Chinese whispers linking Shell with Neil Heywood/Hakluyt

Apr 13th, 2012

by John Donovan.

EMAIL DATED 13 APRIL 2012 SENT BY JOHN DONOVAN TO MR MICHIEL BRANDJES, COMPANY SECRETARY & GENERAL COUNSEL CORPORATE, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC. POSTED AS AN ARTICLE

From: John Donovan <john@shellnews.net>
Subject: Chinese whispers linking Shell with Neil Heywood/Hakluyt
Date: 13 April 2012 10:30:07 GMT+01:00
To: michiel.brandjes@shell.com
Cc: peter.p.voser@shell.com

Dear Mr Brandjes

On 31 March 2012 I sent you an email under the subject heading:Chinese Whispers about the death of a Hakluyt agent

I pointed out the connection between Royal Dutch Shell, Hakluyt & Co Ltd and Neil Heywood, the Hakluyt agent whose untimely demise in mysterious circumstances, appears to be a key factor in the unfolding momentous events in China, which has sparked worldwide interest.

We have corresponded several since then on various matters, including a sensitive whistleblower situation relating to the Shell Geelong Refinery in Australia, when you kindly replied by the 3pm deadline and agreed to intervene. However, although I raised the subject of Neil Heywood/Hakluyt during the correspondence, you chose to act as if that subject had never been mentioned. This only made me more suspicious. It appears to be another taboo subject as far as Shell is concerned. Why?

You raised the subject of Shell's ethical code – Shell GeneralBusiness Principles. I have a copy. On page 2, "openness" is cited as being of "fundamental importance."

Unless Shell has something to hide, why not be open on this matter?

Bearing in mind that my original article is spreading around the Internet, put an immediate end to the speculation of a Shell connection in this extraordinary affair by simply stating that neither Neil Heywood or Hakluyt have had any involvement with Royal Dutch Shell relating to China?

It would also demonstrate your conversion to the claimed policy of openness if you provided an update on your jointbusiness venture with Donyen Holdings. Is Donyen Shell Chemical Limited still operational? Does Shell still have a business link with Shuorun Chemical, another company also associated with the Chinese city of Chongqing?

Did Neil Heywood and/or his sometimes employer Hakluyt have any involvement in Shell's expansion plans in China, including the recently signed shale gas deal?

As you know, I have a special interest in Shell's close association with Hakluyt, having been the target since the 1990′s of cloak and dagger activity by your company, including the more recentglobal spying operation by Shell spooks in an attempt to trace myinsider sources.

Best Regards
John Donovan

EMAIL ENDS

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IF SHELL DENIES THE EXISTENCE OF THE EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE REFERRED TO ABOVE, IT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN ITS ENTIRETY.

RELATED

The murky suspicions about Neil Heywood's death show that something quite profound is happening in China: Mail Online 12 April 2012

Neil Heywood's wife may be unable to leave China: Telegraph 13 April 2012

The widow of the British businessman thought to have been murdered in China may be unable to leave the country.

• Suspect in Chinese murder case set up company in Dorset: 12 Apr 2012
• Neil Heywood 'gave Bo Xilai's financial secrets to lawyer before his death': 13 Apr 2012
• Websites cut off as rumours spread in the wake of Bo Xilai's removal.: 13 Apr 2012
• Heywood mystery: Bo Guagua, the student playboy who earned contempt of tutors: 13 Apr 2012

Posted in: Business Principles, China, Corporate Governance, GoogleNews, Human Rights, John Donovan, Leaked Shell Emails, Michiel Brandjes, Oil, Outspoken Articles,Peter Voser, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Shell Spying.
Tagged: China · John Donovan · Michiel Brandjes · Peter Voser · Royal Dutch Shell Plc

← Shell Motiva Texas crude unit to create largest U.S. refinery

Royal Dutch Shell is still a client of Hakluyt & Company →

1. Shell Motiva Texas crude unit to create largest U.S. refinery

Apr 12th, 2012

by John Donovan.

Thu Apr 12, 2012 12:48pm EDT

* Expansion will make Motiva Port Arthur largest U.S. refinery

* Coker to be shut for work later this month -sources

* Vacuum unit to be shut in May for overhaul -sources

By Erwin Seba

HOUSTON, April 12 (Reuters) – Motiva Enterprises LLC's Port Arthur refinery is on track to become the largest in the United States by September when its capacity reaches planned rates of 600,000 barrel per day (bpd) with the addition of a 325,000 bpd crude distillation unit, expected to begin start-up by late April.

The start-up is not expected to bring a surge in production along the Gulf Coast as Motiva plans to carry out repairs on other production units as well as take its time starting the new unit to iron out any kinks.

The start-up will coincide with the shutdown of a 58,000 bpd coking unit for a five-week overhaul on the Texas-Louisiana border, which has a current crude oil throughput of 285,000 bpd, the sources said.

After the new crude distillation unit (CDU) completes its initial start-up, expected by mid to late May, Motiva plans to shut a 180,000 bpd vacuum crude distillation unit for an overhaul, expected to last at least four weeks, the sources said.

Motiva was unavailable to comment on refinery plans.

The vacuum unit will not be taken out of production until the new CDU is running smoothly.

"They want to make sure they have the new one running before they shut the old one," one source said.

The start-up of the new CDU has been planned in the second quarter of 2012 for several months, but could be moved if problems develop with the new equipment, the sources said.

The new CDU is expected to reach full capacity in September, according to the sources. At that time, the refinery's total crude oil refining capacity is planned to be 600,000 bpd, creating the largest refinery in the United States.

"They're in the transition from construction to start-up," a source said. "They're checking everything and making sure all the bolts are tight."

Currently, Exxon Mobil Corp's 560,640 bpd Baytown, Texas, refinery is the nation's largest.

Improvements in operating efficiency of the new crude unit are expected to lift the refinery's maximum crude throughout capacity to about 660,000 bpd by sometime in 2013, sources have said.

Motiva began construction on the expansion of the Port Arthur refinery in 2007. The project was originally budgeted at $5 billion, but analysts have said the price tag has reached $7 billion. Motiva has declined to disclose the current cost of the expansion.

The expansion was originally planned to begin operation in 2010, but was delayed in part by a year-long review of costs in 2009 ordered by Motiva partner Saudi Refining to examine spending.

Motiva is a 50-50 joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Saudi Refining.

The project was first announced during the 2002-2008 period referred to by U.S. refiners as the "Golden Age," when high global demand for motor fuel drove refining margins to historic highs.

The downturn in demand brought about by the global recession that began in 2008 has led analysts to question the need for the expansion of U.S. refineries.

The decision by Sunoco Inc to halt East Coast refining operations and ConocoPhillips to shut a Pennsylvania refinery along with higher global demand has since improved returns for U.S. refiners.

A CDU refines crude oil coming into a refinery and provides feedstock for all other refinery units.

A coking unit increases the amount of refined material from a barrel of oil and makes petroleum coke, a coal substitute, from residual crude.

A vacuum distillation unit increases the amount of feedstock made from a barrel of crude oil. 

SOURCE

Posted in: Gulf of Mexico, Motiva, Oil, Reuters, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Shell, United States.
Tagged: Gulf of Mexico · Motiva Enterprises · Oil · Royal Dutch Shell Plc

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Chinese whispers linking Shell with Neil Heywood/Hakluyt →