Argus Biomass Asia Conference

08.00 - 09.00

Morning registration and networking

09.00 - 09.05

Producer’s opening remarks

Speakers Include:

Shyla Bector

Conference Producer

Argus

09.05 - 09.10

Chairperson’s opening remarks

09.10 - 09.30

Ministerial address: Shaping Asia’s biomass industry – future policies, mandates and incentives

Join this important session to gain better clarity on governmental policies in Malaysia and Indonesia
• How are governments encouraging growth in the biomass markets? Will new incentives and subsidies be put in place?
• What new mandates are emerging, and are regions backing them?
• How can regulatory fragmentation be reduced so that doing business is made easier?

09.30 - 10.00

Argus Market Update: Outlook of the Global and Asian Biomass Markets

• Against the backdrop of recent volatility in the developing biomass market, gain insights on new developments and opportunities as Argus experts discuss supply demand trends and biomass price volatility

Speakers Include:

Erisa Senerdem

Editor, Biomass

Argus

Dale Hazelton

Principal, Consulting

Argus

10.00 - 10.40

Morning coffee and networking

END-USER PERSPECTIVES – IPPs AND POWER UTILITIES

10.40 - 11.20

Japan as a key demand centre: Key market drivers behind changing biomass consumption

• What are the causes of Japan’s lower than usual biomass demand, and how is this affecting the market?
• How are Japanese utilities adapting their strategies to enhance biomass utilisation amid market challenges?
• What role do government policies and incentives play in shaping the future of biomass demand in Japan?

Speakers Include:

Yoshinobu Kusano

Founder and CEO

YK Partners

Fumie Akiyama

Manager

Sumitomo Corporation

Miho Okuno

Representative

Biomass Power Association Japan

Shimon Hama

Associate Director of Investments

New Forests Asia

11.20 - 11.40

South Korea’s evolving biomass landscape: Adapting to REC changes and evolving market demands

• How are the changes to REC requirements in South Korea affecting market dynamics?
• What are buyers seeking from biomass producers in terms of specifications and quality?
• How are South Korean power producers’ strategies for utilising biomass evolving in response to the energy transition?

Speakers Include:

Marco Kim

Global Cooperation Adviser

Korea Forest Biomass Energy Association

11.40 - 12.20

FMCG, steel, and cement industries – creating new trends in biomass demand and co-firing

• How are increasing targets to phase out coal consumption and the rising preference for biomass influencing regional biomass demand?
• How is the evolving demand for biomass as a coal alternative shaping market dynamics in the FMCG, steel and cement sectors?
• What challenges are operators facing as they shift towards co-firing and small to medium-scale biomass applications, and what strategies can be employed to overcome these obstacles?

Speakers Include:

Dipjay Sanchania

Director - Climate and Energy

Adidas

Sasank Goli

Renewable Energy Director

Nike

12.20 - 13.20

Networking lunch

PRODUCERS’ CORNER – OUTLOOK OF TRADITIONAL BIOMASS, FROM PKS TO PELLETS

13.20 - 14.00

Pellets panel discussion: Strategies for sustainable supply amid tightening resources and market pressures

• How will Asia meet long-term pellet supply needs?
• As raw material supplies tighten, how is the pellet industry competing with other sectors, such as the furniture industry, for resources?
• How is severe weather in SEA affecting the supply chain, and what role does growing storage capacity play in reducing costs?

Speakers Include:

Mads Thomsen

Director- Trading, CM Biomass

Hiroaki Goto

General Manager

Erex

Mai Ly

Director

Phu Ninh Green Energy (Tam Sen Group)

14.00 - 14.40

PKS Panel discussion: PKS and its future, looking at southeast Asia

• What factors in the past 12 months have contributed to the present challenges and opportunities for palm kernel shell (PKS) suppliers in Indonesia and Malaysia?
• How are regional governments, including Japan with its new April 2024 regulations, handling biomass regulations, and what steps should producers take to adapt to this evolving and fragmented landscape?
• How are PKS trade flows to Thailand evolving, particularly with cargoes moving to non-traditional markets, and what changes in trade patterns can we anticipate?

Speakers Include:

Dato Leong Kin Mun

President

Malaysia Biomass Industries Confederation

Thareq Ariffin

Manager - Market Transformation

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

Muhamad Fadhil

SVP Strategy and Business Development

Argus

14.40 - 15.20

Afternoon coffee and networking

CERTIFICATION – LOOKING AT THE BIOMASS COMPLIANCE MARKET

15.20 - 16.00

Certification panel discussion: Asia’s new biomass rules – compliance and certification in Asia

• What emerging regulations should producers and end-users in Asia be aware of, with a focus on recent changes in Japan and South Korea?
• What are the latest updates and essential aspects of regulatory compliance, including key import/export regulations and tips for successful certification?
• How is the quality of biomass being evaluated, and what strategies can be employed to meet the growing and complex certification requirements?
• What is the impact of the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on biomass production and trade in Asia?

Speakers Include:

Carsten Huljus

Chief Executive Officer

Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP)

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHTS

16.00 - 16.30

Key developments in India's biomass and bioenergy sector

• With the introduction of new co-firing mandates in India, what are the recent governmental drivers and policy updates influencing biomass production in India, including incentives and penalties for producers?
• How is India advancing its biomass utilisation goals, focusing on woody biomass, palm waste and agricultural residues for energy generation and sustainability?
• What is the outlook for agri-biomass and biogas in India, and how are Indian steelmakers contributing to the demand for biomass in the domestic market?

Speakers Include:

Dharmesh Kumar Kewat

Executive - National Biomass Mission (SAMARTH)

NTPC Limited

16.30 - 17.00

Biomass in China’s energy transition: How does the biomass industry compete with other diverse energy sources?

• China plans to phase out coal faster than any other country in Asia. How is the biomass industry fitting into the country’s decarbonisation strategy?
• With China being the largest global producer of pellets, what are the prospects for its domestic market, and is there a future for pellet exports?
• In the context of increasing power consumption and diverse renewable energy sources, how is the biomass industry positioning itself alongside co-firing initiatives with green hydrogen and competition with CCUS, solar and wind energy?

Speakers Include:

Kelvin Hong

Chairman

Resources

17.00 - 17.05

Chairperson’s closing remarks

17.05

Networking drinks reception

Forge valuable connections in good company, and exchange insights with biomass industry experts.

08.00 - 09.25

Morning registration and networking

09.25 - 09.30

Chairperson’s opening remarks

09.35 - 09.55

Spotlight Focus: Is Sarawak the next hub for biomass?

• How is Sarawak going to position itself as a leader in the biomass industries?
• Attracting interest from across Asia - what to look for when investing in biomass plants in Sarawak?
• Becoming a global bamboo hub – what projects are in the pipeline, where are they located and when will they come on line?

Speakers Include:

Tuan Haji Zainal Abidin Bin Haji Abdullah

General Manager

Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation

09.55 - 10.15

Exploring the role of co-firing with alternative energy sources

• Exploring the role of biomass in co-firing with alternative energy sources such as ammonia and hydrogen: What does the future hold, and how might this affect opportunities for stakeholders in the biomass industry?
• What are the latest advancements in co-firing technologies with thermal coal, including improvements in burn rates, retrofitting and safety procedures? What key technological considerations should be taken into account?
• As Asian countries adopt stricter co-firing regulations, will the supply of biomass be sufficient to meet these new standards?

Speakers Include:

Chia Chi Chang

Senior Researcher

Taiwan Bio-energy Technology Development Association

10.15 - 11.00

Morning coffee and networking

FEEDSTOCK FOCUS

11.00 - 11.40

Panel discussion: The rise of alternative agri-biomass and how it is transforming the traditional biomass market

• What are the growth rates and contributions of increasing agri-feedstock, including sources such as empty fruit bunches, olive pits, bagasse, rice husks, sugar cane, coconut shells and pineapple residue?
• Agri-biomass presents unique processing challenges and higher costs. What are the key price drivers, and how prepared is the biomass industry, along with government incentives, to address these issues?
• How does the use of agri-waste byproducts impact sustainability? Is it financially viable to invest in agri-biomass at this stage, and what are the anticipated timelines for its adoption?

Speakers Include:

Dennis Lai

Vice President

SSGE BIO Energy

11.40 - 12.20

Panel discussion: The market for liquid fuels – how biomass players can capitalise on the booming biofuels industry?

• How can biomass players leverage opportunities in the thriving biofuels market, including sustainable aviation fuels, POME and traditional biofuels, while identifying preferred feedstocks and key industry players?
• What essential regulations should biomass producers be aware of to align with advanced biofuels and ensure compliance?
• What does the potential future of the biogas industry look like, and how does it fit within the broader liquid fuels market?

Speakers Include:

Gideon (Xiang Yee) Tan

Head - Group Transformation Division

FGV Holdings Berhad

Hector Ingram

Founder and Group COO

RAW Energy Ventures Pte Ltd.

BIOMASS GOING GREEN – THE BIOMASS CARBON CORNER

12.20 - 13.20

Networking lunch

13.20 - 13.50

Thermally treated biomass: a sustainable solution or just hype?

• Explore the latest developments, longevity and feasibility of torrefied biomass as a coal substitute
• With increasing regulations in countries such as India and Indonesia mandating 5-10pc co-firing, what is the projected growth trajectory for torrefied biomass in the energy sector?
• As demand rises from sectors such as steel manufacturing, what is the commercial viability of torrefied biomass, and how can they capitalise on this growing interest?

Speakers Include:

John Teal

Vice President

TSI

Dominique Kuehner

Industry Director, Biofuel

Andritz

Michael Wild

President

International Biomass Torrefaction and Carbonization Council IBTC

14.00 - 14.40

The role of biochar in reducing carbon emissions and opportunities for biomass producers

• Biochar is emerging as a promising solution for carbon sequestration and coal replacement in certain applications. How can biomass industry players fully capitalise on this opportunity? An overview of the biochar carbon credit system.
• With increasing social and economic pressure to use biomass locally, how can biochar contribute to meeting carbon emissions reduction targets?
• Explore the advancement of biochar, biocarbon and bio-coal, focusing on standardisation, key industry players and end-user expectations

Speakers Include:

Prateek Tiwari

Managing Director

Alcom

Nikunj Nangalia

Head of Asia, BD

ReNew

14.40 - 15.10

Afternoon coffee and networking

15.10 - 15.30

Trade flows: How shipping can affect pricing and business strategy

• From shifting freight costs to evolving trade routes, how will the future of global shipping affect your business and expenses?
• With conflicts affecting key routes through the Suez and Panama Canal, and the Red Sea, how will these disruptions affect your costs?
• What are the financial implications of changing points of origin? Explore supply reliability, quality and offtake agreements in the evolving market

Speakers Include:

Rob Aaravold

Commercial Director

Swire Bulk Pte Ltd

15.30 - 15.50

Briquettes in Asia: Growth, innovations and government support

• Asia’s briquette market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. What role will briquettes play in the future, and where will we see the most growth?
• What new technological innovations are addressing current challenges such as bulk density, handling and logistics in the briquette sector?
• Exploring the intersection of briquettes and torrefaction: Is briquetting the way to go?
• Why is briquetting used in special applications like biogas?

Speakers Include:

Bo Andersen

Area Sales Manager

C.F. Nielson

15.50 - 16.15

Fighting fires – how to protect your plant from damages

• Examine the impact of recent dust explosions and fires on the biomass market and the current state of affairs
• Anticipate changes in plant operations to prevent fire accidents and understand expectations for facilities returning to operation
• Discover strategies for risk mitigation and insights into effective industrial fire prevention and protection systems

Speakers Include:

Akito Kimura

Chief Engineer

Daigas Gas and Power Solution Co.,Ltd.

16.15

Chairperson’s closing remarks and end of conference