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Cop 30 extends deadline of roadmaps' open call
Cop 30 extends deadline of roadmaps' open call
Sao Paulo, 1 April (Argus) — The UN Cop 30 climate summit's presidency has extended the deadline of its public call for proposals for its two roadmaps, on ending deforestation and phasing out fossil fuels. Those who wish to participate in the open call can now submit their contributions until 10 April. The previous deadline was 31 March . The open call seeks contributions on the presidency's two roadmaps, which the Cop 30 presidency, held by Brazil until Cop 31 in November this year, pledged to create at the summit held in November 2025 in Brazil, after both topics failed to appear in any of the conference's final texts . The plan is to present the roadmaps at Cop 31, which will be held in Turkey in November this year. Participants must send their contributions directly to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat using the e-mails COP30-TAFF-Roadmap@unfccc.int and COP30-Forest-Roadmap@unfccc.int. By Lucas Parolin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Iran repeats will to end conflict, but needs guarantees
Iran repeats will to end conflict, but needs guarantees
London, 1 April (Argus) — Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran has the "necessary will" to bring the current conflict with the US and Israel to an end, but only once it gets ironclad guarantees that they will not attack Iran again in the future. "The solution to normalising the situation is to stop their aggressive attacks," Pezeshkian said late on 31 March. "We have not sought tension or war at any point, and we have the necessary will to end this war, provided the essential conditions are met, especially guarantees this aggression will not be repeated." Pezeshkian's comments were made in a telephone call with the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, to discuss ways to de-escalate a situation that the latter said had become "extremely dangerous". The war in the Middle East is now in its fifth week, with the US and Israel continuing their heavy aerial campaign against numerous targets across Iran. Tehran has been responding to the attacks by launching missiles and drones at Israel and US-linked assets across the Mideast Gulf, including critical energy infrastructure in Gulf Co-operation Council states. Iranian retaliatory attacks on commercial vessels in and around the strait of Hormuz have heavily restricted traffic through the key waterway, severely curtailing exports of crude oil, oil products, LNG, fertilisers and other commodities from the region. "The current situation in the… strait of Hormuz is a direct result of the hostile and aggressive actions of the US and the Zionist regime [Israel] against Iran," Pezeshkian said, reiterating that the strait is only closed to vessels with links to "Iran's aggressors and their supporters". Several Asian countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, have said in recent days that Iran has given assurances of safe passage for their vessels through the strait. Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar said over the weekend that Iran had also approved 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels to sail through the strait. Pezeshkian's comments came as US president Donald Trump said US forces could leave Iran within two to three weeks, potentially signalling the end of the ongoing war. "All I have to do is leave Iran, and we will be doing that very soon," Trump said late on 31 March, offering a timeline of "maybe two weeks, maybe three". The Trump administration has been claiming negotiations with unidentified Iranian officials since last week, repeatedly boasting of "very good" progress. Iranian officials have consistently denied that any negotiations are underway. But in an apparent change of tack, Trump said ending the war was now not dependent on securing a formal agreement with Tehran. "Iran does not have to make a deal, no," Trump said. "They don't have to make a deal with me." By Nader Itayim Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Fossil fuel producers part of Colombia phase out talks
Fossil fuel producers part of Colombia phase out talks
Edinburgh, 31 March (Argus) — Fossil fuel producers Canada, the UK, Norway, Angola, Mexico, Brazil, Senegal and Australia are among 45 countries confirmed to take part in a global meeting in Colombia to progress discussions on the transition away from fossil fuels, according to Colombia's environment minister Irene Torres. "These countries are strategically important because they reflect the diversity of the fossil fuel supply chain, accounting for approximately one-fifth of global production and nearly one-third of global consumption," Torres said. The conference was announced during the UN climate Cop 30 conference in Belem last year and will be held in Santa Marta on 24-29 April. Torres said the countries taking part will launch a global coalition aimed at accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels. Countries vulnerable to the climate crisis, such as island nations of Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Palau and the Marshall Islands, will be present. Countries reliant on fossil fuel imports, such as Germany, France, Italy, Vietnam, Cameroon and Cambodia will be present, as will the EU and the Cop 30 and 31 respective presidencies, Brazil and Turkey. The Cop 30 presidency is drafting a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels, after calls to include it in the outcome of the Belem summit were rejected . The document should be ready in time for Cop 31 in Antalya, Turkey, although it is unclear what the next steps will be when is released. "Despite our differences, all participants agree on the need to prioritise science and to move forward, urgently and in a coordinated manner, toward phasing out the production and consumption of natural gas, coal, and oil," Torres said. The conference will serve as a forum to build consensus and demonstrate "the will to act on this transition", she said. The conference comes as energy security concerns are to fore again, because of oil and gas supply disruptions resulting from the US-Israel war on Iran. "The meeting aims to create favourable conditions for moving toward concrete agreements and strengthening co-operation among countries with different economic and energy situations," Torres said. She said the broad representation "underscores the diversity of perspectives". Among fossil fuel producers present, only the UK and Denmark have committed to end licensing, although the former will continue to allow tie-backs to existing fields and the latter is considering extending one or more licences until 2050 . Brazil, the largest oil producer in Latin America, is due to publish a fossil fuel phase-out plan imminently after missing a self-imposed February deadline . It has said developed countries should take the lead when it comes to "the definition of schedules for transitioning away from fossil fuels". Mexico, the second-largest oil producer in Latin America, joined Colombia in signing a declaration pushing for a transition away from fossil fuels during Cop 30. Canada, the world's fourth largest oil producer, has focused efforts on the phase-out of fossil subsidies and reducing emissions in the sector but has no plans to phase out production of fossil fuels. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney has recently been pushing his country's large oil and gas resource base abroad , pledging more infrastructure is forthcoming. Norway has repeatedly said it is not planning to phase out oil and gas, but the Green party has pushed for a commission looking at the oil transition to be set up in December, as part of a deal to pass the country's budget. African producers such as Angola — the continent's second largest producer — are likely to continue focusing on the "just transition" aspect, including climate finance and technology transfer and reducing its dependency on oil revenues. Angola said it is planning to keep production steady until at least 2027, after years of battling declining output. By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Western Australia's LNG projects restart production
Western Australia's LNG projects restart production
Sydney, 31 March (Argus) — Western Australia's (WA) off line LNG projects are restarting some domestic gas production, while the Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) is assessing damage from category 4 tropical cyclone Narelle, which passed through the region late last week. The ports of Dampier and Ashburton have been checked over, with structural damage to Dampier's general cargo import facilities, rendering the wharf inoperable, PPA said on 31 March. The bulk liquids terminal is operable, PPA said, meaning fuel imports for the region's major iron ore mines is unaffected. Ashburton port has also suffered damage to its general cargo wharf and this remains closed, with engineering teams looking over the facilities during the next few days. The port of Varanus Island — a central gathering and processing hub for oil, gas and condensate supplied by nearby fields, including those operated by Australian independent Santos — has reopened with no impacts to operations, PPA said. LNG projects recovering The region's affected LNG projects are slowly returning to production after Narelle took two major plants, the 14.3mn t/yr North West Shelf (NWS) and 8.9mn t/yr Wheatstone terminals, off line late last week . NWS' Karratha gas plant will be producing at 300 TJ/d and Wheatstone at 20 TJ/d on 1 April, indicating that some volumes are returning on line, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator's WA gas bulletin board, which measures domestic flows. Wheatstone may take weeks to return to full capacity, Chevron has said, while it returned one train at the 15.6mn t/yr Gorgon LNG terminal, which was taken off line during the cyclone to service on 29 March. The disruption to supply comes during an already tight supply balance in the Pacific basin, with Qatar's 64.2mn t/yr Ras Laffan terminal pausing production on 2 March due to the US-Iran war. Domestic gas flows fell from 1,202 TJ/d on 24 March to 558 TJ/d on 29 March due to Narelle's impacts, forcing alumina refineries run by US producer Alcoa to slash output temporarily . By Tom Major Argus LNG prices ($/mn Btu) Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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