Woodside wins bid for New Zealand hydrogen project

Spanish Market: Fertilizers, Hydrogen
29/11/22

Australian independent Woodside Energy has been selected as the preferred bidder for the development of the Southern Green Hydrogen project in New Zealand.

Woodside was selected ahead of renewable hydrogen developer Fortescue Future Industries, which is 100pc owned by Australian iron ore producer Fortescue Metals.

The project, designed to add 600MW of electrolyser capacity to the 850MW Manapouri hydropower station, had been originally planned by New Zealand utilities Meridian Energy and Contact Energy. But Contact has decided to no longer continue to the next phase of the project, although it has indicated an interest in continuing to support the project as a potential electricity supplier, Meridian said.

Japanese trading house Mitsui is also in discussions to join the project and develop the potential market for ammonia offtake, with the aim of collaborating on a full hydrogen and ammonia supply chain. Woodside, Meridian and Mitsui will work towards starting engineering and design work for the project, subject to finalising commercial arrangements, and move it to a final investment decision stage, Meridian said.

By Kevin Morrison

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11/04/25

US MAP-DAP premium primed to return on tariffs

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Q&A: IMO GHG scheme in EU ETS could be 'challenging'

11/04/25

Q&A: IMO GHG scheme in EU ETS could be 'challenging'

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IMO approves two-tier GHG pricing mechanism

11/04/25

IMO approves two-tier GHG pricing mechanism

London, 11 April (Argus) — Delegates have approved the global greenhouse gas (GHG) pricing mechanism proposal at the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 83rd Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting, pending an adoption vote at the next MEPC in October. The proposal passed by a majority vote, with 63 nations in favor including EU states, the UK, China and India, and 16 members opposed, including Mideast Gulf states, Russia, and Venezuela. The US was absent from the MEPC 83 meeting, and 24 member states abstained. The proposal was accompanied by an amendment to implement the regulation, which was approved for circulation ahead of an anticipated adoption at the October MEPC. Approval was not unanimous, which is rare. If adoption is approved in October at a vote that will require a two-thirds majority, the maritime industry will become the first transport sector to implement internationally mandated targets to reduce GHG emissions. The text says ships must initially reduce their fuel intensity by a "base target" of 4pc in 2028 ( see table ) against 93.3 gCO2e/MJ, the latter representing the average GHG fuel intensity value of international shipping in 2008. This gradually tightens to 30pc by 2035. The text defines a "direct compliance target", that starts at 17pc for 2028 and grows to 43pc by 2035. The pricing mechanism establishes a levy for excessive emissions at $380 per tonne of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) for ships compliant with the minimum 'base' target, called Tier 2. For ships in Tier 1 — those compliant with the base target but that still have emission levels higher than the direct compliance target — the price was set at $100/tCO2e. Over-compliant vessels will receive 'surplus units' equal to their positive compliance balance, expressed in tCO2e, valid for two years after emission. Ships then will be able to use the surplus units in the following reporting periods; transfer to other vessels as a credit; or voluntarily cancel as a mitigation contribution. IMO secretary general Arsenio Dominguez said while it would have been more preferable to have a unanimous outcome, this outcome is a good result nonetheless. "We work on consensus, not unanimity," he said. "We demonstrated that we will continue to work as an organization despite the concerns." Looking at the MEPC session in October, Dominguez said: "Different member states have different positions, and there is time for us to remain in the process and address those concerns, including those that were against and those that were expecting more." Dominguez said the regulation is set to come into force in 2027, with first revenues collected in 2028 of an estimated $11bn-13bn. Dominguez also said there is a clause within the regulation that ensures a review at least every five years. By Hussein Al-Khalisy, Natália Coelho, and Gabriel Tassi Lara IMO GHG reduction targets Year Base Target Direct Compliance Target 2028 4% 17% 2029 6% 19% 2030 8% 21% 2031 12% 25% 2032 17% 30% 2033 21% 34% 2034 26% 39% 2035 30% 43% Source: IMO Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Malaysia sets new haulier limits at Port Klang

11/04/25

Malaysia sets new haulier limits at Port Klang

Singapore, 11 April (Argus) — The Association of Malaysian Hauliers (AMH) — under the transport ministry's directive — hasset operational weight limitson hauliers operating at port Klang effective from 1 May, possibly raising logistical costs for some fertilizer importers. The majority of haulier equipment used at port Klang has a maximum capacity of 38,000kg (38t), and the AMH has set a verified gross mass (VGM) weight limit of 25,000kg (25t). This results in trailers of 20ft and 40ft having a VGM limit of 25,000kg (25t), while side loaders will be imposed a VGM limit of 22,000kg (22t). These new weight limits could increase logistical costs for fertilizer importers, especially those using side loader hauliers, according to one fertilizer importer. Importers could previously load around 24-25t of product, but imposing a weight limit would mean that importers using side loader hauliers must pay for more containers for the same cargo size. Importers typically use side-load hauliers if they are importing large volumes of product, as it is more efficient. But this new regulation is unlikely to affect urea fertilizers as the typical volume for a urea cargo is usually around 21t, the importer said. The limits would more likely impact the loadings of fertilizers like phosphates, NPKs and potash. One NPK producer indicated that this could raise their import costs for incoming cargoes at port Klang by around 10pc. Some Malaysian importers have also indicated that they only ship cargoes in 25t containers and they would not be affected, as the policy is only limited to port Klang and 24t containers. Others have filed complaints to the port Klang authorities and are expecting to receive more feedback next week. By Dinise Chng Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Oil and gas lobby calls H2 'core competency,' hails 45v

10/04/25

Oil and gas lobby calls H2 'core competency,' hails 45v

Houston, 10 April (Argus) — The oil and gas industry views hydrogen production as a "core competency" and sees 45v tax credits driving US exports and innovation, according to the American Petroleum Institute (API). "We really see this, especially from the oil and gas perspective, as a core competency," said Rachel Fox, API director of policy and strategy, on a webinar Thursday hosted by ConservAmerica. "We have such an advantageous opportunity with this credit," said Fox. "When we're talking about the export opportunity, we really do hold the cards in terms of producing hydrogen at the lowest cost anywhere in the world." The 45V incentive has become a crucible in President Donald Trump's agenda to promote fossil fuels. A broad-based coalition of groups sometimes at odds with one another has coalesced in favor of 45V noting that it promotes manufacturing jobs across rural America and sets up US energy companies to dominate growing global demand for cleaner burning fuels. Nonetheless, ConservAmerica described such energy tax incentives as being "squarely in the crosshairs" as legislators gear up for budget negotiations in which the administration is looking to slash government spending to offset a promised corporate tax cut. By tying a tiered scale of incentives to carbon intensity, 45V has spurred oil and gas companies to develop technologies and practices that curb emissions, said Fox. "There's a lot of incentive to try to hit that $3 mark by getting your hydrogen produced at a really low carbon-intensity limit and so it's galvanized a ton of innovation and a ton of new ideas on how that can be done throughout the natural gas system," said Fox. Most of those ideas revolve around lowering the methane intensity of natural gas production or sourcing low-methane intensity natural gas, such as from biowaste, said Fox. Some environmental advocates are skeptical that emissions from natural-gas based hydrogen production can be driven low enough to qualify for the highest $3/kg tier with existing technology and that most oil and gas companies will instead have to use less lucrative 45Q credits that apply to carbon capture and storage technology (CCS). However, at least one major energy company, ExxonMobil, has said it is seeking 45V to advance its massive natural-gas based hydrogen and ammonia project in Baytown, Texas. By Jasmina Kelemen Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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