Singapore to raise carbon tax

Spanish Market: Crude oil, Oil products, Petrochemicals
18/02/22

Singapore announced plans today to increase its carbon tax in a bid to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The government plans to increase the country's carbon tax from S$5/t ($3.70/t) currently to S$25/t in 2024-2025 and S$45/t in 2026-2027. The tax rate will be reviewed with a long-term view of raising it to S$50-80/t by 2030, said the country's finance minister Lawrence Wong today at the unveiling of the country's budget for 2022.

Singapore was the first country in southeast Asia to introduce a carbon tax. In 2020, the government implemented a S$5/t carbon tax rate based on 2019 GHG emission levels to companies that produce at least 25,000 t/yr of CO2e.

The government's initial intention was to raise the tax level to S$10-15/t by 2030. The country's new plan to raise it to S$25/t, significantly higher and earlier than its initial target, signals a greater urgency for the city-state's refining and petrochemical industries to decarbonise.

The government will allow businesses to use "high-quality international carbon credits" to offset up to 5pc of taxable emissions in lieu of paying carbon tax.

The new tax rate will force industry members to start looking at efforts to reduce carbon emission, said market participants in Singapore. Some companies have formed internal working groups to assess potential new investments to minimise carbon tax exposures.

Questions of competitiveness

Challenges are mounting for Singapore's refiners and petrochemical producers as the new tax rate risks lowering their competitiveness. Elsewhere in southeast Asia, Indonesia is the only other country that has shown a degree of seriousness in taxing carbon emissions.

Singapore houses some of the biggest fossil fuel-reliant industries in southeast Asia, while remaining openly cognizant of the impacts climate change has on its long-term well-being. The island-nation's central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, has conducted stress tests for climate change-related risks on the city-state's financial health, among the region's first, if any.

Moving to net-zero emissions will be a "very costly affair for Singapore," said Wong, but added that the cost "cannot be skimped on." The country is now targeting net-zero emissions by the middle of the century.

Meanwhile, the country's energy and chemical hub Jurong Island employs some 26,000 people, according to government-owned infrastructure company Surbana Jurong. And this excludes services related to oil and gas outside Jurong Island, such as shipyards and trade finance.

While indirect carbon emissions are not taxed, costs are expected to be passed down and incorporated into sales prices and contract premiums, hence risking the country's overall cost-competitiveness. Metrices adopted and the required rates of returns to assess decarbonisation investments also remain sporadic.

Efforts have been underway to offset rises in operational expenditures since the introduction of the first carbon taxes. Companies such as ExxonMobil and Chang Chun, which are US and Taiwan-headquartered respectively, have embarked on projects to save energy.

Singapore-based Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore, a joint venture between Sumitomo Chemical, Qatar Petroleum International, and Shell, also completed its plan to reduce flaring and increase ethylene yield.

Shell has announced plans to build a unit that is capable of upgrading 50,000 t/yr of pyrolysis oil produced from converting plastic waste in Singapore. The plant, Shell's first and Asia's biggest, is expected to start operations in 2023. It announced plans to cut crude processing capacity in Singapore by around half just the year before.

By Brian Leonal

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18/12/24

Element Alpha wins Dec Pakistan NRL bitumen sell tender

London, 18 December (Argus) — Pakistani refiner NRL has awarded its latest single cargo bitumen sell tender to Switzerland-based trading firm Element Alpha, after withdrawing its two previous tenders for October and November loading dates. Unlike in the previous tenders, which specified 6,000t of pen 60/70 bitumen to be loaded at Karachi's Port Qasim port, NRL has on this occasion agreed to sell a 4,500t bulk bitumen cargo of the same penetration grade to Element Alpha at a price in the $370-380/t fob Karachi range, sources involved the tender process said. International bitumen market participants said the cargo is expected to be loaded on the 5,249dwt Bitumen Kosei in the 20-30 December timeframe. The tanker is making its way towards Pakistan having delivered a cargo to Durban, South Africa, that had been loaded at Bahraini state-owned refiner Bapco's Sitra refinery and export terminal. International trading firms said Pakistani exports need to be price competitive with Bahraini exports in particular to be attractive, and that gaps between bids into NRL's October and November tenders for 6,000t cargoes and values sought by the exporter had contributed to their non-awards. Pakistan has become a growing source for cargo flows into South Africa over the past year or so, vying with supplies from the Mideast Gulf and with European Mediterranean flows shipped around west Africa. The last monthly NRL tender to have been awarded was a 6,000t cargo in the $390-400/t fob Karachi range under its September offering that went to an international trading firm . By Keyvan Hedvat Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

ISCC sets shipping, aviation green fuels PoC framework

18/12/24

ISCC sets shipping, aviation green fuels PoC framework

London, 18 December (Argus) — The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) has issued a framework to provide 'Proof of Compliance' (PoC) for the use of low emission fuels in the aviation and maritime sectors. The PoC is intended to address challenges arising from the unavailability of Proof of Sustainability (PoS) documentation for downstream operators, such as airlines and shipowners. These downstream operators are typically the obligated party in showcasing compliance with EU regulations such as the EU emissions trading system ETS and FuelEU Maritime . A major biofuel supplier expects that the framework could be used as soon as next month. ISCC said that the PoC was developed in alignment with regulatory requirements and will serve to supplement the ISCC EU scheme. The ISCC has also published a guidance document, template, and audit procedures for PoC documents. According to the guidance document, the issuance of a PoC document for a batch of certified fuel is only possible if the underlying PoS document has been surrendered to relevant competent authorities, and that a claim for the same batch of fuel further downstream is not prohibited by the relevant competent authorities. The PoC document must also include a reference to the original underlying PoS to allow for cross-referencing, as well as information on which scheme the fuel has already been counted under in which the PoS was surrendered. ISCC added that the PoC document can in principle also be used for claims in voluntary markets but recommended that involved parties examine the implications of claiming the same fuel volumes towards voluntary targets. This comes after market participants reported regulatory uncertainty regarding the use of some marine biodiesel blends throughout the year. In the Netherlands, shipping companies which purchase marine biodiesel blends including fatty acid methyl esther (Fame) might not receive PoS for RED-certified biofuel, as suppliers further up the chain would probably have already submitted these to redeem the corresponding class of Dutch renewable tickets (HBEs). Buyers could instead receive a raw material and intermediary product delivery document, in the form of a sustainability declaration with many of the same relevant details. By Hussein Al-Khalisy Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Viewpoint: EU PVC margins to hold below average in 2025

18/12/24

Viewpoint: EU PVC margins to hold below average in 2025

London, 18 December (Argus) — European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) margins are likely to remain subdued in 2025, with a repeat of the sluggish demand and rising ethylene costs seen in 2024. Weakening European PVC consumption throughout 2024 was mainly underpinned by lower construction activity, a key demand driver. Construction purchasing managers index (PMI) data, compiled by S&P Global and Hamburg Commercial Bank (HCOB), show the eurozone construction PMI for 2024 peaked in October at 43.0, still way below the 50 mark that separates contraction and expansion. PVC market participants are cautiously optimistic that recent declines in interest rates from the European Central Bank (ECB) may help stimulate demand for home-builds in 2025, and improved PVC demand will follow. The ECB reduced rates three times in 2024, to 3.25pc. Rates may continue to ease in the short term, but as witnessed in 2024 this would take time to filter through to European PVC demand. Because of this, buyers are contemplating either maintaining or reducing contractual PVC volume commitments for 2025, noting struggles with passing raw material costs to customers. Anti-dumping duties (ADDs) on s-PVC imports from the US and Egypt helped to reduce excess supply in 2024, and while this is likely to continue into 2025 there is limited interest from buyers to source additional supply because of lower demand. Asian s-PVC imports remained minimal, with volatility in freight costs and longer lead times likely to suppress buying interest into 2025. Re-balancing act Domestic PVC producers focused on reducing inventories and operating rates for much of 2024 to keep the market balanced, with average operating rates between 60-70pc for s-PVC production and at the higher end of the range for specialty grades. But re-balancing proved to be a slow process in light of weakening demand, forcing European producers to keep operating rates and margins low for much of the year. Argus calculated s-PVC net production margins, based on feedstock ethylene costs in northwest Europe, averaged around €287.04/t between January-November 2024, lower by €109.04/t than during the same period in 2023 and around €73.40/t lower than the Argus 2015-23 average. Easing electricity costs in 2024 helped to suppress further PVC margin loss, but demand weakness throughout the year remained in favour of buyers as contract prices settled predominantly below the implied ethylene cost. With European ethylene prices likely to increase and PVC demand expectations suppressed throughout 2025, there could be another year of below-average margins for PVC producers. Argus assessed the December suspension PVC (s-PVC) preliminary contract marker for northwest Europe at €1,120/t on 20 December, reflective of a preliminary contract delta for December at minus €5/t. This is comparable to an ethylene monthly contract price (MCP) movement of minus €7.50/t for December. This raises the possibility of further supply consolidation in Europe to re-balance the market in the medium term, with smaller producers announcing potential closure of PVC production units in central and eastern Europe in 2025. Others plan to mothball some specialty PVC production lines, while others are seeking import licenses to supply PVC into emerging markets such as India. This is difficult to achieve because of cost-competitiveness. A rise in regional construction activity, and therefore PVC demand, will remain the quickest way to re-balance the market, helping to raise operating rates and margins back to above-average levels as buyers commit to more contractual volumes. By George Barsted and Michael Vitiello Integrated s-PVC NWE net margins €/t Eurozone construction PMI Index Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Viewpoint: Japan eyes methanol as marine bridging fuel

18/12/24

Viewpoint: Japan eyes methanol as marine bridging fuel

Tokyo, 18 December (Argus) — Japanese demand for methanol as an alternative marine fuel is expected to increase, especially after 2027, but it is likely it will mainly be used as a transition fuel before the commercial launch of ammonia- and hydrogen-fuelled vessels. The Japanese shipping industry is expected to launch more methanol-fuelled vessels from 2027 ( see table ), to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the global maritime sector. Global regulatory body the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2023 pledged to achieve net zero emissions in international waters by or around 2050. To help achieve the IMO's target, a total of 26 methanol-powered vessels are expected to be commissioned worldwide by the end of this year, followed by 54 ships in 2025 and 96 carriers in 2026, according to a report released in November by Japanese classification society ClassNK. This would increase global methanol demand to 4.5mn t/yr by 2026, said the report. As of June, there are 33 methanol-fuelled vessels currently in use. Methanol-fuelled vessels can refuel at around 130 major ports all over the world, except in Japan, according to Japanese shipowner Mitsui OSK Lines (Mol). The city of Yokohama in the eastern prefecture of Kanagawa, in co-operation with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) and Maersk, launched a study on methanol and green methanol bunkering in the port of Yokohama in December 2023. Since then, the group, in collaboration with new partners — Japanese refiner Idemitsu, MGC's shipping subsidiary Kokuka Sangyo, domestic shipping firm Uyeno Transtech and Yokohama Kawasaki international port — has conducted a ship-to-ship bunkering simulation at the port of Yokohama in September. Expectations of the increase in methanol use, especially cleaner e-methanol, have led Japanese firms to become more involved in upstream projects to secure the fuel. Japanese firms have invested in more than 10 e-methanol production projects both in and outside of Japan ( see table ), with the number of projects likely to increase, according to the ministry of economy, trade and industry. Japanese firms are developing new carriers, but at the same time are also trying to modify existing vessels — which currently use fuel oil, LNG, LPG and methanol — to be able to burn renewable fuels such as biofuels, e-methane and e-methanol. It would be easy to increase the number of methanol-fuelled ships, given their relatively low initial or modification costs compared with LNG-fed vessels, according to Mol. Methanol is also a stable liquid at room temperature and atmosphere pressure, making it easy to transport and store compared to other alternative fuels, Mol added. Fellow shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK line) is also mulling the development of smaller methanol-fuelled handymax ships that are unable to be equipped with large ammonia fuel tanks, to aid with decarbonisation. Methanol a temporary solution But Japanese firms see methanol mostly as a "bridging fuel" rather than a zero-emission fuel, as methanol can reduce GHG emissions only by 15pc compared to traditional bunker fuel, although it can curb sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 99pc and 80pc, respectively. It would be vital to begin introducing much cleaner marine fuels, such as ammonia and hydrogen, to meet the maritime sector's net-zero goal. Tokyo is trying to promote the development of ammonia and hydrogen-fuelled ships by providing financial support, while the utilisation of such clean vessels could materialise from around 2030, the ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism (Mlit) said. Japan's state-owned research institute Nedo plans to provide ¥35bn ($229mn) to support the development of engines, fuel tanks, fuel supply systems and other core technologies for zero-emission ships that use hydrogen and ammonia, as well as LNG and e-methane, under its ¥2.76 trillion green innovation fund. But the grants are much larger than those for the development of methanol-fuelled ships, which are currently available only from Mlit and the environment ministry, with the amount of ¥100mn per vessel over two to three years. The scheme has been open for application every year since 2023. But the ministries' scheme also targets LNG-fuelled ships, with a breakdown of allotment for methanol-powered vessels unclear. By Reina Maeda and Nanami Oki Japanese firms' methanol projects Methanol-fuelled ships Company # of vessel Type Target commercialisation Announcement Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Mitsui OSK Line 1 Ocean-going methanol carrier Jul-05 May-23 Toyofuji Shipping, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 2 Ro-Ro vessel 2027-28 fiscal year Jun-24 Mitsui OSK Line 1 Coastal methanol carrier Dec-24 Jul-24 NS United Kaiun, Nihon Shipyard, Jaman Marine United, Imabari Shipbuilding Multiple Bulk carrier After 2027-28 fiscal year May-24 Orix, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding 2 Bulk carrier Jul-24 Production Company Product Country Target commercialisation Target capacity (t/yr) Mitsui E-methanol US Jan-24 1630000 Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Bio-methanol Japan Jun-24 Small amount Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Kobelco E-methanol Japan NA NA Cosmo, Toyo Engineering E-methanol Japan NA NA Sumitomo Chemical E-methanol Japan 2030s NA Mitsui, Asahi Kasei Bio-methanol US Jun-23 NA Toyo Engineering E-methanol India 2030 NA Investment Company Product Country Target commercialisation Target capacity (t/yr) Mitsui E-methanol Denmark NA 42,000 Idemitsu E-methanol Brazil, US, Chile, Uruguay, Australia 2,030 4,000,000 JOGMEC E-methanol Brazil, US, Chile, Uruguay, Australia 2,030 4,000,000 Mitsu OSK Line E-methanol Brazil, US, Chile, Uruguay, Australia 2,030 4,000,000 Table source: Firm's company releases Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US funding bill to allow year-round E15 sales

18/12/24

US funding bill to allow year-round E15 sales

Washington, 17 December (Argus) — A stopgap government funding measure that leaders in the US House of Representatives unveiled late Tuesday would authorize year-round nationwide sales of 15pc ethanol gasoline (E15) and offer short-term biofuel blending relief to some small refiners. The 1,547-page bill, which is set for a vote in the coming days, is needed to avoid a government shutdown that would otherwise begin on Saturday. The bill would fund the government through 14 March and extend key expiring programs, such as agricultural support from the farm bill. It would also provide billions of dollars in disaster relief and pay the full cost of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key bridge in Maryland, which collapsed earlier this year after being hit by a containership. The inclusion of the E15 language, based on a bill by US senator Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), marks a major win for ethanol producers and farm state lawmakers who have spent years lobbying to permanently allow year-round E15 sales. The bill would also provide short-term relief to some small refiners under the Renewable Fuel Standard that retired renewable identification numbers (RINs) in 2016-18 in cases when their requests for "hardship" waivers remained pending for years. The bill would return some of those RINs to the small refiners and make them eligible for compliance in future years. E15 was historically unavailable year-round because of language in the Clean Air Act that imposes more stringent fuel volatility requirements during summer months. In president-elect Donald Trump's first term, regulators began to allow year-round E15 sales by extending a waiver available for 10pc ethanol gasoline (E10), but a federal court in 2021 struck that down . Federal regulators have issued emergency waivers retaining year-round E15 sales over the last three summers. Enacting the stopgap funding bill would also make it unnecessary for eight states to follow through with a costly gasoline blendstock reformulation — set to begin as early as next summer — they had requested as a way to retain year-round E15 sales in the midcontinent . Oil industry groups last month petitioned EPA to delay the fuel reformulation until after the 2025 summer driving season, citing concerns about inadequate fuel supply and the prospects that a legislative fix would make required infrastructure changes unnecessary. Ethanol groups say the E15 legislative change could pave the way for retailers to more widely offer the high-ethanol fuel blend, which is currently available at 3,400 retail stations and last summer was about 10-30¢/USG cheaper than 10pc ethanol gasoline (E10). Offering the fuel year-round would be "an early Christmas present to American drivers," ethanol industry group Growth Energy chief executive Emily Skor said. House speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has faced blowback from many Republicans in his caucus for negotiating such a sprawling bill that has tens of billions of dollars in new spending, after vowing to buck a practice of preparing a "Christmas tree bill" that forces lawmakers to vote on a must-pass bill right before the holidays. Johnson said today the bill remains a "small" funding bill, but that it needed to expand because of "things that were out of our control" such as hurricanes and economic aid for farmers. The Republican backlash could make it more difficult for Johnson to pass the bill, but Democrats are expected to provide broad support. By Payne Williams and Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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