11/12/2008
-- Gazprom, BASF JV boosts Siberian gas production ZAO Achimgaz, a JV of Russia's Gazprom and German chemical firm BASF, began gas and condensate production Nov. 12 from the Achimov deposit in Siberia.
11/08/2008
-- Dow, Sabic start up 'world's largest' PP train Dow Technology Licensing and Ibn Zahr have started up what they say is the world's largest single polypropylene train at Al Jubail industrial city on the Persian Gulf coast.
11/06/2008
-- Aramco, ConocoPhillips delay Yanbu refinery construction Saudi Arabia's Aramco and ConocoPhillips, citing uncertainties in financial and contracting markets, have agreed to halt the bidding process for construction of their planned 400,000 b/d refinery at Yanbu.
11/06/2008
-- PetroSA's $11 billion Coega refinery moves ahead South Africa's DME granted a manufacturing license to PetroSA for its Project Mthombo—an $11 billion, 400,000 b/d refinery to be built in the Coega industrial development zone outside Port Elizabeth.
11/05/2008
-- Sasol arranges China CTL feasibility study Sasol Synfuels International and Shenhua Ningxia Coal Industry Group hired subsidiaries of Foster Wheeler to conduct a coal-to-liquids feasibility study in China.
11/04/2008
-- Tula cat cracker offline until late November Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) reported it has shut down the catalytic cracking unit at its 315,000 b/d Tula Hidalgo refinery for maintenance.
11/04/2008
-- Zorco selects project manager for Libyan refinery Zwara Oil Refinery Co. let a contract to Foster Wheeler Italiana to perform consultancy and project management services for a planned 200,000 b/sd refinery at Mellita, Libya.
10/29/2008
-- Hess denies St. Lucia refinery claim Hess Corp., amid a decision to cut the company's capital expenditure program for next year, said it currently has no plans to build a $5 billion refinery on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.
10/29/2008
-- 'Microrefineries' boost Iraq's domestic output Iraq's 20,000 b/d al-Diwaniya refinery—one of several so-called microrefining projects now under way—will be inaugurated within the next couple of weeks, according to an official statement.
10/28/2008
-- Hess starts work on building St. Lucia refinery Hess Corp. has begun preparatory work for the construction of a multibillion dollar refinery in St. Lucia, according to a senior government official.
10/28/2008
-- Hess considering St. Lucia refinery, official says Hess Corp. has begun preparatory work for the construction of a multibillion dollar refinery in St. Lucia, according to a senior government official.
10/25/2008
-- French conservation decreases motor fuel demand High oil prices and dwindling domestic purchase power over the first 9 months of this year pulled down motor fuel consumption in France by 1.9%, indicated the oil trade group UFIP.
10/23/2008
-- Pakistan cuts duties on products to Afghanistan Pakistan has cut by almost 50% its fixed regulatory duty on diesel and kerosine exports to Afghanistan, effective immediately.
10/19/2008
-- Brenco, Lyondell Basel agree on ethanol sale Brazil Renewable Energy Co. (Brenco) has signed a long-term agreement to sell sugar cane-based ethanol to refiner Lyondell Basell, Rotterdam, for export to the US.
10/17/2008
-- PDVSA awards JGC refinery modernization contract Venezuela's PDVSA, as part of its on-going Siembra Petrolera plan, has signed an agreement with JGC to form a strategic alliance aimed at improving the country's refining capacity.
10/13/2008
-- Japan backs refinery in Mongolia Mongolia's Mongolsekiu and Toyo Engineering have formally submitted plans to the Mongolian mines and energy ministry for construction of the country's first refinery.
10/13/2008
-- Petroperu again delays Talara refinery upgrade bid Recent alleged irregularities at Peru's state-owned Petroperu have led the company to further extend to Oct. 30 its deadline for bids on the FEED contract to modernize its Talara refinery at Piura.
10/13/2008
-- PDVSA breaks ground on Santa Ines refinery Venezuela's PDVSA, aiming to process more of the country's heavy oil at home, has begun construction of the 100,000-b/d Santa Ines refinery, in the state of Barinas.
10/13/2008
-- FACTS: Asia ethylene capacity to rise 60% by 2015 The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing a massive expansion during which it will increase its ethylene production capacity to more than 64 million tpy, according to a report from FACTS Global Energy.
