Strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure risk an environmental disaster. Bombings of refineries and tankers threaten massive oil spills, toxic black rain, and the shutdown of desalination plants that provide critical drinking water.


Is a catastrophe inevitable? How attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure could cause an environmental disaster

The US Environmental Protection Agency granted some refineries full waivers from biofuels regulation for the 2018 compliance year, even though the Department of Energy had recommended partial exemptions, according to an EPA memo seen by Reuters.

The decision upset the powerful US corn lobby, already angry at the Trump administration's move in August to grant 31 full exemptions to refineries, freeing them from an at-times costly obligation to use biofuels such as corn-based ethanol.

Democratic presidential candidates also seized on the administration's use of waivers on Tuesday, calling them a giveaway to the oil industry that hurts farmers already struggling from the effects of the US trade war with China.

The issue shows how President Donald Trump has struggled to simultaneously please the corn and oil industries, key political constituencies leading into next year's presidential election that has routinely clashed over future biofuels policy.

The August 9 memo showed the EPA granted "full exemptions for those 2018 small refinery petitions where DOE recommended 50 per cent relief."

The memo, signed by Anne Idsal, EPA’s acting assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, did not specify how many refineries were involved.

Trump's EPA has disregarded DOE advice on waivers in the past, Reuters has reported, marking a break from the Obama administration’s EPA, which had often either adopted energy department recommendations or, when it did not, ruled against exempting oil refiners.

An EPA official did not immediately comment.

Agency officials and oil industry representatives have defended the EPA's expanded use of waivers under the Trump administration, saying they protect refining jobs and there is no evidence they have any impact on ethanol demand.

"Small refinery exemptions are a critical lifeline for small refineries across the US," said a spokesman for the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers refining group.

But biofuel industry representatives called the memo evidence the agency is biased in favour of the oil industry.

"Granting favours to refiners that aren’t really facing an economic hardship is just one of the multiple problems with EPA’s handling of small refinery exemptions," said Kurt Kovarik, vice president of federal affairs for the National Biodiesel Board, on the sidelines of an industry event.

"The memo clearly shows that EPA continues to disregard the recommendations of DOE," Geoff Cooper, head of the Renewable Fuels Association industry group, said in an email.

In a clear sign the issue has become a potential political vulnerability for Trump, White House hopeful Democratic Senator Cory Booker seized on the news of the memo, calling the administration's use of the waiver program an "abuse of power."

He added, "Time and time again, this president and his administration have used their power to prop up their political allies, like oil companies, at the expense of hardworking American farmers, and now, they're doing it against the advice of their own Department of Energy."

Mayor Pete Buttigieg also mentioned small refinery waivers on Tuesday during a campaign stop in Iowa, calling them "big giveaways to oil," drawing applause from his crowd.

The US Renewable Fuel Standard requires oil refineries to blend biofuels, such as corn-based ethanol, into their fuel or purchase credits from those that do.

The law is intended to help farmers and cut US dependence on foreign oil but refiners say it costs them a fortune.

The RFS, however, allows the EPA to grant waivers from the regulation to small refining facilities of 75,000 barrels per day or less if they can prove that compliance would cause them disproportionate economic hardship.

This process sees the DOE assess applications and provide recommendations to the EPA, which then makes a final decision.

While the EPA publishes the number of waiver applicants and recipients each year, it keeps their identities secret, arguing the information is business-sensitive.

Since Trump took office, the EPA has vastly expanded its use of the exemptions, providing waivers to small facilities owned by billionaire investor Carl Icahn and oil majors, such as Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp, Reuters has reported.

Under pressure over the most recent round of 31 waivers, Trump last month promised a "giant package" to farmers to boost the market for ethanol.

That plan has yet to be released.

The US Environmental Protection Agency granted some refineries full waivers from biofuels regulation for the 2018 compliance year, even though the Department of Energy had recommended partial exemptions, according to an EPA memo seen by Reuters.

The US Environmental Protection Agency granted some refineries full waivers from biofuels regulation for the 2018 compliance year, even though the Department of Energy had recommended partial exemptions, according to an EPA memo seen by Reuters. The decision upset the powerful US corn lobby, already angry at the Trump administration's move in August to grant 31 full exemptions to refineries, freeing them from an at-times costly obligation to use biofuels such as corn-based ethanol. Democratic presidential candidates also seized on the administration's use of waivers on Tuesday, calling them a giveaway to the oil industry that hurts farmers already struggling from the effects of the US trade war with China. The issue shows how President Donald Trump has struggled to simultaneously please the corn and oil industries, key political constituencies leading into next year's presidential election that has routinely clashed over future biofuels policy. The August 9 memo showed the EPA granted "full exemptions for those 2018 small refinery petitions where DOE recommended 50 per cent relief." The memo, signed by Anne Idsal, EPA’s acting assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, did not specify how many refineries were involved. Trump's EPA has disregarded DOE advice on waivers in the past, Reuters has reported, marking a break from the Obama administration’s EPA, which had often either adopted energy department recommendations or, when it did not, ruled against exempting oil refiners. An EPA official did not immediately comment. Agency officials and oil industry representatives have defended the EPA's expanded use of waivers under the Trump administration, saying they protect refining jobs and there is no evidence they have any impact on ethanol demand. "Small refinery exemptions are a critical lifeline for small refineries across the US," said a spokesman for the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers refining group. But biofuel industry representatives called the memo evidence the agency is biased in favour of the oil industry. "Granting favours to refiners that aren’t really facing an economic hardship is just one of the multiple problems with EPA’s handling of small refinery exemptions," said Kurt Kovarik, vice president of federal affairs for the National Biodiesel Board, on the sidelines of an industry event. "The memo clearly shows that EPA continues to disregard the recommendations of DOE," Geoff Cooper, head of the Renewable Fuels Association industry group, said in an email. In a clear sign the issue has become a potential political vulnerability for Trump, White House hopeful Democratic Senator Cory Booker seized on the news of the memo, calling the administration's use of the waiver program an "abuse of power." He added, "Time and time again, this president and his administration have used their power to prop up their political allies, like oil companies, at the expense of hardworking American farmers, and now, they're doing it against the advice of their own Department of Energy." Mayor Pete Buttigieg also mentioned small refinery waivers on Tuesday during a campaign stop in Iowa, calling them "big giveaways to oil," drawing applause from his crowd. The US Renewable Fuel Standard requires oil refineries to blend biofuels, such as corn-based ethanol, into their fuel or purchase credits from those that do. The law is intended to help farmers and cut US dependence on foreign oil but refiners say it costs them a fortune. The RFS, however, allows the EPA to grant waivers from the regulation to small refining facilities of 75,000 barrels per day or less if they can prove that compliance would cause them disproportionate economic hardship. This process sees the DOE assess applications and provide recommendations to the EPA, which then makes a final decision. While the EPA publishes the number of waiver applicants and recipients each year, it keeps their identities secret, arguing the information is business-sensitive. Since Trump took office, the EPA has vastly expanded its use of the exemptions, providing waivers to small facilities owned by billionaire investor Carl Icahn and oil majors, such as Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp, Reuters has reported. Under pressure over the most recent round of 31 waivers, Trump last month promised a "giant package" to farmers to boost the market for ethanol. That plan has yet to be released.

US EPA granted full biofuel waivers to refineries despite Energy Dept advice: memo

Minister of Petroleum&nbsp;and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has announced the opening of the first-ever seven refineries and petrochemical complexes on 16 January in Barmer oil refinery.

He said &quot; For the first time, 7 refineries and petrochemical complexes are about to begin their functions in India &amp; will go on floor from 16th January, with all clearances and tenders.&quot;

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For the first time, 7 refineries &amp; petrochemical complexes are about to begin their functions in India &amp; will go on floor from 16th Jan, with all clearances &amp; tenders: Dharmendra Pradhan on PM Modi&#39;s proposed visit for foundation laying ceremony of Barmer oil refinery <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rajasthan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rajasthan</a> <a href="https://t.co/9UmoZouJre">pic.twitter.com/9UmoZouJre</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/950674278726254592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He invalidated&nbsp;the statements made by Congress party that they have already laid the foundation stone of the refinery and the prime minister was repeating their action.

He said &quot;Congress is raising objections that they have already laid the foundation stone of the refinery and why is Modi Ji going again for that? These are all false claims.&quot;

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Congress is raising objections that they have already laid the foundation stone of the refinery &amp; why is Modi Ji going again for that? These are false claims: Dharmendra Pradhan on PM Modi&#39;s proposed visit for foundation laying ceremony of Barmer oil refinery <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rajasthan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rajasthan</a> <a href="https://t.co/ngCnum6gsO">pic.twitter.com/ngCnum6gsO</a>
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On January 16, seven refineries and petrochemical complexes are about to begin their functioning in India for the first time.&nbsp;

PM Modi is proposed to visit the foundation site in Barmer Oil refinery in Rajasthan.&nbsp;

Earlier on January 6, Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has opposed the upcoming foundation laying ceremony of an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=oil%20refinery">oil refinery</a>&nbsp;in Barmer by the Prime Minister.

He said that the foundation stone for the refinery was already laid September 22, 2013, by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

On January 16, seven refineries and petrochemical complexes are about to begin their functions in India for the first time. Congress said that the foundation stone for the refinery was already laid on September 22, 2013, by former party president Sonia Gandhi.

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has announced the opening of the first-ever seven refineries and petrochemical complexes on 16 January in Barmer oil refinery. He said " For the first time, 7 refineries and petrochemical complexes are about to begin their functions in India & will go on floor from 16th January, with all clearances and tenders." For the first time, 7 refineries & petrochemical complexes are about to begin their functions in India & will go on floor from 16th Jan, with all clearances & tenders: Dharmendra Pradhan on PM Modi's proposed visit for foundation laying ceremony of Barmer oil refinery #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/9UmoZouJre — ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2018 × He invalidated the statements made by Congress party that they have already laid the foundation stone of the refinery and the prime minister was repeating their action. He said "Congress is raising objections that they have already laid the foundation stone of the refinery and why is Modi Ji going again for that? These are all false claims." Congress is raising objections that they have already laid the foundation stone of the refinery & why is Modi Ji going again for that? These are false claims: Dharmendra Pradhan on PM Modi's proposed visit for foundation laying ceremony of Barmer oil refinery #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/ngCnum6gsO — ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2018 × On January 16, seven refineries and petrochemical complexes are about to begin their functioning in India for the first time. PM Modi is proposed to visit the foundation site in Barmer Oil refinery in Rajasthan. Earlier on January 6, Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has opposed the upcoming foundation laying ceremony of an oil refinery in Barmer by the Prime Minister. He said that the foundation stone for the refinery was already laid September 22, 2013, by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

PM Modi laying foundation of refineries, petrochemical sites in Barmer Oil refinery, Congress takes credit

Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) will resume sailing to Iran this month after a four-year gap, transporting an oil cargo for a state-run refiner, the chairman of India&#39;s biggest shipping company said on Tuesday. 
 
SCI stopped sailing to Iran in 2012 when sanctions targeting Iran&#39;s nuclear programme prevented the company obtaining insurance cover for oil and other shipments. 
 
Following the lifting in January of some western sanctions, International Group of Protection and Indemnity (P&amp;I) Clubs -- which generally insure the tanker market -- have been able to obtain &quot;fall-back cover&quot; from non-US markets.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The level of cover provided by the fall-back cover has been recently raised to 100 million Euros ($111.30 million), which is fairly high and provides substantial levels of protection,&quot; said BB Sinha, Chairman &amp; Managing Director of SCI. 
 
SCI will this month use one of its Suezmax-sized tankers to ship an oil cargo for state-refiner Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) from Iran. 
 
&quot;It is not yet decided ... which SCI-owned vessel is going to Iran,&quot; Sinha said.&nbsp; 
 
SCI had contracts with HPCL, Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL) and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd to ship crude from Iran, he said. 
 
HPCL will resume Iranian oil imports from July after three years because insurance was now available for plants processing Iranian oil, its head of refineries BK Namdeo said. 
 
Similarly, BPCL&#39;s head of refineries, BK Datta, confirmed it also planned to import an oil cargo from Iran this month, although it would use the Panama-flagged tanker &quot;Vito&quot;. 
 
Iran currently supplies bulk of its oil to India using its own vessels&nbsp; 
 
India&#39;s Iranian oil imports are set to hit a seven-year high in the year from April 1, with refiners buying at least 400,000 barrels per day. 
 
Iran currently supplies the bulk of its oil to India using its own vessels. 
 
Some Indian refiners such as Essar Oil and Reliance Industries have already begun importing Iranian oil in tankers flagged from other countries. 
 
Sinha hoped the lifting of sanctions would boost trade between India and Iran. SCI returned to profit in the 2014-15 fiscal year after suffering three years of net losses.&nbsp; 
 
SCI aims to expand its fleet by allocating about 10 billion Rupees ($148.42 million) for capital expenditure in the current fiscal year to March 2017 from nil last year, he said. 
 
&quot;Fleet expansion is necessary as India&#39;s foreign trade is also increasing with a growing economy,&quot; he said, adding that 60-70 per cent of the capex would be funded through foreign loans and the remainder internally. 
 
Sinha said the company aimed to buy second-hand ships so they could be deployed quickly. 
 
(Reuters)

India's Iranian oil imports are set to hit a seven-year high in the year with refiners buying at least 400,000 barrels per day

Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) will resume sailing to Iran this month after a four-year gap, transporting an oil cargo for a state-run refiner, the chairman of India's biggest shipping company said on Tuesday. SCI stopped sailing to Iran in 2012 when sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear programme prevented the company obtaining insurance cover for oil and other shipments. Following the lifting in January of some western sanctions, International Group of Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clubs -- which generally insure the tanker market -- have been able to obtain "fall-back cover" from non-US markets. "The level of cover provided by the fall-back cover has been recently raised to 100 million Euros ($111.30 million), which is fairly high and provides substantial levels of protection," said BB Sinha, Chairman & Managing Director of SCI. SCI will this month use one of its Suezmax-sized tankers to ship an oil cargo for state-refiner Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) from Iran. "It is not yet decided ... which SCI-owned vessel is going to Iran," Sinha said. SCI had contracts with HPCL, Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL) and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd to ship crude from Iran, he said. HPCL will resume Iranian oil imports from July after three years because insurance was now available for plants processing Iranian oil, its head of refineries BK Namdeo said. Similarly, BPCL's head of refineries, BK Datta, confirmed it also planned to import an oil cargo from Iran this month, although it would use the Panama-flagged tanker "Vito". Iran currently supplies bulk of its oil to India using its own vessels India's Iranian oil imports are set to hit a seven-year high in the year from April 1, with refiners buying at least 400,000 barrels per day. Iran currently supplies the bulk of its oil to India using its own vessels. Some Indian refiners such as Essar Oil and Reliance Industries have already begun importing Iranian oil in tankers flagged from other countries. Sinha hoped the lifting of sanctions would boost trade between India and Iran. SCI returned to profit in the 2014-15 fiscal year after suffering three years of net losses. SCI aims to expand its fleet by allocating about 10 billion Rupees ($148.42 million) for capital expenditure in the current fiscal year to March 2017 from nil last year, he said. "Fleet expansion is necessary as India's foreign trade is also increasing with a growing economy," he said, adding that 60-70 per cent of the capex would be funded through foreign loans and the remainder internally. Sinha said the company aimed to buy second-hand ships so they could be deployed quickly. (Reuters)

India's biggest shipping firm to resume sailing to Iran after four-year gap

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