London-based oil re-refiner Hydrodec Group announced it has reached an agreement to collaborate with Essar Oil UK Ltd. to create the leading European oil re-refining centre at Stanlow, the UK’s second largest refinery, including a re-refinery which is capable of processing up to 100 million litres of used lubricant oil into API Group II+ and Group III base oil by 2016.

DB Schenker has been awarded a storage and distribution contract from Neste Oil to store lube oils, greases, and other chemicals at its new 25,000 square meter warehouse located in Nurmijärvi, Finland. DB Schenker also previously signed a contract with Neste Oil Russia in St. Petersburg to warehouse all of Neste Oil's own packed products imported for Neste Oil's local retail stations.

Major integrated European oil companies reported their recent quarterly financial results during the past couple weeks. Similar to the scenario in the U.S., for the most part, European oil company profits fell primarily due to narrow refining margins. The economic slowdown has hit European oil demand, leaving European refineries with overcapacity and shrinking margins.

Chevron Phillips Chemical announced the completion of its study to expand normal alpha olefin (NAO) capacity at its Cedar Bayou plant in Baytown, Texas and receipt of approval to proceed with detailed engineering, design and procurement of long-lead equipment. The capacity expansion is targeting a 20 percent minimum increase in a phased approach.

According to a statement released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Calumet Shreveport Lubricant and Waxes has been ordered to pay a $326,000 civil penalty and to spend at least $248,000 to make improvements to its airborne toxins monitoring system around its Shreveport, La., facility.

Savant Group had a groundbreaking Friday October 25 for an additional 11,000-square-foot expansion, which will house a technical training facility. The new facility will allow the Savant Group educational staff to offer technical seminars for customers and distributors around the world.

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