country in as many weeks. The deal follows the Dec. 20 announcement of a new joint venture with Russian-Kazakh peer Alliance Oil Co.
Lukoil to restart Stavrolen ethylene unit by April
Russian oil producer OAO Lukoil Holdings will resume production at the ethylene unit of its Stavrolen plant by April 1, following a fire at the petrochemical plant earlier this month. The damage is estimated at $25 million, Lukoil said.
Russia wants closer cooperation with Germany on gas projects - report
Russia's energy minister Sergei Shmatko is calling for closer cooperation between Germany and Russia on building gas power plants, a German newspaper reported Tuesday. Russia has the funds and gas, while Germany has the technology and a potentially large market, the official said.
OPEC agrees to accomodate rising Libya oil output
Libya's oil minister Abdurahman Benyezza said that there is a "gentlemen" agreement inside OPEC to accommodate the country's crude oil as production recovers. Libya is currently producing over 1 million bpd of crude oil and expects to boost output to pre-war levels of about 1.6 million bpd by mid-2012.
Total Safety acquires Belgium downstream group Z-Safety Services
Integrated safety services firm Total Safety has acquired Z-Safety Services, a European leader for mission-critical safety services and equipment to the downstream energy and petrochemical markets based in Dilsen, Belgium. With the deal, Total Safety dramatically expands its European footprint and its ability to serve the safety needs of its client partners, it said.
SunPower strikes $165mn deal for Total solar unit
SunPower Corp. agreed to acquire a Total solar energy unit for $165.4 million in a deal that will expand the solar-panel company's presence in large-scale projects. Sunpower will pay $165.4 million for Total's Tenesol business and Total, its biggest shareholder, has agreed to acquire an additional 18.6 million SunPower shares in a private placement for $8.80 each.
- UPM unlocks new bio-based markets as Leuna biorefinery produces its first commercial product 12/19
- Stamicarbon awarded technology licensing contract for new urea plant in Eastern China 12/19
- Ford takes $19.5-B writedown on EV business 12/19
- Babcock & Wilcox awarded $40-MM contract for advanced wet gas scrubbing technology at Canadian petroleum refinery 12/19
- Aarti Industries secures methanol and toluene feedstock supply through multiple long-term contracts 12/19
- bp picks first outsider CEO Meg O'Neill after abrupt Auchincloss exit 12/19

