Propane Industry News

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) has announced a new affinity partnership with Colonial Life offering employee benefits like dental insurance, accident insurance, life insurance, and more, at no direct cost to your business.

NATIONAL — Russ Bartels, director of AmeriGas Wholesale, announced plans to retire in July after over 35 years of working for AmeriGas. Bartels started his career with AmeriGas working at the Palatine, Illinois district replacing cylinder valves.

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Department of Labor recently announced the withdrawal – effective May 6 – of the “Independent Contractor Rule,” to maintain workers’ rights to the minimum wage and overtime compensation protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The Baker Hughes United States Rig Count is up eight from last week to 448, with oil rigs up two to 344, gas rigs up seven to 103, and miscellaneous rigs down one to one.

Traditionally the LPG industry has relied on expertise from within the industry to tackle its challenges. Many of the future challenges the industry will face will demand new thinking from people with fresh, smart minds who are perhaps outside of the LPG industry. The success of the first World LPG Challenge competition in 2019 resulted in a decision by the WLPGA to run the challenge as an annual event as part of LPG Week.

(May 4, 2021) — J&J Truck Bodies & Trailers announced the appointment of Nolan Link as national trailer sales manager.

“We are very excited to welcome Link to the J&J Team,” said Jason Cornell, director of sales. “Although trailers will be somewhat new to him, he comes with experience and aptitude from the consumer side of our products. His associated industry experience along with his personal drive and professionalism will prove to be a great fit for our organization.”

May 5, 2021 — Australia's LPG exports rose to a historic high in March, rebounding from a 21-month low the previous month as both butane and propane shipments reached record-high levels, according to an analysis of the latest customs data from Argus Media.

LONDON (April 23, 2021) — Navigator Holdings Ltd. announced it has agreed to four, 12-month timecharter contracts with Mitsui & Co. Energy Trading Singapore Pte. Ltd. to be used for Pembina Pipeline Corporation's new LPG export facility at Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. The four semi-refrigerated handysize vessels are expected to commence their charters to Mitsui from the second half of May 2021.

HOUSTON (May 4, 2021) — Equilon Enterprises LLC d/b/a Shell Oil Products U.S. (Shell), a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc, has reached an agreement for the sale of its Puget Sound Refinery near Anacortes, Washington, to a subsidiary of HollyFrontier Corporation, an independent refiner headquartered in Texas, for $350 million in cash plus the value of the hydrocarbon inventory. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2021, subject to regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions.

The Baker Hughes United States Rig Count is up two from last week to 440, with oil rigs down one to 342, gas rigs up two to 96, and miscellaneous rigs up one to two.

During his campaign, President Joe Biden made several pledges regarding his first days in office. One of these was to halt the leasing of federal land to oil and gas companies as part of the broader initiative of reducing greenhouse carbon emissions by 50% of what it was in 2005 by 2030. During the Trump administration, 5.6 million acres of onshore federal land were sold for oil, gas and mineral development.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster was joined by S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman and S.C. Department of Insurance (SCDOI) Director Ray Farmer to announce that the second round of funding from the state’s share of the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust will be invested in 235 new, propane fueled buses to update the state’s aging school bus fleet.

WASHINGTON — In celebration of Earth Day last week, The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) reminded material handling professionals to download its forklift emissions fact sheet. This resource showcases findings from a study conducted by the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) and the Nexight Group.

Superior Plus Corp. has announced that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of a retail propane distribution company based in South Carolina, operating under the tradename Freeman Gas and Electric Co. Inc. (Freeman) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately US $170 million before adjustments for working capital.

DUBLIN — With the liquified petroleum gas sector exploring almost a dozen different pathways to pave way for a decarbonized future, the bio LPG market is expected to register a double-digit growth, according to the "Bio LPG Market - Global Industry Analysis (2017 - 2020), Growth Trends and Market Forecast (2021 - 2025)" published by ResearchAndMarkets.com.

Whippany, NJ (April 28, 2021) — Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. has made a donation to Growing Up New Mexico: The Early Childhood Partnership in Santa Fe, New Mexico, providing 500 Spanish-language books and more than 100 educational, developmentally-appropriate toys.

Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber presented Suburban Propane with a congratulatory proclamation, which designated the day as "Suburban Propane Day," also marking Suburban Propane’s second anniversary in Santa Fe.

Kansas City, Miss. (April 26, 2021) — Baty Otto Coronado PC is celebrating its 100-year history and has further expanded its litigation practice to include the attorneys and staff of Schlee & McCarthy, P.C.

The Baker Hughes United States Rig Count is down one from last week at 438, with oil rigs down one to 343, gas rigs unchanged at 94, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at one.

HOUSTON — Phillips 66 is securing feedstock for the company's growing portfolio of renewable fuels projects by investing in a new soybean-processing plant in Iowa.

(April 16, 2021) — The Baker Hughes United States Rig Count is up seven from last week at 439, with oil rigs up seven to 344, gas rigs up one to 94, and miscellaneous rigs down one to one.