Eni signs Memorandum of Understanding with Pertamina

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eni and PT Pertamina (Persero) signed in Porto Marghera, at Eni Green Refinery, a Memorandum of Understanding further expanding the relationship into green refinery, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The Parties agreed to explore a wide array of new opportunities across the entire energy value chain. This Memorandum of Understanding represents a step forward in Eni’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the Far East, looking for new business opportunities with a particular focus in the Downstream sector; leveraging also Eni unrivaled experience in converting & operating first-class bio-refinery assets.

Eni has been present in Indonesia since 2001, conducting operations of exploration and production. Today production derives from Muara Bakau block (Eni’s interest 55%) where Jangkrik field started-up in 2017.

As MRC informed previously, in February 2018, Italy’s Eni and France’s Total discovered a promising natural gas field off Cyprus. Eny said then that the find looked geologically similar to the mammoth Zohr field off Egypt.

ENI is an Italian multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Rome. It has operations in in 79 countries, and is currently Italy's largest industrial company with a market capitalization of EUR68 billion (USD 90 billion), as of August 14, 2013. The Italian government owns a 30.3% golden share in the company, 3.93% held through the state Treasury and 26.37% held through the Cassa depositi e prestiti. Another 39.40% of the shares are held by BNP Paribas.
MRC

Dongming Hengchang gets board approval to construct new PP plant in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Shandong Dongming Hengchang Petrochemical, a subsidiary of Sinostar PEC Holdings, has received board of directors' approval to build a new polypropylene (PP) facility in Heze City, Shandong Province, China, as per Apic-online.

The proposed PP project, estimated to cost RMB 1.2-billion, would have a production capacity of 200,000 t/y, increasing the group's capacity to 250,000 t/y. It would take about two years to complete construction and be ready for trial runs.

Sinostar earlier announced it was purchasing Dong-ming Qianhai Petrochemical, which would give it an additional 90,000 t/y of propylene capacity for the further production of PP. An expected completion date was not given.

As MRC reported earlier, in March 2018, Dongming Hengchang Petrochemical selected Spheripol PP technology from LyondellBasell for implementation at a plant in Heze City, Shandong Province, China.
MRC

Chevron California refinery restarting gasoline unit

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chevron Corp was attempting to restart the gasoline-producing unit at its 269,000 barrel per day (bpd) El Segundo refinery in California, reported Reuters with reference to the El Segundo police.

The 72,500 bpd Fluidic Catalytic Cracking Unit released silica catalyst during the restart on Thursday morning, the police department said. Nearby residents were warned they may find the powdery catalyst on their vehicles or property.

As MRC wrote before, in May 2018, Chevron Products Company, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc., and Novvi LLC announced that they entered into an agreement to jointly develop and bring to market novel renewable base oil technologies. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation. One of the successor companies of Standard Oil, it is headquartered in San Ramon, California, and active in more than 180 countries. Chevron is engaged in every aspect of the oil, natural gas, and geothermal energy industries, including hydrocarbon exploration and production; refining, marketing and transport; chemicals manufacturing and sales; and power generation.
MRC

Nghi Son oil refinery offers first gasoline cargo for export

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Vietnam’s Nghi Son oil refinery has offered its first gasoline export cargo after receiving approval from the government earlier this month to start exporting fuel products, a source at the refinery told Reuters.

Vietnam’s second refinery is looking to sell up to 30,000 tonnes of 95-octane grade gasoline for Sept. 26-30 loading through a tender due to be awarded next week, Nghi Son said in a statement on its website.

"We received approval from the Ministry of Industry and Trade a week ago to export our refined fuel products," said the source, who was not authorized to speak to the media and declined to be named.

"We don’t plan to export our fuel products for the long term, because we will focus on the local market," said the source.

"In the long term, we will only export our petrochemical products."

Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical LLC, owner of the 200,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery in northern Vietnam, in August asked for government approval to export oil products as domestic traders and consumers were unable to absorb refined fuels from the plant as it ramps up towards commercial operations in November.

Nghi Son is located 260 km (160 miles) south of Hanoi.

The USD9 billion refinery is 35.1 percent owned by Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan Co, 35.1 percent by Kuwait Petroleum (IPO-KUWP.KW), 25.1 percent by PetroVietnam and 4.7 percent by Mitsui Chemicals Inc.

The refinery, still conducting test runs, is scheduled to start full commercial operations in November.

As MRC informed before, Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical started up on Feb. 28, 2018. The plant is designed to help Vietnam cope with a shortage of refined oil products.
MRC

Meridian Energy expands operations in Houston as Davis refinery project moves forward

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Meridian Energy Group, Inc., the leading developer of innovative and environmentally-compliant oil refining facilities, has announced that the company has made arrangements to significantly expand operations in Houston offices, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Meridian has signed a long-term lease with Boxer Property for a 10,000 sq. ft. building to accommodate its Engineering and Projects departments. The new offices, in the Greenspoint district of Houston, are strategically located near both The Woodlands and IAH Airport. This Houston location will include a full digital integration in order to interface in real time with Meridian offices in North Dakota and California.

This expansion comes several months after Meridian was issued the Permit to Construct for the Davis Refinery in Billings County, North Dakota, and subsequently began earthwork and other site preparation work at the Davis site. The continued expansion of the Meridian presence in Houston will ensure the timeline for the Davis Refinery will remain on schedule for design and construction of Davis, with full commercial operation scheduled for late 2020. Meridian’s Houston operations will also facilitate access to the professional staffing required for the development, engineering and contracting for future refining and other projects that are currently in the planning stages.

Lance Medlin, Meridian EVP of Projects, "We went through a lengthy selection process and are fortunate to have developed a partnership with Boxer Property that we allow us to continue the development of the Davis Refinery as well as our future projects. This expansion gives us the ability to house our Project Teams in one facility, giving us better efficiencies and momentum for moving our Projects forward."

Boxer Property Leasing Agent, Wesley King had this to say on Meridian as their new tenant, "Boxer Property is thrilled to welcome Meridian Energy Group, Inc to 16770 Imperial Valley. We are happy to provide the perfect space for their needs."

Chad Hope, Meridian CFO on the continued expansion, "This growth is both a result of Meridian’s progress and the exciting future opportunities we’re being presented with and represents the most cost-effective manner of meeting our current and future needs."

As MRC informed before, in May 2018, Meridian Energy Group, Inc., the leading developer of innovative and environmentally-compliant oil refining facilities, signed a letter of intent with a leading specialty engineering, procurement and construction solutions provider based in Houston, Texas, to initially complete a front end engineering and design (FEED) study for the Davis Refinery in Belfield, North Dakota.
MRC