Propane Industry News

CHICAGO — Chicago, Illinois-based Energy Distribution Partners (EDP) has promoted Kathy Johnson to vice president of human resources (HR). Johnson joined EDP in 2018 with more than 20 years of human resource leadership experience across a variety of industries.

HOUSTON (Jan. 27, 2022) — Lummus Technology announced it has been awarded a contract by CCC-JV, a joint venture of China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd., China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau Co., Ltd., and China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation, for a gas processing plant featuring its proprietary NGL-MAX and NGL fractionation technologies.

In its efforts to implement best practices in organizational development and succession management, Omega Flex has evaluated the future short and long-term needs for the success of its business at the senior levels of the organization. Omega Flex reported that the board of directors has approved the following organizational changes, which are effective immediately.

Omaha, Neb. (Jan. 18, 2022) — LGT Transport, a premier transportation and logistics provider, announced the opening of its new Baytown, Texas, facility.

The 4,100 square foot office and 20,000 square foot maintenance facility sits on 11 acres and has all the amenities drivers could need, including showers, laundry, lounge and relaxation areas, as well as a break room for meal preparation and storage.

Several local propane professionals have been elected to serve as directors and officers of the Missouri Propane Education and Research Council (MOPERC).

The Council recently installed its new leadership at the group’s winter meeting in Ridgedale. The slate was approved at the MOPERC fall meeting in Jefferson City and includes representatives from across the state who serve in various capacities.

Officers elected were:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Jan. 6, 2022) — Kansas City-based private equity firm Great Range Capital (GRC) has announced that it has sold Fairbank Equipment Inc. to Pfingsten Partners, a private equity firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. TM Capital acted as the exclusive advisor to the company in conjunction with the transaction.

Grand Rapids, Mich. (Jan. 19, 2022) — Crystal Flash, one of the largest energy distributors in Michigan, is celebrating its 90^th anniversary.

Canada's primary underground propane inventories decreased by 16.13% in January, according to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). The total represented a month-to-month decrease of 293.8 Mcm.

During the latest mid-month period, prices at Mont Belvieu increased. The posted prices increased 14.083 cents/gal from December mid-month to January mid-month while the spot prices increased 9.625 cents. Conway, Kan., postings ended with a 14.5 cent increase and spots increased 9 cents over the month.

(Jan. 11, 2022) — The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that U.S. oil production will average 12.4 million barrels per day during 2023, surpassing the record high for domestic crude oil production set in 2019. In its January Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA forecasts U.S. crude oil production will increase for nine consecutive quarters, from the fourth quarter of 2021 through 2023.

COLUMBUS, Ind. (Jan. 10, 2022) — Grammer Logistics announced that it has opened a new operations terminal in the greater Houston, Texas, area. The facility is located at 2401 Independence Parkway S in La Porte, Texas.  The terminal will serve as a logistics center for Grammer’s operations and driver teams in the market, supporting the company’s strategic commitment to the Gulf Coast region.

HOUSTON (Jan. 10, 2022) — Enterprise Products Partners L.P. announced that its affiliate has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Navitas Midstream Partners LLC from an affiliate of Warburg Pincus LLC in a debt-free transaction for $3.25 billion in cash consideration. 

KENT, Conn. (Jan. 6, 2022) — Cetane Associates LLC has announced that Sail Energy LLC of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has acquired the assets related to the full-service propane, heating fuels, and motor fuels delivery business of the Rinker Oil Corporation, headquartered in Cuba, New York. The transaction closed on Dec. 15, 2021.

Brescia, Italy (Jan 12, 2022) — The Cavagna Group has announced it has strengthened its worldwide presence with the opening of a subsidiary in South Africa servicing countries of the South African Development Community (SADC) regions. 

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) secured a regional emergency declaration by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) based on communication with marketers and state and regional association executives regarding a wave of driver loss due to COVID-19 infection and exposure.

Lisle, Ill. (Jan. 7, 2022) — Propane retailer DCC Propane LLC recently increased its footprint in the “Bluegrass State” with the acquisition of Greenwell’s Propane Gas, a propane supplier located 30 miles south of Louisville in Taylorsville, Kentucky.

RYE BROOK, NY. (Jan. 6, 2022) – Paraco Gas has appointed Christina Armentano chief operating officer (COO) of the company. Christina previously served as executive vice president of sales, marketing and mergers and acquisitions. 

During the latest mid-month period, posted prices at Mont Belvieu decreased. The posted prices dropped 39.583 cents/gal., from November mid-month price to December mid-month, and the spot prices fell 26.75 cents. Conway, Kansas, postings ended with a 35.326-cent decrease and spots fell 25.875 cents over the month.

Editor's Note: In observance of the federal holiday falling on Thursday, 11/25, BPN did not publish BPN Pricing & Supply that week. As such, this mid-month data does not reflect averages from 11/25.

Valley Forge, Pa. (Jan. 5, 2022) — UGI Corporation announced today that it has entered into a 15-year agreement with California-based technology developer, Vertimass, to utilize their catalytic technology to produce renewable fuels from renewable ethanol in the U.S. and Europe.

Last month, Pinnacle Propane acquired United Propane and Collins Propane, jointly adding 8M gallons of volume in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of North Texas. This acquisition adds 15,000 customers to the Pinnacle portfolio, 52 new employees, and substantially strengthens Pinnacle's leading position in the fast-growing Texas market. In recent years, Pinnacle has completed 14 acquisitions, making it a top-three player in nearly all nine states it operates in.

Synergy Commodity has hired Jordan Manchester as commodity analyst. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Sacred Heart University. Prior to joining Synergy, Manchester worked at Sprague Operating Resources as a refined commodities analyst.

He has also worked as an analyst for Star Group and a staff accountant at Tech Air. Before entering the energy industry, he he had worked as a construction project manager for WWW MC Construction.