Platts to end Las Vegas RBOB assessments

Following an initial request for comment on September 7, Platts will no longer publish seasonal assessments for Las Vegas RBOB winter grade gasoline which were initially planned for publication effective October 1, 2010.

Las Vegas RBOB winter grade gasoline assessments with Platts database codes AADDR00 and AADDT00 have typically been published between October and March on Platts Global Alert page 22, the Oilgram Price Report, US Marketscan and Asia-Pacific/Arab Gulf Marketscan.

Separately, and also effective October 1, 2010, Platts will launch a Los Angeles 84-octane conventional gasoline assessment which it plans to publish year-round. In its latest pipeline schedule published August 20, 2010, Kinder Morgan will ship 84-octane conventional gasoline in place of 87-octane conventional gasoline from Los Angeles beginning October 1, 2010.

Since Platts' West Coast gasoline assessments reflect product that must be deliverable into Kinder Morgan's California pipeline system, Platts proposes to discontinue its 87-octane conventional gasoline assessment from Los Angeles, beginning October 1.

The planned changes will proceed so long as there is no further adverse guidance from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and/or pipeline operator Kinder Morgan.

Please send questions and comments to ashley_johnson@platts.com and david_ruisard@platts.com, with a CC to pricegroup@platts.com.