Time for a revisit: What happens with refinery profits… and are “buy backs” a bad thing?

Publicly owned companies, like many U.S. refineries, have a fiduciary responsibility (which is a legal obligation) to act in the best interest of their shareholders, and that extends to how companies spend their earnings. Often, earnings are spent on a combination of the following: direct dividends, stock buy back programs, paying down debt and capital investment projects.

AFPM welcomes Aaron Ringel as Vice President of Government Relations

American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President & CEO Chet Thompson today issued the following statement on the recent hiring of Aaron Ringel as Vice President of Government Relations: “We are glad to welcome Aaron and immediately put him to work on behalf of AFPM’s members from the refining, petrochemical and midstream energy industries..."

AFPM: Parts of EPA’s RFS proposal “completely contrary” to Congress’s vision

AFPM Senior Director of Fuels and Vehicle Policy, Patrick Kelly, testified during the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) public hearing on the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) “Set” Rule. EPA’s proposal will stifle advanced biofuels, promote first generation biofuels beyond the market’s ability to absorb them and shift overall RFS growth away from liquid biofuels and into the power electricity sector. This is completely contrary to how congress envisioned EPA’s handling of the program.

Petrochemicals make world travel possible

Not only do the fuel and petrochemical industries make it possible, they’re also responsible for preserving and maintaining some of the best-known landmarks all over the world. Read on to join us for a ‘round the globe trip to some of the world’s most famous petrochemicals!

Refiners and Petrochemical Manufacturers Urge Immediate Congressional Intervention to Avert Rail Strike, Potential Fuel Shortages

On Tuesday, November 29th AFPM President and CEO Chet Thompson sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging their immediate intervention to avoid a rail worker strike. Thompson stressed that time is of the essence since shipping embargos and service curtailments capable of disrupting U.S. manufacturing, fuel production and freight deliveries are starting now, well before a December 9 work stoppage. A copy of AFPM’s letter is available here and excerpts can be found below: