ExxonMobil Rolls-out New Antwerp Unit to Produce Marine Fuel
ExxonMobil has started operations of a new unit at its Antwerp refinery in Belgium to convert heavy, higher-sulfur residual oils into high-value transportation fuels such as marine gasoil and diesel.The new 50,000 barrel-per-day unit expands the refinery’s capacity to meet demand for cleaner transportation fuels throughout northwest Europe. The company’s investment in the new coker will also help meet anticipated demand for lower-sulfur fuel oil to comply with new standards to be implemented by the International Maritime Organization in 2020.“Our investment in Antwerp strengthens ExxonMobil’s competitiveness and position as a leading European refiner by expanding the refinery’s product slate and increasing our ability to deliver larger quantities of cleaner…
Essar Projects Bags $54 mi Maiden Contract from Saudi Aramco
The Hydrocarbon SBU of Essar Projects, a global EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) contractor, has secured its maiden contract from Saudi Aramco, the national petroleum and natural gas Company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The USD 54-million EPC project involves the upgradation of a Crude Stabilization Unit at Aramco’s Abqaiq Plant, in Shaybah, one of the largest oilfields in the world. The scope of work entails engineering, procurement and construction of a crude tank, replacement of crude pumps and associated civil, piping, electrical and instrumentation facilities. The project is scheduled to be completed in 29 months. Essar is already executing five other projects in the region in the hydrocarbon sector.
Tianjin: No Petrochem Fraud
China's Tianjin Port Holdings has found no evidence of an alleged fraud involving petrochemicals reported by media earlier this month, the company said in a statement on Monday. Citing police and trade sources, Reuters had reported police were investigating a suspected contract fraud at Tianjin Port that involved "mixed aromatics", a refinery product commonly used for blending petrol. But Tianjin Port said it had made checks with the companies said to be involved and had found no evidence of the alleged fraud. Mixed aromatics, also known as reformates, have become popular as a financing tool in recent years, as China has tightened credit and companies look to profit from interest rate differentials, trade sources said.
