Marathon 'not interested' in Citgo auction
Independent refiner Marathon Petroleum said it is "not interested" in the ongoing auction of Citgo's US refining assets, and prefers to instead invest in the company's own 13 refineries.
"We're not interested in the auction process," chief executive Michael Hennigan said on an earnings call today.
Mergers and acquisitions in the refining sector is a more challenging way to create value compared to upgrading existing operations, said vice president David Heppner. "You shouldn't anticipate us participating in the current auction process for the Citgo assets," Heppner said in response to an analyst question during the call.
A US federal court began the auction process for Citgo's parent PdV Holding (PdVH) on 23 October. The first round of bidding is scheduled to take place on 22 January 2024, with bidding expected to conclude on 20 May. If the sale process goes as planned, Citgo could have new owners as early as July 2024.
Citgo, with 805,000 b/d in capacity at three US refineries, has become a target of takeover by dozens of creditors looking to satisfy claims both against Venezuelan state-owned PdV — Citgo's ultimate owner — and the Venezuelan government.
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Vertex to pause Mobile renewable fuels refining
Vertex to pause Mobile renewable fuels refining
Houston, 9 May (Argus) — US specialty refiner Vertex plans to pause renewable fuels production at its 88,000 b/d Mobile, Alabama, refinery by the end of the year, returning a converted hydrocracker to produce what it says are wider-margin fossil fuel products. Vertex completed the conversion of the Mobile refinery and produced its first barrels of renewable diesel (RD) in May last year , having bought the refinery from Shell in 2022 . The company plans to use a third quarter turnaround to convert its renewable hydrocracker back to petroleum fuels production and to be up and running by the end of the year, after facing significant macro headwinds for renewable fuels, the company said on an earnings call today. The decision to return to full fossil fuels production is ultimately a near-term financial decision for the company which has an outstanding $196mn term loan, management said on an earnings call Thursday. The time line for a return to petroleum product production is contingent on permitting approvals and a successful completion of the turnaround and catalyst change in the unit. Vertex plans to sell its renewable feedstock inventories prior to the conversion. Vertex said it will retain the flexibility to return to renewable fuels processing should market conditions improve for the fuels, but does not believe headwinds to renewable markets will abate in at least the next year and a half. Conventional crude and other feedstock throughputs at the Mobile refinery were 64,000 b/d in the first quarter, down from 71,000 b/d in the same three months of 2023. Renewable throughputs were 4,000 b/d in the most recent quarter. The company expects 68,000-72,000 b/d of conventional crude and other feedstock throughputs in the second quarter and 2,000-4,000 b/d of renewable throughputs. Vertex reported a first quarter loss of $18mn compared to profits of $54mn in the first quarter of 2023. By Nathan Risser Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Singapore's GCMD to test long-term biofuel shipping use
Singapore's GCMD to test long-term biofuel shipping use
Singapore, 9 May (Argus) — Singapore-based Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and Japanese shipping firm NYK Line will trial the continuous use of a biofuel blend over six months. The study aims to evaluate the effects of the continuous use of B24 biofuel blend of 24pc fatty acid methyl ester (Fame) and 76pc of very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) on a short-sea vehicle carrier that will call at multiple ports, allowing for the regular sampling and testing of fuels stored on the ship. Fame is a "promising" fuel alternative, the firms said, but added that there are concerns about the impact of its extended use on vessel operations. The study hence aims to study the long-term impact of biofuel usage on ship engine performance and fuel delivery system operations. It will also examine the total cost of ownership of using biofuel, including fuel costs and associated maintenance costs, as well as identify potential operating challenges and suggest mitigation strategies. B24 is the current blend of alternative marine fuel that is being used or trialled for bunkering at some key Asian ports like Singapore and Zhoushan. Its usage is expected to rise, especially because the industry is pushing for higher emission cuts from shipping. Participants in the shipping industry are exploring solutions to meet the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) net zero carbon emission target by 2050, with operational safety and costs surfacing as some of the key concerns of alternative fuel adoption . "This knowledge will empower stakeholders across the ecosystem, from shipowners and charterers to biofuels producers and regulators – to make more informed business and policy decisions," GCMD chief executive officer Lynn Loo said. "Ultimately, this pilot will lead to greater confidence for biofuels use at scale, accelerating progress towards decarbonising the maritime industry." Argus assessed B24 biofuel bunker prices at $744.25-759.25/t delivered on board (dob) Singapore on 8 May. By Cassia Teo Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japanese ethylene producers unite for decarbonization
Japanese ethylene producers unite for decarbonization
Tokyo, 8 May (Argus) — Japanese petrochemical producers Mitsui Chemicals, Mitsubishi Chemical and Asahi Kasei have agreed to co-operate on decarbonization of their ethylene crackers in west Japan, targeting to decide a pathway within the current April 2024-March 2025 fiscal year. They plan to accelerate carbon neutrality at Mitsubishi Chemical and Asahi Kasei's 496,000 t/yr Mizushima cracker in Okayama prefecture and Mitsui Chemicals' 455,000 t/yr Osaka cracker in Osaka prefecture. The partners aim to introduce biomass feedstocks such as biomass-based naphtha and bioethanol and low-carbon cracking fuels like ammonia, hydrogen and electricity. They said joining forces will enable them to accelerate reducing greenhouse gas emissions, although they have not yet decided any further details. Mitsui Chemicals has experience in using bio-naphtha and recycled pyrolysis oil at its Osaka cracker. Japanese petrochemical producers have increasingly united to achieve decarbonization of their production processes, which account for around 10pc of the Japanese industrial sector's carbon dioxide emissions, according to the trade and industry ministry. Mitsui Chemicals, Sumitomo Chemical and Maruzen Petrochemical agreed to study the feasibility of chemical recycling and using bio-feedstocks at the Keiyo industrial complex in Chiba. By Nanami Oki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Doubts abound over US midcon E15 shift: NATSO
Doubts abound over US midcon E15 shift: NATSO
Houston, 7 May (Argus) — An effort by eight US midcontinent states to start selling 15pc ethanol (E15) gasoline blends year-round starting in 2025 remains unlikely, according to US fuel retailer trade association NATSO. The US approved last month the request from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin for year-round E15 gasoline sales starting next year. But even with that approval there are many barriers to making those sales a reality, said David Fialkov vice president of government affairs for NATSO, which represents truck stops and travel center operators. This includes a lack of investment from pipelines and refiners to prepare for the changes, as well as the higher costs of separating and selling different gasoline specifications at the retail level. "I remain pessimistic that it will come to fruition," Fialkov said Tuesday at a conference held by fuel retail industry group SIGMA in Austin, Texas. Political pressure to delay or abate the change in the midcontinent states will probably continue until refiners, pipeline companies and retailers begin to make the investments necessary, said Fialkov. E15 has been available for sale across the US since 2019, but a federal court in 2021 found that the Clean Air Act offers a fuel volatility waiver to refiners to produce only 10pc ethanol gasoline. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked around this ruling for the last two summers by issuing temporary emergency orders allowing the sale of E15 because of the war in Ukraine's squeeze on crude prices. A group of midcontinent refiners has petitioned the EPA to delay implementation of the E15 rule until the summer of 2026. The EPA has not yet ruled on the request. Fialkov said a legislative solution to the issue at the federal level would provide a clear and uniform pathway to E15, as opposed to the the EPA's rule which leaves some states still relying on the waiver and others opting to go with year-round E15. By Zach Appel Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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