Vertically-integrated oil companies’ acquisitions of struggling independent refineries will avert a contraction of Russian distillation capacity. However, the demise of New Stream is just one more development dampening the prospects for the addition of upgrading capacity by the time new IMO regulations take effect. A maximum of two hydrocrackers will enter into operation by the end of 2019. For many refiners, adapting to IMO will consist of the vacuum units already in place.
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