Bulgaria's parliament has passed laws to take control of the Lukoil Neftochim refinery in Burgas following US sanctions against the Russian oil company, allowing for potential nationalization and sale of shares, amid concerns over legal and economic risks.
Lukoil's major Volgograd refinery has halted oil intake after a Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire and oil spill, highlighting escalating attacks on Russian energy assets amid geopolitical tensions.
A boiler failure at the Delaware City Refinery has led to the release of hazardous chemicals, including sulfur dioxide, which poses health risks to nearby communities and workers. The release, described as 'extremely hazardous,' is ongoing until repairs are completed, raising concerns about environmental and public health impacts.
Ukraine launched 35 drones targeting Russia, causing a fire at an oil refinery, disrupting electricity in border areas, and prompting accusations of election sabotage from Moscow. Russia claims to have shot down the drones and intercepted rockets launched from Ukraine. Both sides report damage from the attacks, with no independent verification available.
In a tragic incident, an explosion occurred at a refinery at 6:46 p.m., highlighting the dangers faced by workers in the industry. One brother, who had feared the job, had left the refinery, while the other stayed behind to help. The incident underscores the importance of workplace safety and the need for stricter regulations to protect workers in hazardous environments.
The new Domino Refinery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is a stunning example of adaptive reuse, with a glass nave inserted into the 19th-century industrial building. The architecture mediates between the past and the future, preserving the historic shell while creating a modern office space. The design by architect Vishaan Chakrabarti features irregularly aligned floors, a light well, and arched openings that provide dramatic views. The project is a capstone of New York City's waterfront revitalization efforts and serves as a reminder of the dark history of the sugar industry.
Evacuations are underway in Garyville, Louisiana, after a chemical leak and fire at a Marathon Petroleum refinery. The incident involved a release of naphtha, a flammable liquid, and a fire at a storage tank. No injuries have been reported, and the release and fire are contained within the refinery's property. Precautionary evacuations have been ordered for residents within a two-mile radius, and some schools have been evacuated while others are under shelter-in-place orders.
Firefighters battled a fire that sparked at a refinery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. The fire was contained, but flames sparked back up and were quickly put out. Water and foam were used to help put out the fire. Two people were reportedly injured, and information about the fire has not been released.
Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, has launched a $20 billion refinery in Nigeria, which aims to produce up to 53 million liters of gasoline per day, as well as 4 million liters of diesel and 2 million liters of aviation jet fuel daily. The refinery, which is the largest in the world, is expected to double Nigeria's refining capacity and end the country's fuel imports. The Dangote refinery will also generate foreign exchange for the country through exports and provide raw materials for manufacturing.
Tesla has broken ground on its new lithium refinery in Texas, which is expected to be the largest of its kind in North America. The facility will produce enough battery-grade lithium to build 1 million electric vehicles by 2025.
China's crude oil imports surged by 22.5% YoY in March to the highest monthly volumes in nearly three years, as refiners ramp up fuel output to meet expected rising demand after the reopening. Refinery throughputs in China rose by 3.3% over the first two months of the year, and many expect demand for crude oil in China to surge to new record highs, driving record imports. Under WoodMac’s base-case scenario, Chinese oil demand would rise by 1 million bpd this year, driving the expected 2.6-million-bpd growth in global oil consumption.
Saudi Aramco will invest billions of dollars in China's downstream petrochemicals industry, including the construction of a new refinery, as the company posted a record profit of more than $160 billion in 2022. Aramco will acquire a 10% interest in China's Rongsheng Petrochemical Co. Ltd and supply 480,000 barrels per day to Rongsheng affiliate Zhejiang Pettroleum and Chemical Co. Ltd. Aramco also announced plans to construct a new refinery and petrochemical complex in northeastern China through a joint venture.
Exxon Mobil's expansion of its southeast Texas refinery, which will increase daily capacity by almost 70% to about 619,000 barrels, is likely to be the last major expansion of US fuel-making capacity, given the industry-wide push to reduce carbon footprints and concurrent refinery construction across Africa, the Middle East and Asia that'll swell global oil-processing capacity. The expansion gives Exxon a guaranteed outlet for oil produced in the Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico, using domestic crude nets Exxon more than $40 for every barrel of diesel produced, a historically eye-popping margin.