NGS’ NG/LNG SNAPSHOT – June 01-15, 2021
National News Internatonal News
NATIONAL NEWS
City Gas Distribution & Auto LPG
Gas cos use mobile refuelling units to expand retail sale
City gas distribution (CGD) companies are looking to expand their retailing business through mobile refuelling units (MRUs), as oil marketing companies are not relenting on lowering commissions for letting distribution companies use their premises for selling compressed natural gas (CNG).
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Distribution companies are also increasing their own CNG presence. Mumbai-based Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL) and Delhi’s Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL), among others, areindra piloting MRUs and have invited expressions of interest for setting up more units. MRUs, used for refuelling, can be conveniently parked at parking lots or open parks and land parcels approved by local authorities.
These units are an effective way of reaching out to customers and will also accelerate the expansion plans of city gas distribution companies, considering that setting up a CNG outlet is capital intensive and could cost between ₹75 lakh and ₹1 crore.
Though compared with CNG stations the throughput of an MRU will be a little less, the number of customers served will definitely be higher, pushing CNG volumes. For CGD players, over 65% of their existing sales volumes comes through co-located CNG outlets on OMC land, and OMCs are, therefore, demanding higher commission. City gas distribution companies, such as MGL, IGL, and Gujarat Gas, have urged the Union government to negotiate with the OMCs after they demanded 90-100% increase in commissions from the existing ₹4.5 per kg to ₹7-8 per kg.
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Ashvath: India’s first CNG mobile refueling unit mounted on a truck
Uttam Group of Companies, in partnership with Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), has launched ‘Ashvath’, an integrated CNG refueling unit.
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This is the first of its kind mobile compact filling station mounted on a moving truck, which can be parked in designated areas allowing CNG access to fleets virtually anywhere. The unit, whose all components have been approved by Petroleum & Explosive Safety Organization (PESO) of India, was virtually unveiled by the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan.
The need for development of such a system has arisen because of Indian government’s thrust to increase the quantum of gaseous fuel in the country’s energy market from the current 6.5% to 15%. The government has been asking the industry to develop systems that can create easy availability of CNG and allow for faster expansion of the CNG footprint with lowest capital expenditure, and Ashvath is an answer to that.
The Ashvath mobile refueler combines all the elements provided in the fixed CNG station into a compact unit that can be mounted on a standard LCV, MCV or HCV vehicle depending on the dispensing requirement. The unit will be operational in Mumbai, in partnership with MGL and other city gas distribution companies, and will then follow a phase-wise expansion, across the country.
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Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates 201 CNG stations
The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan also inaugurated the commencement of PNG supply in Jhansi.
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The Indian government has been emphasising cleaner and greener fuels as part of its new fuel policy. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday, 8 June, 2021 dedicated to the nation GAIL group’s 201 CNG stations across the country. Pradhan also inaugurated the commencement of PNG supply in Jhansi and Mobile Refueling Units (MRUs)for refuelling vehicles at Raigad. Pradhan added that bringing innovation in energy retailing is not only a business decision, but is also aligned to PM’s vision of a greener future.
Mr. Pradhan said that India has committed to achieve 15 per cent share of natural gas in the primary energy mix by 2030 for a more sustainable energy use which will help reduce environmental pollution, fulfill India’s commitment to 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP-21. Greater use of natural gas will reduce dependence on fossil fuel and consequently reduce import bill and import dependence, he added. India has launched the E-100 pilot project for production and distribution of ethanol across the country and is committed to meeting its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by 2025.
Mr. Pradhan also added that the City Gas Distribution (CGD) sector has emerged as a major sector for natural gas consumption. The demand is only going to increase as more GAs become operational. He exhorted the CGD entities to keep working hard to reach 10,000 CNG stations and 5 crore PNG connections in the coming 7-8 years. Pradhan emphasized that the aim of the government was to move towards the concept of energy retailer where all different transport fuels – Hydrogen, diesel, petrol, CNG/CBG, LNG or EV batteries swapping facility shall be available at a single point.
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Electric Mobility & Bio- Methane
BBMP signs pact with GAIL for biogas supply
BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL),
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that will give the company around 300 tonnes per day (TPD) of organic waste to generate compressed biogas (CBG).
The company has sought 18 acres of land in North Bengaluru- since their head office is in the same area- to generate and supply CBG. It had placed a proposal before BBMP in April for setting up a 75 TDP plant and will submit a detailed project report to the corporation for final approval. GAIL Gas Chief General Manager Vivek Wathodkar told The New Indian Express that if all goes well, then the plant will be operational and will start supply in another 24 months, provided the land is handed over in another one to two months. The plant will come up at a cost of around Rs 60 crore.
The company has already laid 1,400 km gas pipes in the city through which gas is being supplied to many areas, including Peenya, Singasandra, Yelahanka, HSR Layout and to industries. BBMP has already entered into an agreement with Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) for setting up waste-to-energy plant of 11.5 MW in Bidadi. It had also entered into an agreement with Shell Technology Centre in Devanahalli for using mixed waste to generate aviation fuel.
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Revisions to the FAME-II scheme will bring a new era of electric mobility in India: Electric two-wheeler makers
New Delhi: The two and three-wheeler manufacturers are upbeat about the positive sentiment and enhanced interest of the Union government in electric vehicles shown by increasing the subsidy
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under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India scheme 2 (FAME II) on Friday, 11 June, 21 . They describe it as a very significant move, a game changer and a potential demand booster for clean mobility.
The government on Friday raised the demand incentive to INR 15000/Kwh with a cap of 40% of the cost of the vehicle. It is also notified that the government will go for aggregation via EESL to bring down the cost of electric 3-Wheelers to that of ICE-3-Wheelers. EESL will aggregate demand for three lakh electric three-wheelers and will also iron out the details regarding the scheme.
The scheme is primarily applicable to vehicles used for public transportation or those registered for commercial purposes in the e-3W, e-4W, and e-bus segments, with a greater emphasis on making public transportation more affordable and environmentally friendly for the general public.
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Gas/ Pipelines/ Company News
Indian Oil inks pacts with Gujarat govt for implementing ₹24,000 crore projects
Indian Oil’s Gujarat refinery will be implementing India’s first Hydrogen Dispensing Facility as a clean fuel initiative, the state-run firm said. State run Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) on Monday inked pacts with
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Gujarat government for implementing projects totaling around ₹ 24,000 crore in the western state. This comes in the backdrop of India working to leverage its compressed natural gas (CNG) pipeline grid and infrastructure to reduce the transportation cost for the new age emission free fuel—hydrogen.
Also, plans are afoot to run buses across major Indian cities fueled by hydrogen blended with CNG. 50 buses in Delhi are plying on blended hydrogen in CNG on a pilot basis. IOC announced a net profit of ₹8,781.30 crore for the March quarter, compared with a net loss of ₹5,185.32 crore a year earlier. India’s largest fuel retailer posted a huge jump in annual net profit to ₹21,836 crore for the financial year ended 31 March, from ₹1,313 crore in 2019-20 due to higher inventory gains and improved petrochemical margins. Annual revenue, however, declined 9.08% to ₹5,14,890 crore during 2020-21 from ₹5,66,354 crore in the previous year.
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GAIL India offers U.S. LNG cargo from Sabine Pass Terminal
GAIL (India) has offered a liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo for loading from the Sabine Pass terminal in the United States on July 30, three industry sources said on Monday, 7 June 21.
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The tender closes on June 8, they added. The Indian importer has 20-year deals to buy 5.8 million tonnes a year of U.S. LNG, split between Dominion Energy’s Cove Point plant near Maryland and Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass site in Louisiana.
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gail-india-offers-u-s-lng-cargo-from-sabine-pass-sources-say/
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1,300 boats to get new CNG engines by Dev Deepawali
Varanasi: The Varanasi district administration has decided not to extend the deadline of replacing old pollution-causing diesel engines in boats playing in the Ganga by CNG-fuelled engines though the conversion work has been hampered by Covid-19 lockdown.
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The project has been undertaken for making the environment clean, especially for the people coming to Varanasi for pilgrimage and tourism and enjoy boat rides in the Ganga. As most of the boats are being operated with diesel engines, apart from air pollution, noise pollution also makes a boat ride for visitors bitter.
The project had been initiated in June 2020, but the major hurdle of funding was cleared in January when the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) sanctioned Rs 21 crore from its corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund for the replacement of diesel engines in boats with CNG-fuelled engines. GAIL has already operationalised its CNG station near Khidkiyaghat where CNG boats are getting refuelled through the dispensers installed on a jetty floating in the Ganga.
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Policy Matters/ Gas Pricing/Others
TOI Auto Green Talk: CNG still pocket-friendly as compared to petrol, diesel
PUNE: The price of compressed natural gas has increased by Rs1.10 per kilogram to touch Rs56.60 in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and rural parts, but the Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited claimed that
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it still guaranteed 60% saving as compared to petrol and 40% as compared to diesel at current price levels. Officials from Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL) stressed that there would be a marginal impact on per kilometre running cost of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles due to the price hike.
The price of a litre of petrol has gone above Rs100. The cost of diesel has also increased to more than Rs90 per litre in the city. An official attributed the CNG’s price increase to the rising operating expenses, manpower and fixed costs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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LNG Development and Shipping
India’s Petronet to invest $2.6 billion for local expansion over 5 years
India’s top gas importer Petronet LNG will invest $2.6 billion over five years to expand local infrastructure as investing in overseas projects is ‘not lucrative’ in the current liquefied natural gas (LNG) surplus market, its head of finance said.
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The company was earlier planning to invest in projects in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Qatar and Tellurian’s Driftwood LNG project.
India wants to raise the share of gas in its energy mix to 15% by 2030 from 6.2% and is raising its local output. Petronet plans to invest 66.9 billion rupees to expand its 17.5-million-tonne per annum (mtpa) Dahej terminal in the West coast to 22.5 mtpa, build a new terminal in the east coast and building new jetty and LNG tanks at Dahej and Kochi. Petronet, which was previously planning to sell gas to fuel station owners, will invest 80 billion rupees to set up its own 1000 LNG fuel stations, he said. It will invest 40 billion rupees to set up 100 compressed bio gas generation plants over 3 years.
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Natural Gas / Transnational Pipelines/ Others
California fleets fueled by renewable natural gas reach carbon-negativity
Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) and Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) announced that California fleets fueled with bio-CNG achieved carbon-negativity for
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calendar year 2020. 92% of all on-road fuel used in natural gas vehicles in California last year was renewable natural gas. According to data from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) the annual average carbon intensity score of bio-CNG in that mix was -5.845 gCO2e/MJ. Moreover, the carbon intensity of California’s bio-CNG continues to drop. Data from Q4 2020 puts the carbon intensity average of bio-CNG at -26.11 gCO2e/MJ, down from -0.85 in Q2 and -17.95 in Q3.
In addition to their negative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ultra-low NOx medium- and heavy-duty biomethane trucks and buses perform at levels that are 95% below the federal NOx standard and 98% below the federal particulate matter (PM 2.5) standard. NGVAmerica and RNG Coalition report that in 2020 a total of 164.8 million gallons (DGE) of natural gas were used as motor fuel in the state. Of that, 152.4 DGE were from renewable sources. In turn, biomethane use as a motor fuel in California in 2020 displaced 1.83 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
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SPAIN: HAM Group opens new CNG station on important access to Barcelona
HAM Group has put into operation a new CNG service station in Terrassa, located at the Petro Low Cost facilities on Carretera de Montcada, next to the N-150 and close to the C- 16 and C-58, an important access
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to Barcelona from the northwest, with a large traffic of vehicles for professional and private use. HAM Terrassa offers its customers a double CNG dispenser, for cars, light vehicles and trucks, with free access and 24/7 opening hours, throughout the year.
With the opening of this new natural gas station, HAM continues with its firm commitment to sustainable mobility, expanding its refueling network, which currently it is made up of more than 80 facilities, located on the main transport corridors in Spain, France, Belgium, Holland and Italy.
It is worth mentioning that vehicles running on CNG have the Spanish DGT (Directorate-General for Traffic) ECO label, which allows free access to city centers during periods of high pollution, as well as tax incentives, discounts in regulated parking areas and tolls, depending on the community autonomous where they are.
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SPAIN: IVECO delivers largest ever NGV fleet to a Spanish logistics company
With routes to more than 20 countries, ESP Solutions has opted for IVECO’s natural gas technology to become the leader in sustainability in Europe. After acquiring 300 LNG-powered IVECO S-WAY NP trucks
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(the largest NGV operation for a Spanish logistics fleet), the “eco” line of its fleet now accounts for 30% of the total number of vehicles. The transport company’s goal is that 50% of its fleet is sustainable by 2022; and 80%, within five years.
With the decision to make an energy transition and create an eco-friendly NGV fleet, ESP Solutions will stop emitting almost 2,000 tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to planting 279,000 trees. It will also contribute to improving air quality and reducing the carbon footprint in the more than 45,000,000 kilometers a year that these new vehicles will travel. In addition, the company will generate significant operational savings by reducing fuel costs.
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Mexico: new CNG bus fleet enters service in the center of Guadalajara
A total of 50 King Long natural gas buses, belonging to the new fleet that was subjected to a mechanical review on May 12, became operational in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, after completing all the procedures for it,
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through the C125-V2 route. The 10.5- and 12-meter vehicles will circulate on López Mateos, Mariano Otero and Washington avenues.
The new CNG buses comply with all the technical and security specifications established in the state, are adapted to include Mi Movilidad card collection system, have Braille reading information, a tactile floor, and three interior and two exterior security cameras, as well as a disinfection system by means of herbicide light and aspersion that will be used when reaching their bases. Some vehicles also include bike racks on the front.
All these models also have automatic transmission and air suspension to give more comfort to users. On the other hand, the 12-meter models have air conditioning and interior screens.
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UK sends gas to Continent for first time this summer
The UK has exported natural gas to Continental Europe for the first time this summer season, S&P Global Platts Analytics data showed June 7. Following an intraday ramp up of the Balgzand-Bacton Link Pipeline on June 4, gas flow towards
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the Netherlands has sustained. The transit was nominated to deliver 3.8 million cu m on June 7, on 4 million cu m/d of daily capacity purchased on June 6.
Gas exports from the UK to mainland Europe have quickly again become profitable, as a continental premium quickly opened up on the spot soon after June delivery began. The subsequent initiation of flows, however, may have taken some by surprise given that the normally traditional exports from the UK have not taken place this year until now.
Market participants may well feel that the current volume of flow is also reflective of the shorthaul termination, given that BBL exports averaged 13.1 million cu m/d in June 2020, and were well sustained for most of last summer. According to Platts Market on Close price assessments on June 4 for day-ahead delivery, the Dutch TTF held a 2.72 pence/therm premium to the British NBP, enough to cover the full cost of transport even with purchases of capacity and NBP volumes for export. On these hubs respective balance-of-month contracts, the TTF held a 1.946 p/th premium June 4, which is below the 2.42 p/th threshold for full transportation costs in June, according to Platts Analytics.
Additionally, the Zeebrugge basis spread with the NBP does not yet have sufficient premium to incentivize flows even if maintenance was not being performed.
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/uk-sends-gas-to-continent-for-first-time-this-summer/
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Global LNG Development
US gas export projects pursue emissions cuts to assuage foreign buyers
New LNG facilities are investing in costly mitigation measures as countries clamp down on carbon America’s liquefied natural gas exporters are unveiling efforts to slash carbon emissions from new facilities as they look to keep
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new multibillion-dollar projects on track amid mounting climate pressures. The US has emerged as an LNG export powerhouse in recent years thanks to explosive growth from the country’s shale oil and gasfields, emboldening American claims of energy independence and handing Washington a useful new tool to counter geopolitical foes such as Russia.
But for a handful of companies racing to build new projects that could propel the nation’s exports yet higher, the global crackdown on emissions and heightened focus on methane pollution from US oil and gasfields has threatened to derail their plans. US LNG project developers have looked to counter the threat by rolling out plans to install costly equipment to capture carbon from their facilities, among other measures such as pledging to secure gas only from producers monitoring their own emissions. LNG project developer Venture Global last week said it plans to install carbon capture and storage equipment that could eventually trap as much as 1m tonnes a year of CO2 from a new $5.8bn export plant it is building on the Gulf Coast in Louisiana and another it hopes to approve this year.
The International Energy Agency underscored the pressure on the gas industry in a recent report arguing that meeting governments’ net zero targets would mean many LNG facilities under construction would not be needed as demand for the fuel would peak later this decade, far earlier than previous projections. Last year, the French government intervened to quash a prospective long-term LNG deal worth roughly $7bn between France’s Engie and NextDecade, at least in part over methane pollution concerns for US-produced gas.
https://www.ft.com/content/2f7d9acc-d324-465b-a245-5b7c99bdbd19
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Natural Gas / LNG Utilization
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Japan’s Ministry of Environment adopts compact LNG station project
Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and Air Water Inc. (Air Water) announced that their pilot project to help decarbonize heavy-truck logistics has been adopted for inclusion in the Ministry of the Environment’s Low Carbon
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Technology Research and Development Program. The project will fuel LNG-powered heavy trucks via a network of compact filling stations.
The aims of this project are twofold. Firstly, it will take advantage of compact LNG filling stations installed at space-limited logistics facilities to optimize the fueling of LNG trucks. The stations, which will be networked through the application of IoT technologies, will receive the fuel from large, LNG tanker trucks. Secondly, by mixing the LNG with biomethane, the project will endeavor to achieve significant reductions in CO2 emissions compared to those generated by conventional, diesel heavy trucks. Since 2020, MC and Air Water have been testing this system in Hokkaido. The partners plan to continue assessing its overall effectiveness and how much it can reduce CO2 emissions and fuel costs typically generated by heavy trucks. The results of the tests will help the partners to determine whether or not to make the system commercially available.
The LNG station developed by MC and Air Water is the first portable filling system in Japan. It is equipped with an off-grid power-generation system capable of fueling even during power outages. It is capable of fueling 50 to 60 heavy LNG trucks per day with a fueling time of just 10 minutes per vehicle.
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GERMANY: Bio-LNG deal signed between LIQUIND 24/7 and EnviTec
Biogas company EnviTec and LNG project developer, LIQUIND 24/7, have signed a distribution deal to begin in Autumn 2022. The deal agrees that LIQUIND 24/7 will obtain bio-LNG from
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a new EnviTec Biogas AG liquefaction plant in Güstrow, Germany. LIQUIND will take charge of organising transport and distribution of the bio-LNG to customers at its truck fuelling stations.
The bio-LNG from this and additional projects enables our customers to operate their vehicles even more sustainably while benefiting from constant high quality and security of supply. LIQUIND have stated that by 2025 all LNG that is sold at the company’s fuelling stations should be derived from renewable sources.
https://www.gasworld.com/bio-lng-deal-signed-between-liquind-24/7-and-envitec/2021027.article
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USA: Tellurian signs 10-year LNG agreement with Vitol for 3 MTPA
U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) developer Tellurian Inc said on Thursday, 03 June 21, it had signed a 10-year sale and purchase agreement with commodity trader Vitol for 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG
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It is the second 10-year, 3-MTPA agreement Tellurian has announced in a week, following a deal with commodity trader Gunvor Group. Each deal is worth about $12 billion in revenue over the contract period. Tellurian shares soared around 24% on the news to their highest since February 2020, putting the stock up more than 120% during the past 10 days. The LNG would come from Tellurian’s proposed 27.6-MTPA Driftwood export project in Louisiana. Tellurian has said the first phase of Driftwood would cost about $16.8 billion and produce about 16.5 MTPA of LNG.
The Vitol and Gunvor deals were indexed to a combination of the Japan Korea Marker (JKM), which is trading near $11 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), and the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF), which is trading close to its highest since September 2018. The U.S. Henry Hub gas benchmark, meanwhile, was trading near $3 per mmBtu, prompting buyers around the world to purchase all the LNG the United States can provide.
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UK’s Heathrow Airport to use renewable jet fuel for first time
Vitol, the world’s biggest independent oil trader, is a fuel supplier at Heathrow through its Vitol Aviation arm and expects to deliver more renewable jet fuel ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow later this year,
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to cut attendees’ emissions. The fuel, produced by Finland’s Neste and supplied by oil trader Vitol, is made entirely of renewable and sustainable waste such as cooking oil and animal fat, the airport and companies said in a joint statement on Thursday, 03 June, 2021.
It cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared with regular aviation fuel, they added. Delivery of the green fuel began on Thursday and it will be incorporated into the airport’s main fuel supply. The total volume will be the equivalent of 10 short-haul flights. Vitol, the world’s biggest independent oil trader, is a fuel supplier at Heathrow through its Vitol Aviation arm and expects to deliver more renewable jet fuel ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow later this year, to cut attendees’ emissions.
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LNG as a Marine Fuel/Shipping
USA: Academic-Led Study Seeks to Quantify Methane Slip
One of the most widely discussed issues in the use of LNG as a marine fuel is emissions of the unburned gas known in the industry as methane slip. While LNG is an effective alternative to reduce carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and sulfur emissions,
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it also releases methane into the atmosphere. A new academic-led study is underway which the organizers say is the first-time methane emissions were measured from an operating vessel and the results, when released later this year, will provide data-driven insights into the greenhouse gas (GHG) profile of LNG carriers to identify opportunities for environmental performance improvement.
Industry trade groups have said that reports of methane slip are being greatly exaggerated in the environmental debate and that the shipping industry along with motor manufacturers and others are making good progress in addressing the issue. They also argue with the measurements and criteria used in some studies. Environmentalists, however, recognize that while LNG can lower CO2 emissions by a quarter as well as reducing NOx, SOx, and particulate emissions, they highlight the more potent nature of methane as a greenhouse gas.
The data were collected aboard the newly built Gaslog Galveston LNG carrier that was delivered to Gaslog by Samsung Heavy Industries’ Geoje shipyard at the beginning of 2021. Registered in Bermuda, the 88,136-dwt vessel has a capacity of 174,000m³. The newbuild features GTT’s Mark III Flex Plus containment system and WinGD’s low-pressure two-stroke propulsion. It is one of six sister ships the company has introduced since 2018, along with six larger gas carriers. The Collaboratory to Advance Methane Science (CAMS) is a research collaboration on methane science, which includes Cheniere, Chevron, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Pioneer Natural Resources, Sempra LNG, and Shell among its members.
https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/academic-led-study-seeks-to-quantify-methane-slip
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BERMUDA: FLEX LNG TAKES DELIVERY OF FINAL LNGC
Bermuda-based fleet owner Flex LNG said on social media on May 31 that it had taken delivery of another LNG carrier (LNGC) from South Korea’s Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries.
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The Flex Vigilant has a capacity of 174,000 m3 and is a sister vessel to Flex LNG’s Aurora, Amber and Volunteer LNGCs. It will serve US LNG exporter Cheniere Energy under a three-year time charter deal.
Flex LNG enjoyed its best quarter to date in the three months ending March 31, on the back of a recovery in LNG demand. A cold snap early on in the year led to a spike in gas consumption, in turn resulting in higher LNG imports and increased LNG freight rates.
https://www.naturalgasworld.com/flex-lng-receives-another-lngc-88739
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SPAIN: Baleària’s fast ferry completes first trip operating on 100% bio-LNG
Baleària and Axpo Iberia have reached a new milestone in the decarbonization of maritime transport by completing the first pilot trip on a fast ferry with 100% renewable fuel in Europe.
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The 133-mile journey between the ports of Barcelona and Ciutadella (Menorca) was made by Baleària’s Eleanor Roosevelt, the world’s first fast ferry with natural gas engines, which has just been launched and which usually operates on the route Denia-Ibiza-Palma.
The use of biomethane as a renewable fuel on this journey avoided the emission of more than 50 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. This means that an equivalent volume of fossil fuel has been displaced in the Spanish gas system, taking a further step towards the decarbonization of the Spanish energy system in general and the maritime transport sector in particular.
During the journey, Fundación Empresa y Clima presented its “XII Situation Report on CO2 emissions in the world. Year 2019”, where the latest verified official data on the situation of CO2 emissions at the world, European and Spanish level was offered. At the end of the presentation, the President of Baleària Adolfo Utor received the certificates of renewable origin, which certify the neutral emissions of this journey, from Ignacio Soneira, General Director of Axpo Iberia.
Companies and industries of all kinds are well aware that their actions and decisions in relation to energy consumption are vital to achieve less use of fossil fuels and their key role in energy transformation. The European decarbonization challenges are very demanding and require to make use of all available mechanisms. In this sense, the energy valuation of waste through its transformation into biomethane becomes an important ally.
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GERMANY: Hapag-Lloyd’s converted LNG boxship makes maiden call to homeport
During the weekend, the 15,000teu Brussels Express sailed into its home port of Hamburg for the first time. It is the first large container ship in the world to have been converted to gas propulsion.
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In September 2020, when it was still named the Sajir, the ship went into the Huarun Dadong Dockyard in Shanghai. There, all the preparations had already been made to have a floating crane hoist the 1,300-tonne LNG tank into the belly of the ship as well as to carry out other work related to the conversion.
The ship is not yet operating exclusively with LNG, as the final guarantee works will be performed at the end of this round voyage. The first complete LNG bunkering will then take place in Singapore on the next round voyage. In the future, the ship, which is currently operating in the Far East 4 service between Asia and North Europe, will bunker twice per round voyage: in Singapore and in Rotterdam.
https://shipinsight.com/articles/hapag-lloyds-converted-lng-boxship-makes-maiden-call-to-homeport/
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LNG consumption as a marine fuel has almost doubled in 2020
Risavika LNG increased 1.7 % week on week and was at 35.80 EUR/MWh for July contracts, according to the company’s release. European gas prices remain bullish on tight supply.
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June is the maintenance period for many Norwegian supplies and French LNG terminals. Although there is no need for gas for heating, there is a demand for storage injections and power production, when the renewable production is low.
Oil prices and refineries’ utilization have been increasing during last week. Oil product prices were also in rise despite the inventory build. Fuel oil 3.5 (FO 3.5) gained 6.7 % week on week to 390.22 USD/t, low sulphur oil (MFO 0.5) increased by 5.3 % to 500.37 USD/t, and marine gasoil (MGO 0.1) gained 2.7 % to 573.60 USD/t.
LNG consumption as a marine fuel has accelerated in recent years, achieving a five-fold volume growth in less than five years, reaching 1.5 million tons in 2020 and almost doubling from 2019, according to International Gas Union (IGU) annual LNG report released last week. The positive trajectory of LNG, often seen as a viable alternative fuel for the shipping industry, was on the back of a higher number of LNG-propelled vessels and development of LNG bunkering capabilities in recent years. On average, over 20 LNG-propelled vessels were added each year since 2017. With an operational fleet of 175 and order book of over 200, increasing interest in the adoption of LNG-powered vessels is anticipated to drive additional growth in demand for LNG as a marine fuel in the near term.
https://en.portnews.ru/news/314196/
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Technological Development for Cleaner and Greener Environment Hydrogen & Bio-Methane
FRANCE: Total’s latest investment supports expansion of hydrogen taxis in Paris
Total announced the acquisition of a stake in Hysetco, a French company dedicated to the development of hydrogen mobility in cities. Hysetco owns the largest fleet of hydrogen-fueled taxis in the world, launched in 2015
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and operated in the Île-de-France region under the Hype brand, as well as hydrogen stations. With the acquisition of a 20% stake, Total joins Hysetco’s historical shareholders: STEP (Société du Taxi Electrique Parisien), Air Liquide, Toyota and Kouros.
The Hype project aims to demonstrate for the first time on a large scale the viability of zero-emission hydrogen vehicles for urban mobility. Hysetco currently owns around 700 taxis in Paris, with still a majority of diesel vehicles that will transition gradually to become exclusively comprised of hydrogen vehicles by 2024. The hydrogen taxis are fueled by a dedicated network of service stations operated by Hysetco. This network is expected to expand in the coming years to support the growth of the hydrogen vehicle fleet. Total will make its refueling infrastructure available to Hysetco to contribute to the growth of this network of hydrogen stations.
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Russia: LADA manufactures 10,000th natural gas vehicle
AVTOVAZ together with its partner ATS-AUTO’ has released the 10,000th bi-fuel car, the LADA Vesta CNG sedan. LADA NGV models use both gasoline and CNG as a fuel,
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which increases the life of the engine and reduces the cost of operating the vehicle: with an average annual mileage of 20,000 kilometers, fuel costs are reduced up to three times. Due to their economy, bi-fuel vehicles are successfully used as working vehicles, for example, about 30% of LADA Vesta NGVs are operated in taxi services.
The LADA Vesta CNG has a 90-liter natural gas cylinder located in the luggage compartment, while maintaining the standard 55-liter gasoline tank. Thanks to this, the car can travel more than 1,000 kilometers without refueling. In addition, the price of LADA Vesta CNG remained competitive (from 805,900 rubles, or USD 11,000) thanks to the state subsidy Ecogas, introduced at the initiative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
AVTOVAZ Group is part of Dacia-LADA Business Unit within Groupe Renault structure. The company manufactures cars in full production cycle and components for two brands: LADA and Renault. The LADA brand products are presented in В, В+, SUV and LCV segments and are comprised of 5 model families: Vesta, XRAY, Largus, Granta, and Niva. The brand is leading on the Russian automotive market with over 20% market share.
https://www.ngvjournal.com/s1-news/c3-vehicles/russia-lada-manufactures-10000th-cng-vehicle/
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SOUTH KOREA: Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction accelerates the development of eco-friendly hydrogen gas turbines
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction announced on June 6, that it recently signed a series of agreements with power generation public companies and local governments to develop and demonstrate large hydrogen gas turbines
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for power generation. Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction signed a business agreement with Ulsan Metropolitan City, Korea East-West Power Co., Ltd and SK Gas on June 3 to promote gas hydrogen turbine demonstration projects. Under this agreement, Ulsan City will support the administration to build hydrogen gas turbine business infrastructure, and Korea East-West Power will demonstrate hydrogen gas turbine based on Korean technology.
Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd. plans to introduce hydrogen gas turbine technology that Doosan Heavy Industries is developing, and Doosan Heavy Industries plans to develop hydrogen gas turbine technology and secure related parts mass-production technology. (From left), Korea Midland Power President Kim Ho-bin and Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction President Jung Yeon-in pose for a photo shoot after signing a business agreement at the headquarters of Korea Midland Power on June 2. According to the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, 30% co-firing hydrogen can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10.4% compared to LNG power plants, and by 21.4% at 50% co-firing. Hydrogen is drawing keen attention as one of the solutions for carbon neutrality, and major companies such as the U.S., Germany, and Japan are also actively commercializing hydrogen turbines in conjunction with each country’s policies. The global hydrogen gas turbine market is expected to grow to $35 billion in 2030. Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction succeeded in developing its own large gas turbine model for power generation for the fifth time in the world in 2019.
https://www.koreaittimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=106329
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FINLAND: Finnish government supports growth of biomethane as vehicle fuel
Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä has opened Gasum’s new biogas plant, located in Munkkaa, Lohja. The new facility will process around 60,000 tons of biodegradable waste from
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the Helsinki region each year to produce 40 GWh of biomethane to be used as transport fuel. The amount is equivalent to the annual consumption of 4,000 cars. Use of biogas as a vehicle fuel can help to reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 90%.
The importance of biogas in reducing transport emissions is well recognized in Finland. The National Roadmap for fossil-free transport lists a number of measures that can be used to support natural gas transport in the coming years. In addition, a national biogas program for Finland has been included in the Government Program. Implementation of this program seeks to make more efficient use of biogas production potential going forward.
Gasum now has a total of 17 biogas plants in Finland and Sweden and is one of the largest biogas producers in the Nordic countries.
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USA: Momentum unveils new CNG system ideal for construction applications
Texas-based Momentum Fuel Technologies is now offering its CNG fuel system in a smaller diameter side-mount 32 and 55 diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) systems.
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The new system is integrated on the frame rail of the truck, so it provides customers with best-in-class ground clearance, beneficial for construction and vocational customers, while still offering fuel capacity comparable to other systems.
The smaller diameter side-mount system can be installed on any brand of chassis with any of the major brands of mixer bodies. This new system was designed and built based on Momentum’s existing platform, with the same components, plumbing, mounting arms, torsion beams for protection and color-coded fuel lines for safety. Momentum systems also come equipped with neck-mounted cylinders manufactured by Luxfer. With a focus on safety, this fuel system includes an alloy steel end plate and multiple aluminum extrusions to protect the cylinder. The smaller diameter side-mount systems can be integrated with Momentum’s fuel management module, for faster installation requiring less frame space.
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SAUDI ARABIA: International Energy Forum Launches Methane Measurement Project to Address Climate Change
The International Energy Forum (IEF) has launched a new initiative to develop a measurement methodology for methane emissions from the energy industry, allowing its member countries to collect standardized data to address
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a major cause of climate change. The IEF is the largest international energy organization in the world, with 71 members accounting for 90 percent of the global energy market.
Experts estimate that currently reported methane emissions are about 10 percent of what is observed by satellite. The new methodology would allow IEF member countries and their energy industries to consider the best available data on methane emissions, define their historical methane baseline and set mitigation goals in a transparent and consistent manner. With these targets, IEF members would be able to present credible plans for reducing their methane emissions in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in November 2021.
The methodology will rely on satellite data from Sentinel-5P, part of the Copernicus constellation of satellites operated by the European Space Agency, with artificial intelligence and advanced algorithms to detect and measure methane emissions. It would also integrate corporate data as well as country-level data.
Methane’s lifespan in the atmosphere is relatively short compared to other greenhouse gases, yet it is much more efficient at trapping heat. Atmospheric concentrations of methane are increasing faster today than at any time since the 1980s. For many years, methane was overlooked in the climate debate, but recently research has shown the importance of methane mitigation to avert acute climate risks, including crop loss, wildfires, extreme weather and rising sea levels.
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