NGS’ NG/LNG SNAPSHOT May 16-31, 2024
National News Internatonal News
NATIONAL NEWS
City Gas Distribution & Auto LPG
Minister inaugurates CNG station
Transport Minister K.B. Ganeshkumar on Saturday inaugurated the first exclusive compressed natural gas (CNG) station of AG&P Pratham at Kottarakara.
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The station is designed to cater to the growing CNG needs across various vehicle categories, including three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and light commercial vehicles (LCVs). AG&P Pratham is also set to construct an advanced hi-tech LCNG (Liquefied Compressed Natural Gas) plant at Chavara with construction beginning next month.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/minister-inaugurates-cng-station/article68190635.ece
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Maintenance works cause CNG shortage at petrol pumps
Pune: There is a shortage of CNG at some petrol stations in Pune owing to maintenance works being carried out by the Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL). An MNGL official said around 10% of total CNG supply in the Pune city was affected due to the same. Roughly around 400,000kg of CNG is supplied by the MNGL in the Pune city each day.
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The official said all maintenance works will be completed by Tuesday and the situation will return to normal by morning. TNN
We also published the following articles recently
Man beaten to death after brawl at Noida CNG stationAman Kasana died in a Noida CNG pump brawl over a refuelling queue dispute. Ajay and Rishabh were arrested, Ankush is absconding. Ajay’s WagonR was impounded with a bloodstained stick. The incident follows a recent case involving AAP’s Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan.110127997
Pune Porsche crash: Write essay, work with traffic constable – details of bail conditions for teen driverChaos in Pune’s Kalyaninagar as a teen driving a Porsche Taycan fatally hits Aneesh Awadhia and Ashwini Koshta from Madhya Pradesh. Aqib Ramzan Mulla witnesses the incident, involving classmates from a Pune school. Charges against the driver’s father are filed, leading to the minor being released on bail with conditions.110267704
HC attaches mans house as he fails to pay maintenance to wife & specially abled sonKarnataka high court orders attachment of man’s properties for failing to pay maintenance to wife and differently abled son. The court directs monthly payments, attaches the husband’s house, and creates an interest on properties for payment security. Wife alleged cruelty, sought maintenance, and the court invoked relevant legal provisions to secure payment, considering the son’s disability.110217634
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GAIL To Set Up 26 Bio CNG Plants In JV Partnership
The company has issued an Expression of Interest across India, for companies qualifying with certain parameters to form joint ventures..GAIL (India) Ltd. plans to set up around 26 Bio CNG plants over the next two to three years, both as producers as well as joint venture partners with raw material suppliers or biogas producers.
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The company has issued an Expression of Interest across India, for companies qualifying with certain parameters to form joint ventures for raw materials such as paddy straw, municipal solid waste and sugarcane press muds.
“We have issued Letter of Intent to the gas producers and have entered into agreements with large biogas producers such as Adani and Reliance Industries Ltd. to buy their entire biogas produce at very high price of $15-$16 per million metric British thermal unit (mmBtu),” Praveer Kumar Agarwal, executive director of GAIL, told NDTV Profit.
The company then “socialises the cost” by mixing it with pooled gas to bring down the selling price to less than half, Agarwal said. The synchronisation plan has become a big hit with biogas producers across India, he said.
The company alongwith joint venture partners is likely to invest up to Rs 1,300 crore, including equity contributions of 30%.“Each plant—depending on the capacity of 5 tonne per day to 10 tonne per day—will cost between Rs 30 crore to Rs 50 crore. That would entail an investment of Rs 1,300 crore over the next two to three years by the entities,” Agarwal said.
Setting Up Two Green Hydrogen Pilot ProjectsThe company is setting up two 10 MW green hydrogen pilot projects of 4,300 kg in Vaijaipur, Madhya Pradesh. One plant is likely to be commissioned next month, said Sanjay Kumar, director-marketing.
Regarding commercial production of green hydrogen, the official said the price of green gas is extremely costly at Rs 500-600 per kg, when grey hydrogen is available at Rs 150-200 per kg.“We recently entered into a contract with Avantika Gas in Indore, where we blended 5% green hydrogen for the first time. The gas was sold at the price of LNG at $10-12/mmBtu,” Agarwal said.
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Natural Gas/ Pipelines/ Company News
GAIL net profit jumps 67 per cent in 2023-24
New Delhi, May 16 (IANS): Public sector natural gas giant GAIL on Thursday reported a 67 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 8,836 crore for the financial year 2023-24 compared to the corresponding figure of Rs 5,302 crore in 2022-23.
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According to a company statement, GAIL’s annual revenue from operations rose to Rs 1,30,638 crore in FY24 against Rs 1,44,302 crore in FY23.
For the January-March quarter of 2023-24, the company’s net profit declined to Rs 2,177 crore against Rs 2,843 crore in Q3 FY24.
Revenue from Operations was reported at Rs 32,335 crore in Q4 FY24 against Rs 34,254 crore in Q3 FY24.
During the year, Natural Gas transmission volume registered an increase of 12 per cent to 120.46 MMSCMD against 107.28 MMSCMD in FY23.
Gas marketing volume stood at 98.45 MMSCMD in FY24 against 94.91 MMSCMD in FY23.
LHC sales registered an increase of 7 per cent to 998 TMT against 929 TMT & Polymer sales jumped up by 97 per cent to 787 TMT as against 399 TMT in comparison to previous year, the company said.
During the quarter, Natural Gas transmission volume stood at 123.65 MMSCMD in Q4 FY24 as against 121.54 MMSCMD in Q3 FY24.
Gas marketing volume stood at 99.90 MMSCMD against 98.14 MMSCMD in the previous quarter. LHC sales registered an increase of 5 per cent to 261 TMT against 249 TMT & Polymer sales jumped up by 13 per cent to 242 TMT against 215 TMT in comparison to the previous quarter.
On a consolidated basis, revenue from operations stood at Rs 1,33,500 crore in FY24 against Rs 1,45,875 crore during FY23. PAT (excluding Non-controlling interest) was Rs 9,899 crore in FY24 (up by 76 per cent) against Rs 5,616 crore in FY23.
GAIL CMD Sandeep Kumar Gupta said that the robust performance during FY 2024 is primarily driven by better physical performance across all major segments, despite lower prices in petrochemicals and liquid hydro-carbons.
He also stated that the company has incurred a Capex of Rs 11,426 crore during the FY24.
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1192023
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IGL Q4 Results: Net profit rises 9% to ₹433 crore, revenue down 2% YoY; dividend declared
IGL Q4 Results: Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) announced its January-March quarter results for fiscal 2023-24 (Q4FY24) on Tuesday, May 7, reporting a rise of nine per cent in consolidated net profit at ₹433.79 crore, compared to ₹397.51 crore in the corresponding period last year. The leading city gas distributer (CGD’s) revenue from operations in the fourth quarter of FY24 dropped two per cent to ₹3,964.42 crore, compared to ₹4,056.44 crore in the year-ago period.
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The board also recommended final dividend of 250 per cent at Rs.5 per equity share for FY24. ‘’The board also recommended final dividend @250 per cent i.e. ₹5 per share (face value of ₹2 each) for the financial year 2023-24, subject to approval of shareholders in the ensuing Annual General Meeting,” said IGL in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges.
IGL Q4 Results- Key Metrics
For the full 2023-24 fiscal, IGL’s net profit soared 21 per cent to ₹1,748.08 crore compared to ₹1,445.02 crore in the previous year. The turnover slipped marginally to ₹3,949.17 crore in January-March from ₹4,042.57 crore in the corresponding quarter of 2022-23. The gross turnover for FY24 was ₹15,403.13 crore as compared to ₹15,543.67 crore in the year-ago period primarily due to cooling off of international gas prices despite increase in sales volume.
“The sales volume in the quarter increased from 8.25 million standard cubic metres per day in Q4 of 2022-23 to 8.73 mmscmd in Q4 of FY’24, showing a volume growth of seven per cent. While CNG registered sales volume growth of 5 per cent during the period, piped natural gas showed overall sales volume growth of 11 per cent during this quarter (January-March),” said IGL.
The average daily gas sale during FY24 was 8.43 mmscmd as compared to 8.09 mmscmd in FY’23 (April 2022 to March 2023), registering an overall growth of four per cent. While CNG volumes registered a growth of four per cent in the fiscal, piped gas sales volumes were up by 6 per cent in FY 2023-24 over the preceding fiscal.
“IGL has remained focused not only on executing strategic priorities amidst a challenging operating environment but has also been committed to deliver long term value to its stake holders,” said IGL in its exchange filing.
After consolidating the financial results of two associate companies, CUGL and MNGL, the consolidated net profit after tax of IGL comes to ₹1,983.40 crore in 2023-24 against a consolidated profit of ₹1,639.65 crore in FY22-23, showing an increase of 21 per cent year on year.
IGL operates CGD networks across 30 districts in 11 areas across four states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. It has laid out gas distribution infrastructure in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Rewari, Gurugram, Karnal, among other designated NCR regions– which consists of more than 25,000 kms of pipeline network.
IGL meets fuel requirements of over 1.7 million vehicles running on CNG through a network of over 850 CNG stations. the gas distributer has connected over two-and-a-half million households in these cities with piped natural gas. Ahead of the announcement of Q4FY24 results, shares of IGL settled 1.24 per cent lower at ₹437.20 apiece on the BSE.
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Mahanagar Gas plans 20% increase in capex at Rs 1,000 crore for FY25: MD
Ashu Shinghal added that the 20 percent drop in net profit it reported for the fourth quarter was primarily due to lower availability of APM gas and CNG price reduction announced by the company.
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Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL), the city gas distribution or CGD company that serves Mumbai and its surrounding areas, has planned capital expenditure of around Rs 1,000 crore for 2024-25, higher than the Rs 870 crore spent in the previous year, Managing Director Ashu Shinghal told Moneycontrol in an interview.
MGL on May 9 reported a slump of around 20 percent in its consolidated net profit at Rs 252.26 crore in the fourth quarter, compared to Rs 317.18 crore in the preceding quarter. Shinghal explained that the drop in profit was primarily due to lower availability of APM (administered price mechanism) gas and reductions in the prices of compressed natural gas (CNG) undertaken by the company. On March 6, MGL had cut CNG prices by Rs 2.50 per kg after the government criticised CGD companies for failing in passing on the benefits of gas reforms to consumers.
The MGL head further said that availability of APM gas continues to remain a challenge and expects a further decline in its supply in coming months
What is the capex planned for FY25? How do you plan to fund it?
Last year, we spent Rs 770 crore in Mahanagar Gas and around Rs 100 crore in Unison Enviro (a subsidiary that operates in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka). This year, we expect to spend around Rs 850 crore in Mahanagar Gas and Rs 200 crore in Unison. Put together, the capex will be more than Rs ,1000 crore.
Capex will be mostly funded through internally because we typically generate a profit in the range of Rs 900 crore to Rs 1,000 crore. And add back the depreciation and minus the dividend payout… So, we expect that capex will be funded through internal generation.
Net profit declined in Q4. What were the main factors for that?
Quarter-on-quarter (Q4 vs Q3) profit has come down slightly, but year on year (FY24 vs FY23), the profit has gone up. Last year it was Rs 790 crore and this year it is around Rs 1,280 crore. So there is an increase of around 300 crore year on year.
Q3 versus Q4, it (net profit) has come down slightly. The main reason for the reduction is one, we had reduced the prices of CNG. Secondly, the APM allocation has come down. And third, we have also launched certain schemes in the marketing segment. These three were the main points because of which Q3 versus Q4 profits have dipped slightly.
The availability of APM gas (part-subsidised by the government) was an issue in Q3 as well. Do you expect the issue to be resolved soon? Are you getting enough APM gas in Q1?
APM gas availability is still constrained. It is not fully resolved. We think APM gas allocation will be constrained in future as well because number of CGD companies are growing and the domestic gas production is not meeting up to the level at which the growth is happening. So, on a pro rata basis, the APM gas will come down further in future. That is our expectation.
APM gas availability is still constant in Q1. I don’t think it has improved. It is maintained at the same levels or maybe further declining a bit.
Has MGL’s dependency on spot gas increased as a result of the reduced APM gas availability?
We need not necessarily depend a lot on spot gas because there are two other avenues available to us. One is the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) gas from Reliance and ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) and the second is Henry Hub-, Brent- and JKM (Japan Korea Marker)-linked gas. We are availing that plus we are entering into term contracts depending on the requirement. These things are needed to give more stability to our input cost. On balancing and for having some flexibility around pricing arbitrage, we are keeping a very small volume open for spot gas. So spot gas is not prime to feed our sourcing portfolio.
What was the gas mix in Q4?
Total consumption in Q4 was about 3.6 MMSCMD (million standard cubic metres per day). Out of this, around 2.5 MMSCMD was APM gas and the balance was divided into term contracts and HPHT. Around 0.6 MMSCMD was HPHT, while 0.5 MMSCMD to 0.6 MMSCMD was term contracts and a very small quantity was spot gas for balancing, maybe around 0.05 MMSCMD or 0.1 MMSCMD.
CNG volumes have, in particular, been muted. What are your expectations for CNG volumes?
Year-on-year, we have had around 5.5 percent growth in total volumes. CNG volumes have not peaked to that level we wanted. But it takes time for vehicles to come on the road and start having some meaningful impact on volumes.
Moreover, we are creating more infrastructure in terms of CNG stations. This year, we have created 36 CNG stations and around 40 stations have been upgraded. For 2024-25, we are targeting to complete around 60 CNG stations by MGL and another 25-30 in Unison. So, collectively, we are planning around 80 CNG stations. That will definitely give a boost to CNG consumption. Last year we registered 5.5 percent growth in volumes and this year we expect to touch a target of 6 to 7 percent (total volume growth).
With the government saying that CGD companies have not passed on the benefits of gas reforms to the consumers, do we expect a further reduction in prices?
If you talk about MGL, we are selling the cheapest gas in the country, both in terms of CNG and PNG (piped natural gas), whereas the APM allocation is similar for all companies. So it is mainly to do with our operational efficiencies and other segments, how we price gas with respect to the alternate fuels, and so on and so forth. Having said that, we will definitely review the prices. There has to be a fine balance between the margins, the volume growth, the cost of alternate fuel as well as our procurement cost. All these things will be taken into account before taking any final decision. So, we cannot declare anything on this aspect.
Are you looking at new GAs in FY25? What are your expansion plans for this year?
GAs (geographical areas) take time but we have taken a few steps like we have put some equity in an electric vehicle company. We are in the final stages of closing a CBG (compressed biogas) plant with BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). We have put up a joint venture company with Baidyanath LNG for LNG (liquefied natural gas) retail outlets and Unison also needs to be further developed.
The exclusivity period of one of the GAs is over. Do you plan on extending it?
There are two types of exclusivity, one is infrastructure exclusivity and out of the six GAs we have, infrastructure exclusivity of one of the GAs has ended (after 25 years). That can be extended by another 10 years. We have applied (for an extension) to PNGRB (Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board) and we are hopeful that it will be resolved soon. We are meeting all the requirements to seek extension in our view.
Coming to marketing exclusivity, it is a matter that is under Delhi High Court. The matter is sub judice and I do not want to comment on it until the court gives a verdict on it.
What is your outlook on gas prices?
Last year, the prices have been quite good. And we think that going forward, they not be very volatile because I think the worst is over with respect to the Ukraine war, and things are also stable in Israel as of now. We never know if some geopolitical developments happen, but that is unlikely to have a major impact on gas prices because gas is a small portion of the whole basket.
Obviously, if certain things happen that directly impact gas prices, the prices will shoot up or shoot down. But most probably it is likely to continue in a fashion similar to what we have been seeing for the last five to six months.
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ONGC Q4 results: Net profit rises 78% to Rs 11,526 cr, announces dividend
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on Monday announced a jump of around 78 per cent in its consolidated net profit at Rs 11,526.53 crore in the quarter ending March 31 of financial year 2023-24 (Q4FY24), compared to Rs 6,478.23 crore in the same period last year (Q4FY23).
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According to the regultory filing, the company’s board of directors has recommended a final dividend of Rs 2.50 per equity share of face value of Rs 5 each which is at 50 per cent for the FY24, subject to the approval of shareholders in the ensuing annual general meeting of the company. This works out to Rs 3,145 crore over and above the interim dividend of Rs 9.75 per share, says the company.
Oil & Natural Gas Corpn Ltd
The state-owned oil and gas exploration major reported slight rise in revenue from operations for Q4FY24 at Rs 1.66 trillion, compared to Rs 1.64 trillion recorded in Q4FY23.
For the full FY24, ONGC recorded highest ever consolidated net profit of Rs 57,101 crore, according to the statement issued by the company.
The crude oil production in Q4FY24 saw an increase of 2.4 per cnt over Q4FY23 whereas gas production decreased by 3 per cent.
According to the statement, 11 discoveries were made in FY24 by the compnay. “ONGC has declared 11 discoveries (6 in onland, 5 in offshore) during FY 2023-24 in its operated acreages. Out of these, 6 are prospects (1 in onland, 5 in offshore) and 5 are new pool (onland) discoveries,” read the statement.
It also highlighted that during the year, ONGC drilled 541 wells, the highest recorded in the past 34 years, comprising 103 exploratory and 438 development wells.
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Policy Matters/ Gas Pricing/ Others
PNGRB for a structured approach to enable shift to gas-based economy
A deterrent for India to successfully shift natural gas/ Liquefied Natural Gas, as a favoured fuel, has been lack of a strategy to achieve the target. To ensure the gas networks are not under-utilised, and demand and supply is in sync, the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), has constituted a committee to examine various aspects of value chain including pricing.
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Gas demand is directly linked to supply.
A senior official in the PNGRB told businessline, that “a need has been felt, to have a proper strategy for the growth of the gas sector as well as to ensure that the infrastructure created is not under-utilised.”
The seven member committee, headed by Former Chairperson of PNGRB, D K Sarraf, was constituted earlier this month. The government has the target to increase the share of natural gas in the country’s energy basket from the present 6 per cent to 15 per cent by 2030. PNGRB has been mandated to develop infrastructure for transportation of natural gas to consumers across the country. “It requires a structured approach, and cannot be looked at in silos,” a committee member said.
When asked wasn’t it late in the day to look for a structured approach, the PNGRB official said, “It is good to have a vision statement. The committee so constituted, will come out with a report on Vision 2040 – Natural Gas Infrastructure in India, looking at the demand and supply in the medium term (2040), and natural gas infrastructure in India.”
The committee will submit its report within three months, from the date of its first meeting.
The terms of reference include: to examine various aspects of the entire gas value chain, like gas/LNG prices, regasification charges, transportation charges, taxes, competition from alternate fuels, advancement of technologies and other aspects.
It will also look at likely availability of gas from domestic sources, vis imported gas. On the infrastructure front, it has been asked to look at required re-gasification capacity, pipeline infrastructure, and its capacity to support higher consumption of natural gas and connectivity to demand centres.
“We have to ensure that the infrastructure, so created, does not lie idle, or run under capacity. More importantly, we have to see the demand for such infrastructure, in the areas where it is being created,” the official said.
This exercise becomes more important, as, the government is pushing for the sector. Also, as the PNGRB goes about inviting bids for creating City Gas Distribution networks and other gas networks, it is pertinent to know what is the demand, and how the supply will be managed, an official stressed.
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Govt seeks proposals for coal gasification under VGF scheme
New Delhi: The coal ministry on Tuesday sought proposals from public and private sector players among others for coal gasification projects under a ₹8,500-crore viability gap funding scheme.
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The proposals have to be submitted by 12 September.
“To promote clean coal technologies, the ministry of coal has issued RFP seeking proposals from public sector undertakings, private sector investors, R&D agencies etc., under scheme for promotion of lignite and coal gasification,” said an official statement.
Coal and lignite production in FY24 stood at 1 billion tonnes and the target for this fiscal has been set at 1.08 billion tonnes. Noting that in future there would be surplus domestic coal after meeting the requirement of power and other sectors, the ministry said that coal-to-chemical and gasification processes are being promoted.
Support for private investors
In January this year, the union cabinet approved a ₹8,500 crore viability gap funding (VGF) scheme for coal gasification.
According to current plans, for public sector units, a viability gap funding of ₹1,350 crore per project would be provided. Under category II, mainly private sector investors, a viability gap support f ₹1,000 crore would be provided. Under category III or demonstration projects, the support is for ₹100 crore per project.
Apart from viability gap funding, the ministry has created a separate long-term linkage window. It has also notified a policy under which commercial or captive coal mine owners may utilize their coal for gasification, for which a 50% incentive on revenue-share would be provided.
Gasification is the process by which coal is turned into fuel gas and is considered as a cleaner option than burning coal. The gas produced through the process can be used to produce gaseous fuels such as hydrogen, methane, methanol and ethanol among others.
However, the high ash content in Indian coal is a technical barrier to a wider adoption of coal gasification.
India has the fourth largest coal reserves in the world, with reserves of 361.41 billion tonnes, according to data from the coal ministry.
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Global Energy Prices to Decline in 2024
Chennai: Energy prices are expected to decline by 3 per cent in 2024, as natural gas and coal prices may remain subdued against oil prices which may be impacted by geopolitical issues. Energy prices may see a further decline of 4 per cent in 2025. Globally, agricultural prices are expected to ease as well in this year and next amid improved supply conditions.
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According to the World Bank, commodity prices fell 3 per cent in the March quarter of 2024, driven by lower energy prices alongside relatively stable agriculture and metals prices. Natural gas prices plummeted, reaching levels almost 40 per cent lower than a year earlier. However, oil prices exhibited significant volatility, responding to escalating tensions in the Middle East and a supply outlook that was tighter than anticipated.
Brent crude oil prices surpassed $91/ per barrel in early April. Apart from geopolitical tensions and more production cuts by OPEC+, recent reductions in US inventories, coupled with revised projections from the International Energy Agency shifting from a predicted surplus to a modest deficit, have further bolstered market confidence. Oil prices are anticipated to average to $84/bbl in 2024 up from $83/bbl in 2023, before tapering to $79/bbl in 2025.
Agriculture prices saw minimal change in Q1, with decreases in food and fertilizer prices balanced by a surge in beverage prices, attributed to supply shortages induced by adverse weather conditions. Food insecurity remains a pressing issue, particularly in regions affected by conflict. The number of people experiencing acute food insecurity has risen sharply in recent years, to more than 282 million people in 2023 from 100 million in 2018.
Meanwhile, metal prices remained generally unchanged during the quarter, with a decline in iron ore prices offsetting increases in other metal prices.
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/business/economics/global-energy-prices-to-decline-in-2024-893920
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LNG Use / LNG Development and Shipping
Cool Co enters long-term charter with GAIL for new build LNG carrier
Cool Company Ltd has entered into a 14-year time charter party with GAIL (India) Ltd for one of the company’s two new build LNG carriers currently under construction. Cool Co will deliver the new build to GAIL in the Gulf of Mexico, with the 14-year time charter commencing in early 2025.
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The new build’s time charter is intended to secure the long-term supply of LNG into the fast-growing Indian market, with GAIL having the option to extend the charter by two additional years beyond the firm 14-year period. Cool Co’s two new builds delivering during 4Q24 are highly efficient, state-of-the-art LNG carriers that are some of the most efficient, highest performing, and lowest-emission vessels in the global fleet. Vessel flexibility enables Cool Co to minimise delivery costs.
The time charter increases Cool Co’s firm revenue backlog to more than US$1.2 billion and total revenue backlog including extensions to almost US$1.9 billion as of 31 March 2024.
Richard Tyrrell, CEO of Cool Co, commented: “We are delighted to announce a long-term charter with GAIL, the leading natural gas company in one of the highest growth markets for LNG. The leading-edge technology and best-in-class economic and environmental performance of this new build LNG carrier secure GAIL’s ability to transport clean-burning LNG in a highly efficient and cost-effective manner for many years to come.”
S Bairagi, Executive Director (Marketing – Shipping & International LNG) of GAIL, commented: “GAIL is looking forward to taking delivery of the LNG carrier as part of its ambitious plans for meeting the large and growing demand for natural gas in India.”
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Kochi Port turns green as LNG powered carrier sails across
The Vallarpadom Container Terminal at Kochi, one of the biggest ports in Asia “turned green” on Sunday as 365 meter long container career sailed into the jetty to unload giant containers. It is not because of jealously that the port turned green but the kind of fuel which is being used to power the ship’s engines. Instead of conventional diesel, the ship is powered by LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) which is eco-friendly and fuel efficient, Captain Bhaskar Kunji, chief pilot of Kochi Port Trust, told the Pioneer.
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Hitherto all ships that berthed in Kochi were sailing on diesel. “I will not say this is the first LNG powered ship that has called on Kochi as the LNG meanyt for the terminal near the Port have seen some containers that use the gas as fuel. But this is the first time a container powered by LNG calls on Kochi Port,” said Bhaskar who led the ship from outer sea to the Port through the complex shipping channel.
The advantage with LNG is that it is fuel efficient as well as less polluting than diesel. “Moreover, the ships could switch over to diesel in the eventuality of the LNG getting exhausted mid-way. We rate this as a game changer in global shipping business,” said Bhasker.
The Ship MSC ROSE (owned by Aponte family based in Italy and has headquarters in Switzerland) has the capacity to carry 15,500 TEU ( Twenty Equivalent Unit, a measure of the cargo capacity used in shipping parlance).
One TEU means volume of a 20 foot long inter modal container (19.1 foot long and eight foot wide) metal box. “You are in for major surprises because much bigger container carriers are on their was to India since the last three-four years because of the changed economic scenario. India is a major player in global trade and it is the impact of the development that such careers call on ports in India,” said a shipping executive working with a foreign company.
Good reason for all to turn green and go green
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Electric Mobility/ Hydrogen/Bio-Methane
Maiden India Pavilion at World Hydrogen Summit 2024, Netherlands showcases National Green Hydrogen Mission
ROTTERDAM : For the first time, India has set up its own pavilion, at the World Hydrogen Summit 2024, being held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, during May 13 – 15, 2024. The India Pavilion, set up by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, is one of the largest pavilions at the Summit and has been inaugurated by Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Bhupinder S.
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Bhalla on May 12, 2024. The World Hydrogen Summit is a prestigious event in the global green hydrogen ecosystem. Around 15,000 delegates from around the world are expected to attend the Summit. The India Pavilion at the conference provides India an opportunity to showcase to the world the progress made by the country in the field of Green Hydrogen. The Indian delegation comprises nominees from Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and from private sector companies as well. In addition to various G2G interactions, the Summit provides a platform for Indian industry to engage with companies from around the globe. India launched its National Green Hydrogen Mission in January 2023 with an overall outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores.
India has set an ambitious target to achieve a green hydrogen production capacity of 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) by end of the year 2030. As on date, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has awarded tenders for setting up of 412,000 tonnes of Green Hydrogen production capacity and 1,500 MW of electrolyzer manufacturing capacity. India has also notified scheme guidelines for use of Green Hydrogen in steel, transport / mobility and shipping sectors. The Department of Science and Technology has initiated Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters to foster innovation and promote Green Hydrogen ecosystem in India. A dedicated portal for the National Green Hydrogen Mission has been launched recently, to serve as a one-stop location for information on the Mission and steps taken for the development of the green hydrogen ecosystem in India.
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Gail may line up Rs 50,000 crore capex in big petrochemical bet
Gail (India) plans to invest up to ₹50,000 crore to build a 1.5 million tonnes per annum ethane cracking unit at Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, three officials aware of the development told ET. This is among the biggest proposed capital expenditures by the state-run gas utility.
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The new facility is expected to help Gail meet the robust domestic petrochemicals demand, which is expected to nearly triple to $1trillion by 2040.
Ethane is a component of natural gas. An ethane cracker breaks down ethane into ethylene, which is the key chemical input for making plastics, adhesives, synthetic rubber, and other petrochemicals. “Gail is very bullish on the petrochemicals segment. This new facility is still in the planning stage and will almost double Gail’s existing 810 KTA (thousand tonnes per annum)petrochemicals facility in Pata near Kanpur, UP,” said an official aware of the development.
State-run Engineers India Ltd is working on the detailed feasibility report for the project. “The facility will likely come up in the next 5-6 years.” Gail did not respond to ET’s mailed query until the publication of this report.
Last February, Gail said it wants to import ethane, as a petrochemical feedstock, from ethane-surplus countries and transport it through Gail’s pipeline systems to demand centers.
This March, the company signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Shell Energy India to explore opportunities for the import of ethane and other hydrocarbons. The MoU would also examine the development of evacuation infrastructure at Shell Energy Terminal, Hazira.
RIL Sole Importer
Currently, Reliance Industries, the country’s most-valued company, is the only Indian entity that is importing 1.5 million tonnes per annum of ethane for its ethane crackers in Dahej and Hazira in Gujarat and Nagothane in Maharashtra.
Traditionally, petrochemical players have been using naphtha as a primary feedstock, but demand for ethane has been picking up over the past few years. Cracking ethane can yield over 80% ethylene against 30% yielded by cracking naphtha.
India annually consumes 25 to 30 million tonnes of petrochemicals. Its per capita consumption is about a third of the global average. Anticipating that India’s annual petrochemical consumption could nearly triple to 80 million tonnes by 2040, Indian refiners are boosting their petrochemical production capacity.
State-controlled refiner Bharat Petroleum Corp is also investing close to $6 billion to develop an ethane-fed cracker at its 156,000 barrels per day Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh.
“Gail was earlier planning to set up this new facility in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad or Dabhol near its 5 mt per year liquefied natural gas plant, but later decided on Madhya Pradesh,” said the second official.
Gail is also diversifying its petrochemicals business by entering the polypropylene business.
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ZEVO And Zen Mobility Join Forces To Transform Last-Mile Deliveries In India
ZEVO, a tech-enabled EV mobility platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Zen Mobility, an emerging Indian electric vehicle OEM, to transform the landscape of last-mile deliveries in India. Zen Mobility, recognized for its innovative vehicle solutions, has developed the
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Zen Micro Pod – a specialized vehicle designed to navigate the congested urban roads of India. This collaboration is set to enhance delivery efficiency and reliability, benefiting services such as Zomato, Swiggy, and other similar services.
In the first phase of this partnership, ZEVO will deploy 3,000 units of the Zen Micro Pod over the next 12 months, ensuring a significant boost in delivery operations. The Zen Micro Pod’s innovative design with 150kg payload carrying capacity, range of over 120 kilometers per charge, and customized box allow it to navigate traffic with ease, ensuring timely deliveries. Additionally, Zen Mobility’s forthcoming Zen Maxi Pod, a 4-wheeler Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) designed for mid to large-size deliveries, will further enhance ZEVO’s delivery capabilities.
ZEVO plans to deploy these advanced vehicles nationwide, starting with Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This initial phase will enable rigorous testing and refinement to meet local challenges. Upon successful implementation in these regions, the rollout will expand to other major cities, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, and Chennai.
This partnership aligns with ZEVO’s commitment to sustainability. Zen Mobility’s eco-friendly, energy-efficient vehicles will significantly reduce ZEVO’s carbon footprint, contributing to a greener future for India’s transportation sector.
For e-commerce deliveries, ZEVO will allocate a substantial portion of the fleet to meet the growing demand for timely shipments of consumer goods. Simultaneously, an equal number of units will be dedicated to grocery delivery services, striking a balance between these two vital sectors.
Aditya Singh Ratnu, CEO and Managing Director ZEVO, said, “We are excited to join forces with Zen Mobility as we both share a common vision. Their cutting-edge electric vehicle designs, such as the MicroPod and Zen Maxi Pod, perfectly align with our aim to provide efficient, sustainable, and customer-centric logistics solutions across India. By integrating these advanced units into our operations, we are poised to revolutionize last-mile deliveries, ensuring prompt and reliable services while minimizing our environmental impact. This collaboration represents a significant step towards our goal of setting new industry standards for timeliness, product freshness, and transparency.”
Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Namit Jain, Founder and CEO, Zen Mobility, said, “We’re excited to join forces with ZEVO, a company that shares our passion for innovation and sustainability in the logistics sector. Our Zen Micro Pods have been meticulously crafted to navigate urban environments seamlessly, enabling efficient and eco-friendly last-mile deliveries. With the introduction of this purpose-built three-wheeler Light Electric Vehicle in India, we’re set to revolutionize the last-mile delivery landscape with its efficient performance. Through our collaboration with ZEVO, we aim to lead the way in urban mobility, where zero-emission transportation solutions are the standard. Together, we’re committed to setting new industry benchmarks for excellence, ensuring that every delivery not only meets but exceeds customer expectations, while also minimizing carbon footprint.”
The overarching goal of this collaboration is to revolutionize the logistics landscape in India by introducing innovative and sustainable solutions. By leveraging Zen Mobility’s emission-free vehicles, ZEVO aims to pioneer a new era of eco-conscious logistics operations. This initiative not only enhances delivery efficiency but also elevates the customer experience by ensuring timely, fresh, and transparent deliveries.
Together, ZEVO and Zen Mobility are committed to setting new benchmarks in the logistics industry, merging sustainability, efficiency, and exceptional customer service. Through this strategic alliance, they aspire to create a future where innovative and sustainable logistics solutions meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses alike.
ZEVO and Zen Mobility join forces to transform last-mile deliveries in India
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Natural Gas / Transnational Pipelines/ Others
Jordan: Energy Minister To Inaugurate First Compressed Natural Gas Station
(MENAFN- Jordan Times) AMMAN – Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh on Friday will inaugurate the main station for receiving compressed natural gas from Al Risha gas field.
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The project marks the Kingdom’s first initiative to harness natural gas from the Risha field of the National Petroleum Company (NPC), facilitating its transportation via trucks and locomotives to consumers.
Kharabsheh said that the project aims to support national industry and economic sectors in the Kingdom, with natural gas estimated to offer over 50 per cent savings compared with diesel, 40 per cent compared with liquefied gas and 20 per cent compared with heavy fuel.
The NPC is slated to supply approximately 12 million cubic feet per day to the Jordan Liquefied Gas Company, with the latter’s primary station boasting a capacity of 20 million cubic feet per day.
The Jordan Liquefied Gas Company finalised agreements with the NPC regarding gas supply quantities.
The Jordan Liquefied Gas Company has commenced inking agreements with various industrial stakeholders and established a reception station in the Aqaba International Industrial City.
https://menafn.com/1108219578/Energy-Minister-To-Inaugurate-First-Compressed-Natural-Gas-Station
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Nigerian: CNG buses will cut down transportation costs, curtail inflation – Finance minister
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Olawale Edun, has visited the JET Motor Company Assembly Plant in Lagos, where Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, buses are being assembled under the Presidential CNG Initiative.
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While disclosing this in a statement, Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, said JET, which is located in Lagos, is one of the four assembly plants picked by the PCNGi to assemble semi-knocked-down components of climate-friendly CNG and electric buses and tricycles, which will soon be rolled out to cut down transportation costs.
According to him, JET also has the capacity to convert petrol buses to CNG.
After going round the JET plant on Friday, Edun said he was satisfied with the progress of work at the assembly.
He said though the PCNGi had taken time to be actualised, the benefits would soon be available to Nigerians.
“I have come to see the CNG buses that Nigerians are asking about. I have seen them. I have tested them and driven them. I have seen them being assembled. The benefits will soon be available to Nigerians,” Edun said.
The Minister said the PCNGi is about mass transit that is affordable.
“Two critical aims will be achieved. Whereas it costs about N55,000 to fill a 15-20 seater bus with petrol, it will cost between N12,000 and N15,000 to fill a CNG bus of the same capacity. This is three times if not four times less. This is a huge saving that will help reduce transport costs and at the same time, help reduce inflation,” he said.
Edun lauded JET’s employment of local talents in the assembly of the vehicles.
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Slovakia: Slovakia lays plans to receive gas from Azerbaijan
Slovakia is laying the groundwork to receive gas from Azerbaijan through Ukraine, to further diversify its supplies away from Russia and revive earnings from transit to other countries, Prime Minister Robert Fico said.
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Fico said the drop in Russian gas supplies to Europe following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 had hurt Slovakia, which had been completely dependent on Russia for gas before the conflict and served as an important transit route
Ukraine appears unlikely to extend a deal on allowing Russian gas to transit to Europe beyond 2024, putting pressure on Slovakia to seek alternative sources and transit revenue.
Fico led a government visit to Azerbaijan last week, where Slovak officials said they would make every effort to become the ninth country to receive Azeri gas exports.
“We did everything politically necessary,” Fico told a televised briefing on Monday.
He said next steps would depend on talks among Russian, Ukrainian and Azeri gas firms on pricing and conditions.
The aim was to import gas from Azerbaijan – which could run through Ukraine via a Russian border point, according to plans discussed last week – to Slovakia, with some continuing in transit to other European countries such as Austria.
Fico said he would discuss the issue later on Monday with his Austrian counterpart, and that the scheme could also benefit the Czech Republic, Italy and others that had received gas via Slovakia in the past.
He said volumes from Azerbaijan would not be as large as pre-war Russian shipments through Slovakia, but that even 5 or 10 billion cubic metres (bcm) were “revenue for the budget” through Slovakia’s 51% ownership of pipeline operator Eustream.
The volume of Russian gas coming into or through Slovakia fell to 17 bcm in the financial year to July 2023, according to Eustream, down about two-thirds from the last pre-war year.
The European Union’s executive signed a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijan in July 2022 to double imports of Azeri natural gas to 20 billion bcm a year by 2027.
The gas network operators of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia then proposed shipping some of that gas to Europe.
https://www.naturalgasworld.com/slovakia-lays-groundwork-to-receive-gas-from-azerbaijan-111167
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Lagos, Ogun endorse Tinubu’s compressed natural gas initiative
Lagos and Ogun states threw their weights behind the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative of the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government.
Commissioners for Transportation of both states at the southwest stakeholders’ summit organised by the Presidential Initiative on CNG in Ikeja, said they were not only in support of the use of CNG-powered vehicles but would encourage the private sector to key into it.
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Speaking during a panel session, Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the state was ready to roll out transport policies in line with the presidential directives.
“Our transport policy would not only guide but would encourage investment in the space of the CNG. We are also very much aware that to make this grow as rapidly as we want, we must encourage the private sector. We will bring comfort to investors.
“As our president said on Monday that every ministry should buy CNG vehicles, we have also started doing this. We already have electric vehicles. We also have about 10 CNG buses that we are going to put on the road. We have some that have been tested on our roads,” he said.
According to Osiyemi, Lagos would create the platform and environment not just to encourage the federal government’s CNG initiative, but to drive forward the state’s policies in line with the initiative.
“I must also use this opportunity to say that we are encouraging CNG vessels on our waterways. Our boats that are coming – our investors are looking towards having CNG boats that will be deployed (on the waterways). So as a state, we have taken this seriously because it’s the way to go to ensure carbon emission reduction,” he added.
Similarly, Ogun State Transport Commissioner, Gbenga Dairo, said the state had already begun the use of CNG-powered vehicles, adding that it helped residents to cope with the effects of fuel sunsidy removal.
“Clearly, it’s been a well-thought-out policy by the Federal Government and it speaks to the climate change opportunities that the CNG gas brings,” he said.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha in her remarks, said the initiative represented a beacon of hope for many in the transport sector.
She stressed the employment opportunities the initiative had to offer citizens.
She said: “As we gather here, we are reminded of the need to propel our nation forward, we have to do what we have to do not just in terms of economic growth but in creating opportunities that uplift every citizen. The presidential CNG initiative stands as a testament to this great vision.”
“I commend the visionary leaders behind the initiative for their dedication to innovation and progress, it is initiates like this that drive our nation towards a brighter future.
“In this journey towards a sustainable and prosperous future, collaboration is key. That is why I’m proud to highlight the collaboration between the presidential CNG initiative and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment,” the minister added.
Speaking earlier, the Programme Director of the Pi-CNG, Michael Oluwagbemni, highlighted the support the FG had given to the team which had made it deliver on the mandates given to them by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Oluwagbemi said: “On August 23, last year, Mr President announced the commissioning of the CNG initiative. We immediately swung to work with the massive support that Mr President had promised us and that is why we are here today.”
“I’m pleased to announce to you that since December, over $50m has been mobilised by the sector much more than any amount of money that has been mobilised by the CNG sector in the last 10 years combined – in just five months.
“This is just the beginning, several companies are investing because they see that the Tinubu administration is serious about moving this country forward by leveraging the gas resources that God has given us,” he added.
https://thenationonlineng.net/lagos-ogun-endorse-tinubus-compressed-natural-gas-initiative/
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Ministry and DEFA seek plan B for gas transportation
With no reliable information yet available to the Ministry of Energy and other governmental structures on the time when the Vasilikos LNG terminal can be completed and the possible start of the use of the new fuel in power generation, the relevant bodies are looking for ways to revise the planning for the construction of the natural gas transmission system to the power plants.
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As Phileleftheros has informed several times in the recent past, DEFA (Natural Gas Public Company) under the previous administrations seriously delayed the procedures for the selection of a contractor for the preparation of a ten-year plan for the gas supply-transmission system so today there is no contractor to carry out the study and no prospects that this pending issue will be resolved soon.
The delayed tender launched by DEFA was successfully challenged before the Tender Review Authority, which issued annulment decisions. The tender is currently pending before the Administrative Court, where one of the bidders has appealed against an earlier decision of the Review Authority. There is no reliable prediction on the horizon as to the timing of the Court’s decision, the content of the decision, and the developments it will trigger.
We recall that the contractor selected by DEFA will not build the pipelines to transport the gas from the LNG terminal. It will prepare a study for the transmission system in general and in particular for the pipelines connecting the terminal to power plants, at this stage of EAC and the private PEC. It will then also prepare the terms of the tenders for the construction works.
With the obvious long delay foreseen for the implementation of these plans, we are informed that the Ministry of Energy and DEFA are now seriously discussing the possibility of pursuing an alternative option to save time in terms of the construction of the pipelines to the EAC station and the PEC station.
https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/local/ministry-and-defa-seek-plan-b-for-gas-transportation/
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Texas power grid regulators OK rules for natural gas incentive program
AUSTIN – State energy regulators have finalized rules for a taxpayer-backed multibillion-dollar program designed to encourage the construction of new natural gas power plants.
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The Public Utility Commission cleared one of the final hurdles for the Texas Energy Fund, a $10 billion voter-approved program crafted during 2023′s legislative session, by establishing rules allowing companies to be reimbursed an estimated 10% of the cost to build eligible natural gas power plants completed before June 1, 2026
Plants finished by June 1, 2029, can have about 6.7% of building costs reimbursed.
Texas’ hunger for electricity has grown rapidly in recent years. On Tuesday, ERCOT’s chief said the demand on the state’s power grid could nearly double by 2030. However, the development of natural gas power plants has lagged, with the vast majority of new power production focused on solar power and industrial-scale batteries.
Amid ERCOT’s growing reliance on renewable energy, which is influenced by the weather, lawmakers have fretted over the lack of development of more traditional on-demand power sources such as fossil fuel power plants. Last year they passed legislation creating the Texas Energy Fund to encourage investment in new natural gas power plants.
“Our supply of reliable, on-demand electricity must keep pace to meet this growing demand,” Public Utility Commission Chairman Thomas Gleeson said last week. “Today’s rule adoption is another important step to implement the Texas Energy Fund and incentivize the construction of high-quality, dispatchable power generation for the Texas grid.”
Several major power plant developers that operate in Texas — including NRG, Vistra Corp. and Calpine — have already signaled that they will participate in the Texas Energy Fund. The program also offers government-backed, low-interest loans to power plant companies. The PUC approved rules for the loan program on March 21.
The commission will begin accepting applications for the loan program in June. The program will remain open until the end of 2025. The PUC will open applications for the completion reimbursement program on Jan. 1, 2025.
Cyrus Reed, conservation director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, called the program “corporate welfare at its highest,” saying many of the energy companies that said they would apply for the program were already planning to build natural gas-fueled power plants.
Even so, Reed said, regulators did their best to craft rules in line with Senate Bill 2627, which passed last year with bipartisan support
State lawmakers have allocated about $7.2 billion for the Texas Energy Fund. Roughly $5 billion of that money has already been appropriated, though some funds are dedicated to areas of Texas outside the ERCOT grid, such as El Paso, and for a grant program for electricity failsafes for critical infrastructure. The PUC will approve rules for those programs in the coming weeks, agency spokesperson Ellie Breed said.
The Texas Energy Fund arose from efforts by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown. Originally, they proposed using taxpayer money to build a fleet of natural gas-fueled power plants that would act as a statewide backup generator during power emergencies.
That proposal failed to gain traction in the House, and efforts shifted toward an incentive package for natural gas power plants. The program places a premium on the construction of on-demand power plants and is not open to solar and wind power
Patrick has said that if the Texas Energy Fund fails to encourage new natural gas power plants, he would push for the state to build its own plants.
Eligible power plants must have a capacity of at least 100 megawatts, enough energy to power at least 20,000 homes. At last week’s meeting, the rules were amended to include new units built on existing power plant sites. Upgrades to existing power plants are not eligible.
The program is also open to power plants that are built in part to provide power exclusively to large-scale industrial sites. Those plants on so-called private use networks must certify that the majority of electricity produced on site will be available if needed for the ERCOT grid and that the total available capacity must top 100 megawatts.
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Black Sea offshore natural gas bolsters EU energy security
The Neptun Deep project to produce natural gas offshore at the Black Sea is the key to reducing dependence on gas imports and strengthening the EU’s energy security.
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In an era when energy security becomes crucial for Europe, amid all the challenges posed by Russia’s war in Ukraine, the exploitation of Romanian natural gas from the Black Sea’s depths emerges as a tangible factor in strengthening energy supply security, for the countries in the region, and for the entire European Union.
The European Union seeks solutions for sustainable transition and energy security, and Romania’s role within the EU gains increasing significance as the 2027 deadline approaches when Romania will become Europe’s number-one natural gas producer. Romania must thus embark on a new phase of its economic development, while simultaneously pursuing the climate objectives of the European Union.
Romanian natural gas from the Black Sea’s depths emerges as a tangible factor in strengthening energy supply security, for the countries in the region, and for the entire European Union.
And the Neptun Deep natural gas production project draws attention as a focal point. Natural gas from the Black Sea should not be superficially viewed merely as a business matter in Romania, or merely as a target of ecological debates. Being a real resource for national economic growth, offshore natural gas extracted from the Black Sea will be, for the coming decades, a central piece in the puzzle of European energy security as a whole.
Recently, in a presentation of the Neptun Deep project at the European Parliament, the idea was emphasized that offshore gas production in the Black Sea represents a significant basis for energy supply security in the region. By harnessing the natural gas resources of the Black Sea, Europe takes important steps in reducing dependency on energy imports — especially from Russia — and ensuring regional energy independence. Even the president of the ITRE Committee of the European Parliament, Cristian Bușoi, highlighted the multiple advantages that the Neptun Deep project brings to the European Union: From contributing to energy transition, to supporting economic sectors and improving competitiveness. “By exploiting gas from the Black Sea, Romania contributes to Europe’s energy security and the competitiveness of European industry,” he said. “I believe that both onshore and offshore potential is important to utilize, as this can help us replace imports from Russia more rapidly, but also for the overall reduction of imports from regions with low environmental standards, such as North Africa or the Middle East. The Black Sea and Romania can become providers of energy security and will contribute to Europe’s industrial competitiveness.”
Romania’s role within the EU gains increasing significance as the 2027 deadline approaches when Romania will become Europe’s number-one natural gas producer.
With an impressive capacity of approximately 8 billion cubic meters per year, the offshore gas production project in the Black Sea thus emerges as a crucial source of natural gas for Europe. This initiative perfectly aligns with the objectives of the REpowerEU program, which aim to reduce dependence on gas imports from Russia and support the energy transition toward safer, cleaner sources. Additionally, by replacing coal and providing a constant resource to complement renewable energy, the Neptun Deep project significantly boosts decarbonization efforts.
Producing natural gas from the deep seabed of the Black Sea is the key to reducing gas import dependence and, more importantly, to consolidating the energy security of the entire EU community: It will reduce vulnerability to fluctuations in the global natural gas market, and provide essential resources for a transition to green energy sources, in a fair and sustainable manner for citizens, the state and energy production investors.
Offshore natural gas extracted from the Black Sea will be, for the coming decades, a central piece in the puzzle of European energy security as a whole.
Major investments of approximately €4 billion in the development phase of the Neptun Deep project herald a considerable production of around 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas. This exploitation promises not only substantial state revenues in the form of taxes and royalties, but also the opportunity to direct these funds toward key sectors of the Romanian economy and society. Success in producing natural gas from the Black Sea does not only boil down to figures on paper, but can lead to a significant increase in local economic activity, generating jobs and stimulating related industries such as construction and services. Therefore, integrating natural gas from the Black Sea into the domestic energy mix is the cornerstone of the country’s energy future, essential for diversification and national resilience.
But exploiting this resource also opens doors to regional collaboration, strengthening cross-border relations and contributing to regional stability. Romania cannot remain passive in European energy decisions. Through active involvement in EU initiatives, Romania can become an influential player in shaping the European energy future, contributing to the formulation of clear directions in community energy governance. Thus, Romania, with its complex geography and rich history, faces a turning point regarding its energy and economic future within the European Union.
And natural gas from the Black Sea is not just an economic resource for Romania — it is a vital factor in consolidating the energy security of the EU as a whole.
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Canada: Pipeline Operator TC Energy Beats Profit Estimates on Strong LNG Demand
(Reuters) – Pipeline operator TC Energy beat first-quarter profit estimates on Friday, helped by robust demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG).
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Demand in the U.S., the largest importer of Canada’s oil and gas, rose in the first quarter according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, benefiting Canadian energy firms.
Total earnings from TC Energy’s pipeline segments came in at C$2.27 billion ($1.66 billion), compared with C$2.17 billion last year.
The United States was the world’s top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter last year, but in January, President Joe Biden paused approvals for pending and future applications for export projects.
Countries including Greece, Germany and Japan have expressed interest in purchasing Canada’s LNG at a time when the U.S. has paused expansion of American LNG exports.
TC Energy posted an adjusted profit of C$1.24 per share for the quarter ended March 31, compared with analysts’ average estimate of C$1.14 per share, according to LSEG data.
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Natural Gas / LNG Utilization
Air Products launched PRISM® GreenSep for efficient bio-LNG production
Air Products has launched a new PRISM® GreenSep liquefied natural gas (LNG) membrane separator to enhance bio-LNG production.. The industrial gas giant’s latest innovation eliminates the need for intermediate purification technologies, allowing a higher yield of bio-LNG while reducing operational expenses and energy consumption.
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Bio-LNG is liquefied biomethane created from an organic source such as food, animal, or municipal waste. In the ongoing quest for sustainable and low-emission alternatives, bio-LNG emerged as a compelling solution with the potential to play a significant role in decarbonising the transportation sector.
With its unique properties and versatile applications, bio-LNG has gained traction as a cleaner-burning fuel option for long-haul heavy-duty transport and maritime operations.
Dr. Erin Sorensen, General Manager of Membrane Solutions at Air Products, described the PRISM® GreenSep LNG membrane separator as an excellent addition to the company’s portfolio.
She continued, “This cutting-edge technology will deliver a higher LNG yield at a lower operational cost, while also furthering our common goal of building a safer, cleaner, more productive world.”
Air Products Membrane Solutions specialises in the development of hollow fibre membrane separators and systems for onsite gas generation. Air Products designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets a full portfolio of PRISM® membrane separators, marine systems, and engineered-to-order systems.
To support the business, in May 2023, Air Products made a $10m investment to significantly increase hollow fibre membrane production at its St. Louis, Missouri, facility.
At the time, the company said that the capacity improvement effort would impact product lines such as the PRISM® GreenDry membrane dryer and the PRISM® GreenSep membrane separator, which provide biogas industry customers with dehydration and upgrading solutions.
Air Products will showcase its PRISM® GreenSep LNG membrane separator at BIOGAS AMERICAS at the Savannah Convention Centre in Savannah, Georgia from 13th-16th May.
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HAM Group inaugurates new LNG mobile service station
HAM Group has inaugurated a new LNG mobile service station in Torre-serona, Lleida, located on the A2 or Northeast highway, KP 463, one of the main radial highways in Spain, with significant traffic from transport fleets travelling from Madrid to Barcelona, passing through Guadalajara, Zaragoza and Lérida.
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The new HAM Torre-serona mobile service station, Lleida, designed and manufactured by Vakuum, It has a hose that allows people to refuel LNG for trucks and heavy vehicles.
The gas station offers self-service 24/365. It is monitored remotely, offers the possibility of contacting the company’s technical service 24/7 by telephone and has security systems to guarantee its operation and the rapid resolution of incidents during refueling.
HAM Group reaffirms its commitment to the decarbonisation of transport and sustainable mobility with the opening of this new LNG gas station, which adds to the company’s international network of more than 140 LNG, CNG and biomethane service stations on the main Spanish and European transport routes.
Natural gas for vehicles allows carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to be reduced by between 15% and 100%, fine particle emissions by 95% and nitrous oxide emissions by 35%, reducing the environmental impact and greenhouse effect. VNG is a real and efficient alternative to other more polluting and less environmentally friendly fuels.
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Singapore: Meralco unit plugs into Singapore’s power grid with LNG project
PacificLight Power Pte Ltd (PLP), a subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen), has been awarded a contract by Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) to build, own, and operate a 100 megawatt Fast Start generation hydrogen ready-gas turbine capacity in Singapore.
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The project, targeted for completion by the second quarter of 2025, aligns with Singapore’s push for reliable power solutions.
The fast-start gas turbines boast the ability to reach full power within 18 minutes from a standstill, ensuring uninterrupted supply during unexpected power system disruptions.
PLP, an 800 MW liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant co-owned by MGen and First Pacific Company Ltd., is committed to providing dependable and low-carbon power generation.
LNG technology offers a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels.
“This award marks a significant milestone for our company, and we are committed to delivering the project on time and reliably supporting the energy system,” said Yu Tat Ming, CEO of PLP.
MGen president and CEO Jaime T. Azurin views this award as a testament to PLP’s consistent performance and reliable track record.
He said this project contributes to MGen’s goal of transitioning towards sustainable and low-carbon power generation solutions like LNG, both in the Philippines and through regional ventures.
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Sempra’s ECA and Port Arthur LNG facilities ‘on track’
Construction of US electric utility Sempra’s Port Arthur LNG project and Energía Costa Azul LNG Phase 1 remain on schedule for planned start dates, according to Sempra’s Q1 2024 financial update
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The expected commercial operation dates for Train 1 and Train 2 of the Port Arthur LNG facility are 2027 and 2028, respectively, according to the company’s initial announcement on the FID.
Sempra Infrastructure, a subsidiary, took a final investment decision for the Port Arthur project in March last year and contracted construction firm Bechtel to build the facility.
The long-term contractable capacity of approximately 10.5M tonnes per annum is fully subscribed under long-term agreements with counterparties including major firms ConocoPhillips, RWE Supply and Trading, INEOS and Engie.
In a status report filed with the FERC, Port Arthur LNG said Bechtel has continued metal-organic framework construction activities. In May, Bechtel will continue site preparation, soil stabilisation and deliver the concrete piles.
The Energía Costa Azul project in Mexico is also more than 80% complete and remains on schedule to commence commercial operations mid-2025.
Sempra announced its Q1 2024 financials this week. A challenging first quarter saw the company post a 17% drop in profits as it logged sharply lower revenue from its natural gas operations. Sempra supplies natural gas and electricity to customers in California, Texas and Mexico.
Net income is down to US$801M (from US$969M) and revenues have nose dived to US$3.6Bn (from US$6.6Bn). The natural gas division saw earnings cut in half to US$2.1Bn.
However, Sempra’s Texas operations doubled their profits, owing to increased power demand thanks to more data centres opening up and the ongoing electrification of the oil and gas business in that state as fracking firms seek to reduce emissions.
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Sempra re-evaluates Bechtel for Cameron LNG expansion to cut costs – Reuters
Sempra (NYSE:SRE) is revisiting its selection of Bechtel to build its Cameron LNG expansion project in Louisiana due to rising construction costs, Reuters reported Monday. Sempra (SRE) operates Cameron, the third largest U.S. LNG export plant, and the Cameron LNG Phase 2 venture with TotalEnergies (TTE), Mitsui (OTCPK:MITSF) (OTCPK:MITSY) and Japan LNG Investment aims to expand the capacity of the three trains at the 12M metric tons/year plant and add a fourth
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Bechtel had built the first phase of the Cameron plant, Sempra’s (SRE) first LNG facility, and is building the company’s newest project, the Port Arthur LNG plant in Texas.
The dispute reflects a broader rise in construction and labor costs that are affecting several U.S. liquefied natural gas export projects under development and threaten to further delay others.
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VTTI to Acquire 50 Percent Stake in Dragon LNG
Global storage terminal owner and operator VTTI BV is acquiring 50 percent of Dragon LNG Group Limited from infrastructure manager Ancala. Dragon LNG is the owner of a major onshore import terminal for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the United Kingdom (UK) market.
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Dragon LNG’s regasification terminal is one of the three LNG terminals in the UK. It is located near Milford Haven in Wales, and consists of LNG receiving, storage, reliquefaction, regasification and send-out facilities, VTTI said in a news release.
The facility can achieve a maximum gas send-out to the UK national transmission system of up to 317.8 billion cubic feet (9 billion cubic meters), supplying approximately 10 percent of the UK’s annual gas demand, according to the release.
The transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter, VTTI said. The financial details were not disclosed.
Dragon Energy Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of Dragon LNG Group Limited, has also developed a solar farm at the facility and is developing additional renewable power projects at the site in support of decarbonizing scope 2 emissions at the LNG terminal, VTTI noted.
‘’As part of VTTI’s Strategy 2028, we are committed to expanding and enhancing LNG regasification infrastructure globally,” VTTI CEO Guy Moeyens said. “Our aim is that half of our portfolio will be in transitional and sustainable energy sources by 2028. Following the recent agreement in Italy to acquire a 70 percent equity stake in Adriatic LNG in Italy and the ongoing development of a new LNG import facility in Vlissingen in the Netherlands, this acquisition reflects our commitment to diversify into LNG as a transitional energy source”.
“We are looking forward to partner with Shell to ensure that Dragon LNG continues to operate in a safe and reliable manner while accelerating its decarbonization and growth path,” Moeyens added. Shell plc owns 50 percent of Dragon LNG.
VTTI said it has a long-term strategic view on the terminal, “furthering the opportunities for decarbonization of the regasification process and continuing to provide safe and secure, long-term access to the UK gas market”.
Earlier in the month, Dragon LNG said it awarded a contract to professional services firm Worley to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to explore the integration of LNG and carbon dioxide (CO2) liquefaction processes.
The study is focused on exploring the potential benefits of integrating LNG regasification and CO2 liquefaction processes at Dragon LNG terminal facilities, the company said in an earlier statement, adding that the benefits not only impact the Dragon site but also other industry companies in Haven, Pembrokeshire.
If feasible, the technology at Dragon would support wider collaboration with RWE Pembroke Net Zero Centre (PNZC), whose CO2 would be transported to the Dragon facility for processing before being shipped via non-pipeline transport (NPT) to carbon sequestration sites.
Rotterdam-based VTTI describes itself as a global leader in independent energy storage, developing the critical energy infrastructure needed to move towards a carbon neutral future. The company safely provides and expands access to essential energy, including fuels, chemicals, gases, and other energy-derived products and accelerates the transition to sustainable sources for customers and partners.
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Bangladesh: Efficient generators at industries can slash LNG imports by 21pc: study
Replacing captive power generators at industries with more efficient models and using them effectively can cut liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports by 21 percent saving $460 million a year, according to a study by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
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Analysing data from 73 gas-fired captive generators at 51 industries with a combined capacity of around 250 megawatts (MW), the IEEFA said the average efficiency of these generators is only 35.38 percent.
According to the study, if the generators are replaced by efficient models, the efficiency rate can be increased up to 45.2 percent.
Additionally, the use of a waste heat recovery boiler and jacket cooling water in a chiller or heater can save up to 50.18 billion cubic feet (BCF) of gas every year, it said.
The study found that 44.22 per cent of industries do not use waste heat released by generators and 79.6 percent of them do not use jacket cooling water in productive applications.
Waste heat recovery is the process of reusing heat energy that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. The jacket cooling water system is used to cool the cylinder liners, cylinder covers, and exhaust valves of the main engine, which increases engine efficiency.
Replacing old generators would take 1.5 to 5 years to recoup the investment, while waste heat recovery takes only one year, the study said.
A captive power plant is a facility that provides a localised source of power to an energy user like industries, large offices or data centres.
In Bangladesh, industrial units usually produce electricity by themselves through captive power plants amid the lack of reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply from the national grid.
Currently, the capacity of captive power generators is 4,723MW, of them 2,943MW is gas-fired. The captive power plants consumed 164.27 BCF or 17.6 percent of total gas usage in the country in 2022-23.
Bangladesh began importing LNG from the international market in 2018. In just five years, the country saw a seven-fold increase in imports, reaching 238.72 BCF of gas by 2023.
“Over the six years, rapidly rising imports in a volatile global market exposed Bangladesh’s energy sector’s weak financial health earlier than anticipated,” the study said.
The high dependence on gas is raising import bills and subsequently increasing tariffs for consumers. Bangladesh must urgently re-evaluate its energy strategy and take steps to improve energy efficiency to contain the growing demand for gas, it added.
Shafiqul Alam, the lead analyst of the IEEFA Bangladesh and author of a recent study, said an insatiable appetite for gas could lock Bangladesh into a vicious cycle of spiralling prices and supply issues, and eventually, it may threaten its economic transformation.
“The plan to import sufficient energy for development was not designed to cope with the high level of volatility in the international fuel market, depreciation of the local currency and weak fiscal conditions,” he said.
As the era of cheap energy comes to an end, improving energy efficiency will be more financially rewarding as the government is likely to make energy pricing more competitive soon, he added.
Any complacency in undertaking energy-saving measures will likely erode the competitiveness of industries in the international market, the study said.
Insufficient investment in local gas exploration has left Bangladesh with a hefty shortfall between demand and supply, the study said, adding that the country is at a fundamental disadvantage as it does not produce enough energy apart from gas.
“Full energy independence may be a utopian dream, but the country must find ways to rein in its import dependence,” it wrote.
The study noted that local gas production reduced to 2,201 million cubic feet (mcf) per day from 2,663 mmcfd in 2016.
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Australia: Under ‘significant’ contract, TechnipFMC to deliver fully integrated project for Australian energy giant
Australian energy giant Woodside Energy has awarded TechnipFMC with an integrated engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (iEPCI) contract to support ongoing production from an LNG project in Australia.
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Under the contract described as “significant”, TechnipFMC will design, manufacture, and install the Subsea 2.0 production system, flexible pipe, and umbilicals for the Xena Infill well (XNA03) to support ongoing production from the Pluto LNG Project.
The contract award follows an integrated front-end engineering design (iFEED) study and is the latest call-off on the framework agreement between the two companies.
Xena Phase 3 will be tied back to existing subsea infrastructure previously supplied by TechnipFMC.
Jonathan Landes, President of Subsea at TechnipFMC, said: “We are proud to be delivering a fully integrated project from concept to execution. This project will help our long-term client meet their objectives, demonstrating the favorable impact iFEED™, iEPCI™, and Subsea 2.0® can have on project economics.”
For TechnipFMC, a “significant” contract is worth between $75 million and $250 million. This award will be included in inbound orders in the second quarter of 2024.
Pluto LNG processes gas from the offshore Pluto and Xena gas fields in Western Australia which is piped through a 180-kilometer trunkline to a single onshore LNG-processing train. Woodside is developing a brownfield expansion of Pluto LNG through the construction of a second gas processing train which will process gas from the offshore Scarborough field.
Woodside is the Pluto Train 2 joint venture operator and holds a 51% participating interest. The final investment decision for the project was made in November 2021. As a result, around 5 million tons per annum (Mtpa) of Scarborough gas will be processed through Pluto Train 2, with up to 3 Mtpa processed through the existing Pluto Train 1.
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Global LNG Development
TotalEnergies inks 16-year LNG deal with Sembcorp Fuels
The new deal extends the existing agreement between the two companies until 2029. TotalEnergies has signed a sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Sembcorp Fuels, a subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries, to provide up to 0.8 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually for 16 years, starting in 2027
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Under the agreement, TotalEnergies will source LNG from its global portfolio to meet Sembcorp’s demand.
The new deal extends the existing SPA between the two companies until 2029.
The companies expect the agreement to contribute to Singapore’s energy security and decarbonization goals whilst also reflecting TotalEnergies’ commitment to sustainability.
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AG&P LNG and Hai Linh announce commissioning of Cai Mep LNG Terminal
AG&P LNG, a subsidiary of Nebula Energy, along with its partner, Hai Linh Company Ltd, a prominent petroleum product import terminal and trader, have announced the start of the commissioning of the Cai Mep LNG terminal in an elaborate ‘Cai Mep LNG Terminal Commissioning Symposium’ hosted at the terminal.
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The detailed milestones of the commissioning phase were announced, leading up to the start of commercial operations of the Cai Mep LNG terminal targeted for September 2024. The symposium demonstrated AG&P LNG’s singular integrated LNG ecosystem with participation from customers, LNG suppliers, gas aggregators, and network partners, connecting the end-to-end LNG value chain, from sourcing to last mile delivery.
Karthik Sathyamoorthy, CEO, AG&P LNG, said: “I am thrilled to announce the start of the commissioning of the Cap Mep LNG Terminal. We are now also on track to start the commercial operations of the Terminal in September 2024. The hard work and can-do spirit of the team from Hai 1 Linh, AG&P LNG and Nebula Energy to meet our commitment of LNG delivery by 3Q24 has been nothing short of extraordinary. In a testament to our remarkable team, I am equally delighted to share another exciting development. Today, at our Cai Mep LNG Terminal Commissioning Symposium, we signed our second definitive LNG offtake agreement with one of the demand aggregators in Vietnam. We had signed our first definitive agreement for 1 MTPA offtake with HPP power plant earlier this year in March. Very soon, we will be able to provide reliable LNG supply and immediately serve power and nearby industrial customers.”
AG&P LNG has six additional executed letters of intent (LOIs) with six more demand aggregators for downstream LNG distribution since it acquired 49% stake in the terminal in March 2024. The Cai Mep LNG Terminal is connected to nearby Phu My industrial zone and has pipeline connectivity to Vietnam’s largest power generation complex, Phu My, which has gas-fired capacity of 3.9 GW. The terminal is strategically located near the Mekong River Delta and has a 220 000 m3 of LNG storage, and LNG break-bulk capabilities that allows it to reload LNG into smaller vessels. The Cai Mep Terminal initially set at 3 million tpy and expandable to 6 MTPA, has 14 truck-loading bays for LNG and CNG filling.
Le Van Tam, CEO, Hai Linh Company Ltd, added: “I am excited to announce the commissioning of our Cai Mep LNG terminal. We at Hai Linh are privileged to have AG&P LNG and Nebula Energy as our partners as we work towards unlocking the potential LNG demand across multiple sectors and help reinforce energy security in the country.”
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Colombia: Colombia’s LNG project reaches new stage as Black & Veatch concludes feasibility study
Black & Veatch, a U.S.-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure solutions company, has completed a feasibility study for Colombia’s planned LNG regasification terminal and power plant.
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This development is seen as a wrap of the first stage of the Andes Energy Terminal (AET), described as a multi-year LNG buildout, located near the port city of Buenaventura on Colombia’s Pacific coast. The project is said to be developed privately by the AET sponsor group.
According to Andes Energy Terminal’s Chairman Manuel Tenorio, the natural gas deficit Colombia is expected to face in 2025 means that the country will have to import most of its gas needs, which is why the regasification plant in the Pacific coast is “an undeniable need”.
“The solutions of imported gas from Venezuela or the exploitation of offshore fields in the Colombian Caribbean are not practical or realistic solutions to this crisis. Unless LNG import and regasification capacity is expanded in the near term with new infrastructure in Buenaventura, the Colombian industry and households, particularly in the southwest, will suffer the consequences of this looming shortage of gas,” explained Tenorio.
The AET project comprises an LNG terminal for receiving imported LNG, a land-based regasification plant, an LNG truck loading terminal, a power plant, and associated gas and electrical transmission infrastructure.
The feasibility study for the Andes Energy Terminal kicked off with a site assessment focused on the landscape of the area, regulatory restrictions, and accessibility. Design and financial estimates and planning were analyzed next, while the last stage examined climate resilience and mitigation, as well as financial modeling and analysis.
The elements assessed included site suitability, project design requirements, capital and operating costs, financial viability, financing options, climate resilience, and implementation and construction plans.
Laszlo von Lazar, President of Black & Veatch’s Energy and Process Industries business, commented: “Black & Veatch’s more than 45 years of experience in developing projects in Latin America and over 100 years of experience in critical infrastructure aligned our team perfectly to assess the Andes Energy Terminal (AET).
“Working with the AET team to strategize around the project and its capacity to serve southwest and central Colombia’s energy needs displays our global commitment to delivering safe and reliable energy.”
The U.S. player recently won a contract for engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of the floating LNG production unit (FLNG) for the Canada LNG project together with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI).
This was followed by a notice to proceed (NTP) in April. Early works for the project are scheduled to start this month, with the final investment decision (FID) expected in mid-2024.
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Turkey: Agreement reached on transportation of Turkmen gas to Turkey
An agreement has been reached on the transportation of natural gas from Turkmenistan to Turkey through Azerbaijan and Georgia, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Tuesday, reported the Daily Sabah.
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Bayraktar and Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Cabbarov attended the signing ceremony of the natural gas cooperation agreement between Turkey and Azerbaijan in Istanbul.
They signed a comprehensive deal on capacity expansion for several natural gas pipelines.
Bayraktar said that this deal would allow for additional gas volumes from Azerbaijan and natural gas from the Caspian region to Turkey and Europe by 2030, although the exact volumes have yet to be announced.
Both countries have several pipelines connecting their borders. The Iğdır-Nakhchivan natural gas pipeline, which will transmit gas to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Region in Azerbaijan, will be added to the pipelines that Turkey and Azerbaijan will jointly develop.
According to Bayraktar, they anticipated that this winter, natural gas would be supplied to the strategic territory of Nakhcivan through the Iğdır-Nakhchivan pipeline after the line soon opens for operations.
The minister acknowledged that the deal included discussions on expanding the capacity of two existing pipelines: the South Caucasus Pipeline and the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP).
“In order to provide more gas supply to Europe via Turkey, we will carry out joint studies on the expansion of connection capacities in Bulgaria and Greece, which are important European connection points,” he added.
“Especially with the agreement we signed today, our relations reach a new dimension in the field of natural gas. There are many issues in this agreement. Within this agreement, we foresee that additional gas volumes of Azerbaijani resources, natural gas and natural gas from Caspian resources will reach Turkey by 2030 and some natural gas will reach Europe via Turkey,” Bayraktar said.
“However, a new issue, an important issue, is that, as a result of this agreement, we have reached a deal on the transportation of natural gas from Turkmenistan to Turkey via Azerbaijan and Georgia,” he added.
Early in March, Ankara and Ashgabat signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a letter of intent on natural gas cooperation, laying the groundwork for partnerships in the hydrocarbon sector and taking Turkey closer to becoming a major energy hub.
Cabbarov, for his part, stressed that cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan would contribute to Europe’s energy security.
He emphasized the significance of the Iğdır-Nakhchivan Pipeline, pointing out that the supply of natural gas to the autonomous territory will enhance regional energy security and foster mutual cooperation.
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Oman: Oman LNG signs two deals to supply 1.5mtpa of LNG
State-owned Oman LNG has signed two binding term sheet agreements to supply over 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) of liquified natural gas (LNG), reported Oman News Agency. Under the agreement, Oman LNG will supply 0.8mmtpa of LNG to Shell International Trading Middle East for ten years beginning in 2025.
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The remaining 0.75mmtpa of LNG will be supplied to OQ Trading for a period of four years, with the contract expected to begin in 2026.
OQ Trading is the global commodity and energy trading unit of the Government of Oman.
With the deal, Shell International Trading Middle East has become Oman LNG’s biggest off-taker beyond 2024, the LNG supplier said.
In January this year, Oman LNG and Shell’s unit signed a 0.8mmtpa LNG offtake agreement for a duration of ten years starting in 2025.
Oman LNG CEO Hamed Al Naamany said: “The term sheet agreements contribute to global energy security and sustain our position as a trusted supplier of reliable energy, where it facilitates business opportunities, and complements our objectives to establish partnerships and add value to the local economy.”
Shell senior vice president and country chair of Oman Walid Hadi said: “We are proud that we will now become Oman LNG’s largest LNG purchaser as well as its largest private shareholder. This additional off-take term sheet signifies our deep commitment to continue pulling on all levers of Oman’s energy system to address the pressing trilemma of sustainability, affordability, and security
“Simultaneously, it serves as a pivotal step in the evolution of our hydrocarbon enterprise, steering it toward a future characterized by both low carbon emissions and financial viability.”
Oman LNG signs two deals to supply 1.5mtpa of LNG was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
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China: Huaying International and BKLS ink collaboration deal for LNG supply
This is aligned with China’s goal to diversify its energy resources.. Huaying International Energy Trading signed a collaboration agreement with BK LNG Solution (BKLS) to secure a liquified natural gas supply. In a statement, the companies said BKLS will partner with Huaying International to close LNG deals.
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Huaying International is an affiliate of Huaying Natural Gas Company which owns 50% of the LNG receiving terminal with SINOPEC near Chaozhou Port.
“This collaboration will hold promise on multiple fronts, such as to foster a stable and reliable LNG supply to meet China’s growing energy demands and by leveraging the network and expertise, can access diverse LNG sources and optimize procurement strategies,” the companies said.
“Both parties bring unique strengths to the table, promising a synergy that could redefine the dynamics of LNG trade in the region and beyond,” the statement added.
The partnership will support China’s goal to diversify its energy mix and address environmental woes.
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LNG as a Marine Fuel/Shipping
MSC Cruises welcomes the addition of two new environmentally-friendly cruise ships
As part of efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, MSC Cruises announced that it has completed an order for two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered vessels from French ship builder, Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
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The luxury cruise line explained that this will increase its fleet of environmentally-advanced ships to four, with an option for a fifth as well as World Class 3 and World Class 4 which will be delivered in 2026 and 2027
The new World Class vessels will feature shore power plug-in connectivity to reduce carbon emissions in port, the most advanced waste water treatment systems designed in line with the IMO, new advances in waste management and a comprehensive range of on-board energy efficient equipment to optimise engine use and hotel energy needs to further reduce emissions.
Currently, MSC World Europa and MSC World America are already the most energy-efficient ships in the industry, performing significantly better than the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirement.
The cruise line said that these new ships will be an evolution of the state-of-the-art World Class prototype, with its innovative solutions that maximise energy efficiency.
It also comes with other technological solutions, which will go a long way in reducing carbon footprint.
MSC Cruises also said that the new ships will be ready for a variety of alternative fuels, including bio and synthetic methane and green methanol It will also be fitted with the next generation dual fuel internal combustion engines with reduced methane slip.
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, said they are proud to continue their 20-year partnership with the Chantiers de l’Atlantique, with whom they have already built 18 ships and with their 19th under construction.
“The World Class is a truly innovative prototype and together we are building some of the most advanced ships in the world. We are committed to researching and investing in future environmental technologies as they become available, to ensure we continue progressing on our decarbonisation journey to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” said Vago
Meanwhile, Chantiers de l’Atlantique general manager, Laurent Castaing, thanked MSC Cruises for their support, especially during a challenging time for the European shipbuilding industry.
“We would therefore like to express our gratitude to MSC Cruises for its renewed confidence at this crucial time.
“In addition, MSC Cruises, always seeking to reduce the environmental impact of its ships quickly and significantly, it has accepted a significant cost premium to improve the energy efficiency of these new ships which, according to the IMO’s EEDI index, will emit 50% less CO2 than the IMO’s 2008 benchmark,” said Castaing.
He added that their government’s support has aided their research and development policy which has made ships greener and has enabled them to meet the customer’s expectations
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Inpex: Ichthys terminal sent 34 LNG cargoes in Q1
Japan’s Inpex has shipped 34 LNG cargoes from its Ichthys export plant in Australia during the January-March period of this year, the same number of cargoes as in the first quarter of 2023. The Ichthys project also sent 6 plant condensate cargoes, 8 offshore condensate cargoes, and 9 LPG cargoes during the first quarter of this year, Inpex said on Tuesday in its financial report.
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This compares to 34 LNG cargoes, 6 plant condensate cargoes, 8 offshore condensate cargoes, and 9 LPG cargoes during the first quarter of 2023.
Inpex also provided shipment data for April, and the Ichthys project sent 10 LNG cargoes, 2 plant condensate cargoes, 3 offshore condensate cargoes, and 2 LPG cargoes during the last month.
Last year, the LNG plant shipped record 129 LNG cargoes, 17 cargoes more compared to 2022, as part of the company’s plans to boost production to about 9.3 mtpa due to debottlenecking.
“We have confirmed the enhancement of the facility’s capacity required to produce 9.3 million tons of LNG per year, and will aim to achieve this production volume going forward, through operational safety and enhanced capacity utilization,” a spokesman for Inpex previously told LNG Prime.
The plant shipped 11 LNG cargoes in 2018, 104 LNG cargoes in 2019, 122 LNG cargoes in 2020, 117 LNG cargoes in 2021, and 112 LNG cargoes in 2022.
The facility at Bladin Point near Darwin has two trains and a nameplate capacity of 8.9 mtpa.
Ichthys LNG is a joint venture between operator Inpex and major partner TotalEnergies.
Earlier this year, Inpex also purchased a small stake in Ichthys LNG from compatriot Tokyo Gas to boost its stake from 66.245 percent to 67.82 percent.
Besides TotalEnergies, other partners in the Ichthys project include Australian units of CPC, Osaka Gas, Kansai Electric Power, Jera, and Toho Gas.
Natural gas arrives to the LNG plant at Bladin Point from the giant Ichthys field offshore Western Australia via an 890 kilometers long export pipeline.
Inpex sent last year the 500th cargo of LNG from its Ichthys terminal since the start of operations in 2018.
https://lngprime.com/australia-and-oceania/inpex-ichthys-terminal-sent-34-lng-cargoes-in-q1/112253/
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Korea cedes No. 1 spot in overall shipbuilding competitiveness to China
Reports have shown that China’s competitiveness in the shipbuilding sector has, for the first time, surpassed that of South Korea. While Korea’s shipbuilding industry is booming thanks to a string of orders for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, alarm bells are ringing over China’s rising competitiveness. The alarms also serve as a warning: Measuring competitiveness by total orders or specific orders of vessels alone may be misleading.
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In a report released Monday, the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET) said that South Korea had “ceded its top spot in the shipbuilding industry’s value chain competitiveness to China in 2023.”
The report concerned the lagging competitiveness of South Korea’s shipbuilding value chain and explored possible directions for South Korea’s maritime strategy going forward.
The institute determined the competitiveness of a shipbuilding industry’s value chain by evaluating five criteria: R&D and design, procurement, production, after-market services, and demand. Based on these criteria, the report’s authors calculated a composite score for the shipbuilding sectors of each economy examined.
South Korea’s composite score last year came to 88.9, putting it in second place to China, which earned a 90.6. Japan followed at 83.1 points, along with the European Union at 71.4. Until now, South Korea had always topped the rankings, ever since the KIET began assessing the overall competitiveness of different shipbuilding value chains in 2020.
Out of the five criteria, the report found, South Korea only has competitive advantages in the R&D and design sector and procurement. China was much more competitive in terms of production, after-market services and demand. By ship type, South Korea was ahead of China only in gas carriers and container ships. China surpassed South Korea’s competitiveness for oil tankers in 2022.
“China’s efforts to modernize its navy began in the early to mid-1990s and has continued for the intervening three decades. As a result, China possesses the largest navy in East Asia. In the period between 2015 and 2020, China surpassed even the US in its number of warships,” the KIET noted. This shows that China’s shipbuilding industry has gained price competitiveness and achieved qualitative growth due to China’s strategy of supporting and nurturing state-owned shipyards.
As of March 2024, four South Korean companies — Samsung Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries — ranked first through fourth in terms of single shipyards, but China’s state-owned shipbuilding group, China State Shipbuilding Corp., ranked No. 1 in terms of shipyard groups.
The report’s author suggested that Korea needs to establish its own tailored maritime strategy that comprises marine transport, ship finance and national defense, based on its shipbuilding industry. A strategy that approaches each industry on its own, the author argued, could lead to shipyards downsizing merchant ship divisions or having ship finance become concentrated in major conglomerates.
“There are limits in how much the shipbuilding industry can shore up competition by optimizing individual links on the value chain. Korea needs to leave behind passive strategies concerned only with the shipbuilding industry and create a maritime strategy that incorporates a broader view of things,” the report read.
It also suggested a strategy of promoting cooperation between Korea and friendly nations on merchant ships and specialty ships.
This latest report comes after another by the Overseas Economic Research Institute at the Korea Eximbank on trends in the shipping and shipbuilding industry for the first quarter, which assessed that the strong order intake in the first three months of the year posed made for an interesting situation, coinciding with a second period of concentrated orders of LNG ships by Qatar.
“Factors including the concentration of orders being concentrated among certain types of ships and difficulties in stabilizing production systems due to labor power shortages highlight the need for efforts to ameliorate issues that need to be overcome,” the report read.
https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_business/1140544.html
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Eastern Pacific Shipping marks 200th STS LNG bunkering operation
Singapore-based ship management company Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has completed its ship-to-ship (STS) 200th liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation. As informed, the bunkering operation involved EPS-managed pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) CMA CGM Daytona. The 700 CEU ship received 930 cubic meters of LNG from Pavilion Energy’s bunker vessel LBV Brassavola.
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According to EPS, this was the first time the ship underwent its bunkering operations in Singapore.
To date, EPS has received 1,159,536 cubic meters of LNG, a significant milestone since its first bunkering operations in 2020. Just three months ago, the company celebrated its 150th bunkering with 15,000 TEU dual fuel containership CMA CGM Bali receiving LNG at Yangshan, Shanghai.
“We continue to stay committed to decarbonising the shipping industry, leading the green transformation,” the company noted.
As part of its decarbonization efforts, Eastern Pacific Shipping recently signed contracts with subsidiaries of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) in Shanghai for a total of six new environmentally friendly vessels. The first deal covers the construction of four 210,000 dwt ammonia dual-fuel bulk carriers.
The second contract covers two 111,000 dwt LNG dual-fuel LR2 oil tankers that will be constructed at CSSC Guangzhou Shipbuilding International.
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/eastern-pacific-shipping-marks-200th-sts-lng-bunkering-operation/
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MOL names first of six newbuilding LNG carriers at Chinese shipyard
Japan’s shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has held a naming ceremony for a newbuilding liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier at a Chinese shipyard. This vessel and the remaining five in the series will serve CNOOC Gas & Power Singapore Trading & Marketing, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Asian country’s energy heavyweight China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).
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Thanks to the deal for six 174,000-cubic-meter LNG vessels from January 2022, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. (Hudong) inked its largest LNG carrier shipbuilding order at the time, amounting to about 7.5 billion yuan or $1.18 billion.
The following month, the Chinese shipbuilder hired France’s LNG containment specialist GTT for the LNG vessels’ tank design. Once October 2022 rolled in, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding picked TMC Compressors (TMC) to provide the complete marine compressed air system for the ships.
While announcing a naming ceremony for the Greenergy Ocean LNG carrier, which is the first of these six 174,000 cbm ships, MOL explained the significance behind the name by describing ‘Greenergy’ as a coined word combining ‘green’ and ‘energy.’
The Japanese player further elaborates that the combination of the words conveys the desire to contribute to the realization of a low-carbon society through safe, reliable transport of LNG. Upon delivery from Hudong-Zhonghua at the end of May, the vessel will transport LNG procured by the CNOOC Group from all over the world, mainly to China.
Since this is the first vessel to be launched, five more will follow suit as outlined in a long-term charter contract, signed in January 2022, for six new newbuilding LNG carriers, which are jointly owned by MOL, CNOOC, and Cosco Shipping LNG Investment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. These remaining five vessels are scheduled to be delivered between 2024 and 2026.
MOL has been a busy bee lately. The Japanese firm recently won a long-term time charter party (TCP) agreement for a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) with Poland’s Gaz System, which came shortly after the company put an FSRU in West Java, Indonesia, into operation.
After a previous decarbonization-linked loan bankrolled the construction of an LNG-powered dual-fuel very large crude carrier (VLCC), MOL got its hands on another energy transition-related loan in April.
The company’s coal carrier equipped with the Wind Challenger hard sail wind propulsion system recently tucked a new milestone under its belt with daily fuel savings of up to 17% and 5 to 8% per voyage on average.
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/mol-names-first-of-six-newbuilding-lng-carriers-at-chinese-shipyard/
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Norwegian shipping player’s vessel going to South America
Norwegian vessel operator Sea1 Offshore, former Siem Offshore, has won a deal in South America with an undisclosed company for one of its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels.
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Siem Offshore changed its name to Sea1 Offshore following the exit of Kristian Siem and the divestment of nine vessels to Siem Sustainable Energy and related companies. The list of sold ships includes three AHTS, four platform supply vessels (PSVs), and two offshore subsea construction vessels (OSCVs).
Thanks to a medium-term contract for 200 days firm plus options, the AHTS Siem Emerald will work in South America for an unnamed offshore construction company, which Sea1 Offshore has described as a major one. The AHTS will start this assignment at the end of May.
Prior to this, the vessel was serving the North Sea market. The 2009-built AHTS Siem Emerald is of VS 491 CD design with a cargo deck area of 800 m2. This ship can accommodate up to 60 people.
Over the past few months, Sea1 Offshore has been winning new deals for its vessels and extending existing ones. The most recent contract extension was secured for a 2009-built diesel-electric driven multipurpose support vessel (MPSV).
The additional work for the vessel came shortly after the Norwegian shipping player landed new deals for two platform supply vessels off the coast of Brazil.
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/norwegian-shipping-players-vessel-going-to-south-america/
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Technological Development for Cleaner and Greener Environment Hydrogen & Bio-Methane
Nordsol and Prodeval to build bio-LNG plant in Portugal
Dutch bio-LNG player Nordsol joined forces with French biogas firm Prodeval to build a bio-LNG production plant in the southern region of Portugal. According to a statement by Nordsol, the new plant is expected to start operations in 2025 and will serve an industrial facility in the olive oil production sector, utilizing their organic waste to create bio-LNG.
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To maximize the value of the organic residues from olive oil production, the biogas plant and the bio-LNG installation are co-located.
The facility’s projected output is set to reach 10 tons of bio-LNG and 21 tons of biogenic liquefied CO2 daily from 1100 nm³/h of biogas, primarily sourced from olive waste water, Nordsol said.
The liquefied state allows for efficient transportation of the biomethane to a gasification unit, linking it directly into the natural gas network.
From this entry point, this biomethane will be utilized to decarbonize high-temperature / high-pressure industrial processes.
The bio-LNG production process involves upgrading biogas into biomethane using Prodeval’s membrane technology, while this biomethane is then liquefied to bio-LNG using Nordsol’s technology.
Also, the biogenic CO2 captured during the process will be liquefied using Prodeval’s system.
This biogenic CO2 will be used in the food and beverage industry where it will displace CO2 from fossil resources.
This project marks the third installation by Prodeval for a client in Portugal, Nordsol said.
Nordsol’s bio-LNG expansion
In the Netherlands, Nordsol and its partners are nearing completion of the bio-LNG plant in Wilp.
Nordsol, Attero, and Titan took a final investment decision to build the LNG plant in November 2022.
Attero will process domestic biowaste into 6 million Nm3 of biogas per year, while Nordsol and Attero will jointly produce 2,400 tons/year of bio-LNG and 5,000 tons/year liquid bio-CO2 from this biogas using Nordsol’s patented iLNG technology.
Also, Titan, the exclusive long-term off-taker, will supply the bio-LNG to the maritime industry.
This facility will not be the first bio-LNG facility in the Netherlands as Nordsol already operates the bio-LNG plant in Amsterdam Westpoort.
However, it will be the first bio-LNG plant for shipping as the Amsterdam Westpoort facility provides fuel for the transport sector.
In December last year, Nordsol also joined forces with compatriot Regazz to develop bio-LNG production plants at agricultural sites in Europe.
In addition, UK’s RenEco and Nordsol are planning to launch what they say is Britain’s first bio-LNG production plant in 2024.
https://lngprime.com/europe/nordsol-and-prodeval-to-build-bio-lng-plant-in-portugal/112360/
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Parkopedia Provides Enhanced Charging Solutions to BMW Group
Parkopedia and BMW Group new collaboration will provide accurate, real-time EV charging info, reducing range anxiety and simplify the EV driving experience. In the evolving world of EVs, range anxiety remains a significant concern for drivers. According to the 2023 Parkopedia Global Driver Survey, more than 90% of EV drivers experience range anxiety, with 60% considering accurate charging information as “very important” or “extremely important.”
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Moreover, 77% of drivers preferred vehicles with comprehensive public EV charging information and navigation to specific charging locations. Simplifying the daily use and transition to EVs hinges on accessible and reliable public charging infrastructure.
Parkopedia, established in 2007, has stepped up to address these needs by expanding its partnership with the BMW Group, which includes the BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad brands.
Parkopedia now provides EV drivers with enhanced EV Point of Interest (EV POI) data, empowering them to decide where and when to charge their vehicles. This new functionality offers a suite of features designed to alleviate the stress associated with the EV charging process.
Comprehensive Charging Information at Your Fingertips
Parkopedia’s enhanced EV charging service includes:
Photos and Ratings: Visual and user feedback helps drivers select charging locations that meet their preferences.
Essential Information: Details such as the precise location of chargers, charging speeds, and connector types.
Dynamic Data: Real-time updates on charging availability and the operational status of units.
This wealth of information enables drivers to choose charging sites that best suit their needs, whether prioritising safety, nearby amenities, or highly rated locations. As Hans Puvogel, Parkopedia’s COO, says: “We recognise the charging anxiety facing EV drivers today when searching for suitable charging locations, and we are pleased to offer new functionality to simplify the charging process.”
Enhancing the EV Experience with the BMW Group
Parkopedia’s collaboration with BMW Group demonstrates a shared commitment to improving the EV driving experience. By integrating these advanced features, Parkopedia helps reduce the uncertainty of finding reliable charging spots.
Hans adds: “Today, more than 90% of EV drivers feel anxious about charging, with 44% running out of charge. Consequently, nearly half of drivers who state they wouldn’t own an EV cite being worried about finding charging away from home as the main reason.”
This enhanced service includes verified driver reviews, ensuring drivers receive the most accurate and up-to-date information when deciding where to charge. The partnership showcases both companies’ dedication to an electric future and driver satisfaction.
Expanding Global Coverage
Parkopedia’s EV charging service now covers Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Luxembourg, in addition to previous coverage in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. Plans are underway to extend this service to new markets, addressing the global demand for more efficient EV charging.
Parkopedia continues to lead the way in addressing the critical concerns of EV drivers. By providing detailed, reliable, and dynamic charging information, Parkopedia helps mitigate range anxiety and simplifies the transition to electric vehicles. This commitment to innovation and collaboration with industry leaders like BMW Group ensures EV drivers can confidently navigate their charging needs, making the electric future a more accessible reality for everyone.
https://evmagazine.com/articles/parkopedia-provides-enhanced-charging-solutions-to-bmw-group
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The AA Launches EVs Fleet to Reduce Carbon Footprint
The AA introduces EVs to its fleet, marking a significant step towards sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. The Automobile Association (AA), known for its extensive roadside assistance network and motoring services, has recognised the urgent need to embrace cleaner, greener technologies.
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A commitment to the future
The introduction of electric vehicles by the AA represents a broader commitment to sustainability and innovation. As EVs become increasingly prevalent, organisations like The AA play a crucial role in facilitating this transition.
Moving towards its goal of a net zero fleet, the AA will become the first UK-based roadside assistance company to add EVs to its fleet. Edmund King OBE, President of the AA, stated, “Introducing these exciting new concept vehicles to our fleet is an important step towards our goal of becoming a net zero company by 2035.
“As a market-leading organisation, we are committed to showing the way as the country transitions to a zero-emissions future.”
Test and scale approach
Due to the complex vehicle requirements, the AA is taking a “test and scale” approach to fleet decarbonisation with structured tests of alternative fuel vehicles in real-life settings. This method ensures the vehicles meet operational demands while contributing to the AA’s sustainability goals.
The EV fleet
Amongst an impressive selection of low-emission vehicles from across the AA business, the day’s main attractions were a fully electric Volvo FE Slidebed, an Iveco eDaily Powerload, and an Iveco eDaily crew van equipped with a heavy-duty Compact Recovery Trailer (CRT). These vehicles will become the UK’s first operational EV recovery trucks, accelerating the company’s efforts to meet its 2035 net zero target.
Volvo FE Boniface Slidebed
The electric version of the Volvo FE 19T is equipped with a Boniface VLA (very low angle) slidebed. Its recovery bed can carry 6000kg, and its second car lift can carry up to 2000kg.
The vehicle has an impressive range of 170 miles and a recharge rate of 2.25 hours when using a 150kWh rapid charger. The spacious cab can comfortably carry two passengers, making it ideal for low-emission zones such as London and Birmingham.
Simon Ungless, AA Commercial Group Fleet Manager, said, “This is a fantastic opportunity to expand our partnership with Volvo. Adding the zero-emission Volvo FE 19T Boniface-equipped recovery truck to our fleet, with its impressive payload capabilities and quick charging times, will positively impact, especially in low-emission zones. The comfort and space in the cab are a bonus.”
Iveco eDaily 7.2T Dyson Powerload
The Dyson Powerload features Roger Dyson’s innovative remote loading system, which alleviates most of the manual handling for recovery operatives by remotely deploying the loading ramps.
This electric concept vehicle has a minimum range of 100 miles and an impressive 3000kg payload.
An 80kWh rapid charger can fully charge the vehicle in less than an hour. Dug Dudley, AA Fleet Engineer, said, “The Iveco eDaily Powerload concept is an amazing vehicle. The remote loading system from Roger Dyson is such a game-changer for recovery operatives. With a 100-mile range and a 3000kg payload, it ticks all the boxes for us. Its rapid charging capability is fantastic, making recharging quick and convenient.”
Iveco eDaily CRT Van
Based on an Iveco eDaily crew van, this vehicle features a twin battery setup that delivers an increased range of approximately 160 miles with a 0.8-hour recharge time using an 80kWh charger.
The vehicle includes a spacious passenger area with leather AA-branded seats, a custom-made table, cup holders, and built-in USB charge points. The CRT can carry casualty vehicles of up to 3,250kg, including motorcycles, EVs, and 4x4s.
AA Fleet Support Engineer George Flinton said, “The Iveco eDaily CRT van looks like a real game-changer for us. We’re impressed with the increased range and quick recharge time. Its ability to carry a variety of vehicles makes it a versatile option. The comfort levels around make this van a great choice for the AA regarding our net zero goals and reliable transportation for our members.”
The AA’s introduction of electric vehicles marks a significant step towards a more sustainable future. This move reflects the organisation’s dedication to reducing emissions, supporting members, and promoting the adoption of greener technologies. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, the AA’s proactive approach ensures it remains at the forefront of this transformation, benefiting both its members and the environment.
https://evmagazine.com/articles/the-aa-launches-evs-fleet-to-reduce-carbon-footprint
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