East Australia plans hydrogen freight network

Spanish Market: Hydrogen, Oil products
25/03/22

Australia's New South Wales (NSW), Queensland and Victoria governments have agreed to build a hydrogen refuelling network along the busiest road freight routes between the connecting three states.

NSW, Queensland and Victoria, which have the majority of the population and economic activity in east Australia, will collaborate on the development of the renewable hydrogen highway by 2026, focusing on the Hume, the Pacific and the Newell highways, said Victoria's minister for energy Lily D'Ambrosio.

Transport accounted for around 17pc of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions in the 12 months to 30 September 2021.

The Victorian state government will invest A$10mn ($7.5mn) to build at least four renewable hydrogen refuelling stations between Sydney and Melbourne, in a step towards meeting Victoria's target to halve emissions by 2030. The funding will be matched by the NSW government, D'Ambrosio said.

The combined A$20mn funding will build the network and provide grants for Australia's first long-haul hydrogen fuel cell electric freight trucks.

"Renewable hydrogen will increasingly become a competitive zero emissions fuel option for our heavy transport sector,' said NSW treasurer and energy minister Matt Kean.

Road freight vehicles largely consume diesel, which is the largest consuming transport fuel in Australia and accounted for 56pc of total oil product sales in January.

By Kevin Morrison

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

18/12/24

UK government underlines its commitment to net zero

London, 18 December (Argus) — The UK government has re-emphasised its commitment to the country's legally binding target of net zero emissions by 2050, and says it is acting either fully or partially on all recent recommendations from the independent advisory Climate Change Committee (CCC). The CCC in July found that "urgent action" was needed if the UK was to hit its climate goals — but it was based on the previous Conservative administration's policy. The current Labour government had taken power just two weeks previously. "The inheritance of this government was that we were not on course to rise to the climate challenge or seize the opportunities of action", the government said this week. It set out in detail its action so far on a variety of issues — including renewable power, sustainable transport, domestic heating and biodiversity — as well as future plans. The government will in 2025 publish an update on its plans for "fully delivering" the fourth, fifth and sixth carbon budgets, it said. Carbon budgets are legally binding and place a restriction on UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over a five-year period. Carbon budgets 4-6 cover the timeframe 2023-37. It will also set the seventh carbon budget — which covers the period 2038-42 — by June 2026, alongside a strategy "setting out the next phase of our pathway to net zero". The UK has cut GHG emissions by 53pc between 1990 and 2023, provisional data show. It met its first three carbon budgets, which collectively covered 2008-2022. The government has taken several steps since winning the July election, including lifting the de facto onshore wind ban, approving renewables projects and awarding the first permit for carbon transport and storage . It has also slightly watered down its pledge of "clean power" by 2030, to 95pc from 100pc, although it also provided clarity around reaching the target in an action plan released last week. And UK prime minister Keir Starmer last month unveiled an ambitious GHG reduction goal at the UN Cop 29 climate summit. The UK has a headline goal of cutting GHGs by 81pc by 2035, from 1990 levels, and will set out its plan to achieve that "in the coming months", the government said this week. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Viewpoint: Ample supply to weigh on base oils market

18/12/24

Viewpoint: Ample supply to weigh on base oils market

London, 18 December (Argus) — European base oil prices are likely to fall further in 2025 on a persistent global supply overhang of Group III material and weaker demand for Group I spot supplies. European Group III spot prices with varying approvals face downwards pressure as overseas producers target European buyers supported by attractive margins and ample spot supplies. Stricter emission standards and engine oil specifications have supported a switch towards more premium base oils such as Group II and III away from Group I production, which is in long-term decline. Prices for fca northwest Europe (NWE) Group III 4cst and 6cst supplies with partial or no approvals fell by 16pc and 13pc to €1,125/t and €1,185/t, respectively on the week ending 13 December 2024, the lowest levels since April 2021. Rising Chinese domestic Group III production capacity has slashed the country's requirements for supplies from South Korea and the Mideast Gulf, incentivising suppliers to look towards the European market. Buying appetite for tenders out of Bahrain has also increased and spot supplies have arrived at more competitive levels. This has spurred other suppliers to lower offers further as they look to remain competitive and claim market share before the conclusion of upcoming Group III refinery expansions in 2025. The Mideast Gulf has an estimated Group III production capacity of 2mn t/yr. This is set to increase with state-controlled Saudi Aramco's base oil subsidiary Luberef focusing on expansion projects at its Yanbu facility . This will increase nameplate capacity by 76.2pc, to approximately 1.3mn t/yr of base oils by 2025. Europe remains the most attractive export outlet owing to smaller Group III production capacity in comparison to other regions. Europe has an estimated nameplate base oil capacity of 7mn t/yr, of which 13pc is Group III. A shift away from Group III imports in the US has further supported Mideast and South Korean suppliers to redirect supplies from this region and towards Europe. An announcement by Shell to convert its hydrocracker at its 147,000 b/d Wesseling refinery in west Germany into a Group III base oil production unit looks to increase domestic output by 300,000t/yr. But production is only anticipated to begin in 2026-2028, leaving European buyers mostly dependent on imports in 2025. European demand has plummeted thanks to amply supply levels — leading to a continuous wait-and-see approach from traders as they anticipate prices to fall further. Participants have reported term contracts finalised at price levels well below year ago levels and anticipate spot prices in 2025 to drop as a result. European Group I nameplate capacity has fallen by 55pc over the last decade to around 4mn t/yr owing to refinery closures, according to Argus calculations. In 2024, Eni's Group I 600,000 t/yr Livorno unit shut, and there were several refinery fires and outages elsewhere in Europe. But despite tighter spot supplies, prices fell because of weaker demand. Demand is anticipated to fall further in 2025 as producers prioritise output of more premium base oil. This includes Polish firm Orlen's Gdansk refinery expansion , adding a group II base oil unit with an estimated capacity of 400,000t/yr of Group II. Exxonmobil also announced that it will produce a high-viscosity Group II alternative to the Group I bright stock grade by 2025 out of its Jurong refinery in Singapore. Bright stock currently has no alternative, which supports its production. But Exxon's announcement is likely to weigh on refinery output and shrink the Group I market further. By Christian Hotten Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Element Alpha wins Dec Pakistan NRL bitumen sell tender

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.

Nordic Electrofuel expands e-SAF plans to Middle East

18/12/24

Nordic Electrofuel expands e-SAF plans to Middle East

Hamburg, 18 December (Argus) — Norwegian firm Nordic Electrofuel is expanding its plans to produce renewable hydrogen-based sustainable aviation fuels (e-SAF) to the Middle East, and has struck preliminary deals for plant developments in Saudi Arabia and Oman. The Saudi plans have been approved by the government, with land set aside for the e-SAF plant and the associated solar photovoltaic (PV) assets in the Jubail region, Nordic Electrofuel's chief executive Gunnar Holen told Argus . The plant could produce 350mn l/yr, or around 300,000 t/yr, of e-SAF, Holen said. This makes it one of the largest facilities planned globally and Holen said the plant could be operational by 2029 if its development is "fast-tracked". The size of the potential plant in Oman has yet to be decided, he said. In Saudi Arabia, Nordic Electrofuel plans to produce the renewable hydrogen itself, although the solar PV assets would be developed by partners, Holen said. In Oman, the company might look to buy hydrogen from other projects. Oman has drawn strong interest from would-be hydrogen project developers, and state-owned Hydrom recently announced a third auction for plots of land , having already allocated eight. Some of these developers are bound to be looking for potential offtakers, Holen said. In both countries, Nordic Electrofuel expects to benefit from low renewable power costs driven by highly favourable conditions for solar and wind generation. Power supply could be available at around $20/MWh, according to Holen. Nordic Electrofuel is primarily targeting its offtake at regional airlines. This means its e-SAF will not be dependent on access to biogenic CO2, which would be required for compliance with the EU's definition of renewable fuels of non-biological origin and associated mandates, such as under the ReFuelEU Aviation legislation. The firm intends to initially use CO2 captured from industrial installations for its Middle Eastern sites. But Holen said it could be possible to secure biogenic CO2 at a later stage, even though supply is not as abundant as in parts of Europe and other regions. In the long term, direct air capture could provide another source of CO2, although this will depend on the technology's further development. Few e-SAF facilities have been announced in the Middle East, with most plans concentrated on Europe where the ReFuelEU Aviation mandates are expected to drive uptake. But some companies from the region, such as UAE-based renewables firm Masdar , have argued e-SAF is an attractive proposition. In Norway, Nordic Electrofuel is developing a pilot plant in Heroya. The company aims to take a final investment decision on this by the third quarter of 2025, Holen said. The plant is due for commissioning in 2027 with a capacity of 10mn l/yr, which the company aims to ramp up in subsequent stages. Nordic Electrofuel has signed a binding term sheet for offtake from the Norwegian facility, Holen said. By Stefan Krumpelmann 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.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more