The United States has started exporting LNG, thanks to the cheap and abundant supply of natural gas from shale plays. The first round of LNG exports began from the U.S. Gulf Coast and was quickly followed by a second project on the U.S. East Coast. However, since natural gas supply is now available across the […]
The return of the refiner?
Refiners have seen cause for growing optimism in the past few months, especially those in the U.S. Gulf Coast, Rockies, and the Midwest. Three factors are driving prospects of a renewal after nearly five difficult years: 1. Supply rationalization: Nearly 4.5 million barrels per day of refining capacity has disappeared in the past five years. […]
Shell may sell its refineries to Essar
Shell is discussing the sale of its three European refineries to Essar, as discussed in a previous post, at $4,000 to $5,000 per barrel of capacity. While valuation will depend on the three refineries’ individual configurations and complexity, the transaction is at a significant discount from the industry’s Golden Age. The three refineries with more […]
European refineries on sale
Several refineries are being sold in Europe — see table below based on Reuters data — because of moderating demand for fuels, the resulting overcapacity, growing share of biofuels, and anticipated expense associated with reducing carbon emissions. It is interesting that most bidders are the emerging economies such as India, China, and Russia, where rapid economic […]
