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infrastructure in helping expand the hydrogen infrastructure."

USA, ExxonMobil to divest US gasoline stations

Integrated energy giant ExxonMobil has announced that it is withdrawing out of the low-margin retail gasoline business by selling assets off to distributors

A news source reported that ExxonMobil´ decision follows similar actions by other oil companies, who have decided to sell their retail gasoline assets to distributors.

ExxonMobil´ Tiger-themed stations and Mobil outlets will continue to be seen around the US, as distributors buy ExxonMobil products and pay to use the name. Around 75% of 12,000 ExxonMobil-branded gas stations in the US are already owned by distributors.

The oil major has stated that it plans to sell its remaining 820 companyowned stations and an additional 1,400 outlets operated by dealers, to distributors. ExxonMobil has said that the divestment will be achieved over a multi-year duration.

Industry experts have said that ExxonMobil´s decision does not come as a surprise, especially at a time when high oil prices have all but cut through any remaining margin for profits. Fuel retailers reportedly depend on gasoline sales to attract customers to their auto service and food and drink offerings.

ExxonMobil has said that it sells about 14 billion gallons of gasoline annually at its branded gas stations in the US.

Ben Soraci, the director of ExxonMobil´s US retail sales said: "As the highly competitive fuels marketing business in the US continues to evolve, we believe this transition is the best way for ExxonMobil to compete and grow in the future."

Imperial Oil not to follow ExxonMobil lead, to keep gas stations

ExxonMobil´s Canadian subsidiary Imperial Oil has said that it has no plans to divest its 700 Esso-branded company-owned gasoline stations in Canada, even though its parent firm has decided to sell off its retail network in the US.

Imperial Oil, which is 69.6% owned by ExxonMobil, reportedly owns 700 of the 1,900 Esso stations in Canada, but does not directly operate the sites.

Robert Theberge, a spokesman for Imperial, was quoted as saying that ExxonMobil´s decision to divest its retail units has no implications for the Canadian firm.

USA, NY, Rochester. Accidental fireworks explosion

July 2008 - Afireworks nightmare for a young woman from Rush. A24-yearold woman was recovering after losing part of her hand in a fireworks explosion. Monroe County Sheriff's Office said this is a perfect example of how fireworks become dangerous.

Officials say a fire cracker actually exploded in a woman's hand. Officers said the 24 year-old woman thought she was lighting a candle, but it was really an M-100, which is a large firework. When she realised it was a firecracker, she tried to get it out of the house and that's when it exploded in her hand.

She was taken to the hospital and told she could lose some fingers or a thumb. With the Fourth of July, officials said this is a prime example of how dangerous handling fireworks can be. "This young lady sustained a fairly serious but not life threatening hand injury and it could effect the future use of her hand. I've seen this kind of thing before. It will cause injuries that will stay with you the rest of your life," said Sergeant Robert Murphy from Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Officials said fireworks are explosives, the same thing as dynamite, and they have the same force. If this happens to you, don't try to take the firecracker anywhere. Police say to treat it like a fire, leave it alone, and get yourself out of the situation. All fireworks are illegal in New York State and if you're caught with them police say you'll be slapped with a fine up to $750.

USA, Kansas, Topeka. An update on the contaminated fuel

June 2008 – We have an update to the story about a handful of Northeast Kansas gas stations that received tainted fuel including a station in North Topeka.

According to a BPspokesperson only four people bought gas from the station in Topeka, and another handful of people may have bought gas from a station in Lawrence.

According to BPspokesperson Scott Dean it is rare to have a mix up like this. Dean said, "I have been with BP thirteen years, and I have only seen this happen one other time and that was 6 years ago. What happened was a shipment of diesel fuel at our distribution centre in Sugar Creek was redirected and actually pumped into our unleaded storage tank."

If you are unsure if you have contaminated fuel in your vehicle's tank there are some warnings signs you might want to look out for. Mechanic Roy Bixby said, "Well there are several things you could have a knocking noise. The engine may sputter like there is water in it, and it will eventually die." Raymond Bixby owns Rays Auto Service. Bixby says running diesel in a car that runs on unleaded can blow your engine, because the diesel fuel will leach the lubrication from the engine. Bixby said, "An engine is running at 300 rpm rounds per minute pounding up and down. If there is no lubrication then it's just metal versus metal. So its eventually going to knock it loose it just raw metal versus metal."

If the contaminated fuel does cause someone engine damage BPis ready to step in and help fix the situation free of charge. Dean said, "We take every situation seriously. We evaluate each consumer's claim on a case by case basis we look at every situation on its own merits. The goal is to make sure customers are satisfied." According to Dean BPwill even give the customer who pumped the bad fuel a free tank of good fuel.

BP is paying to have affected customers vehicles fuel systems flushed, fuel systems replaced and tanks filled with gasoline.

USA, Texas, Tyler. Gas station's tanks robbed dry

June 2008 - These days it seems like people will do anything for gasoline. You've heard the stories about east Texans doing whatever they can for some extra gas money.

Well, someone decided to go after the gas itself - and we're talking thousands of gallons from a Smith County gas station.

It started off like most mornings for Hira Food And Gas employee Stephanie Silva. That is, until she got her first customer. "Aguy came in around 7:30, 8 o'clock and he tried to pump gas, but there was no gas." Silva says she called her owner who then told her to run a report on the gas pumps. "It ran out zero, zero, zero and we didn't have any gas," Silva said. 2,500 gallons of gasoline, worth more than $10,000: gone just like that. But how?