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Trading firm Trafigura makes green hydrogen investment

  • : Hydrogen, Oil products
  • 20/12/02

Trading firm Trafigura will invest $62mn in Switzerland-based green hydrogen company H2 Energy Holding to help it with its plans to roll out a supply-chain network.

This marks a small step into the energy transition for one of the world's largest physical commodities trading groups, which will put its money into developing a business that could cut into one of its traditional markets. Trafigura will invest $20mn to support H2 Energy's development, and the rest will "seed and fund" a 50:50 joint venture, based in Zurich, that will roll out the model across Europe, excluding Switzerland.

Green hydrogen is produced from renewable energy, through electrolysis. H2 Energy is working with others to develop a hydrogen production facility, a hydrogen filling station, a hydrogen-powered truck and several hydrogen-powered cars. Trafigura trades close to 6mn b/d of oil of crude and oil products, along with metals and minerals. It has recently made investments that appear to shore up its position in the oil markets, including the acquisition of a 3pc stake in Italian refiner Saras, which owns the 300,000 b/d Sarroch refinery in Sardinia, and the purchase of a 10pc stake in Russian state-controlled Rosneft's ambitious Vostok Oil project in Russia's arctic.

Trafigura's other assets include a majority stake in global zinc and lead producer Nyrstar, a stake in global oil products storage and distribution company Puma Energy, and a stake in terminals, warehousing and logistics operator Impala Terminals.

"Our investment [in H2 Energy] has enormous potential at a time when the economics for green hydrogen use by heavy duty transport is becoming competitive with traditional fuels," Trafigura chief executive Jeremy Weir said. "We are looking forward to… bringing Trafigura's ability to evolve traditional supply chains to develop new markets."

H2 Energy chairman Rolf Huber said the joint venture with Trafigura "will enable the partners to execute on planned projects on a Europe-wide scale."


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24/12/03

Industry wary of Trump tariffs on Canada, Mexico

Industry wary of Trump tariffs on Canada, Mexico

Washington, 3 December (Argus) — US president-elect Donald Trump's plan to impose 25pc tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico could have a profound impact on the US oil and gas industry and the US' diplomatic efforts, energy industry representatives said at an industry conference on Tuesday. Cenovus Energy, the second-largest oil and gas producer in Canada, is paying close attention to Trump's rhetoric on trade, and trying to "educate" policymakers in the incoming Trump administration on how tariffs on Canada could impact North America's deeply integrated energy system, Cenovus director of US government affairs Steve Higley said at the North American Gas Forum in Washington, DC. The US in 2023 imported 3.9mn b/d of crude oil from Canada and 730,000 b/d from Mexico, accounting for 60pc and 11pc of US crude imports, respectively, according to US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. Refineries in the US Midwest's PADD 2 region also process about 2.5mn b/d of Canadian crude, Higley said. The US also exports a significant amount of natural gas to Mexico — 6.2 Bcf/d (176mn m³/d) in 2023, according to the EIA — which is another "reminder of how integrated the North American energy system is," said Dustin Meyer, senior vice president of policy at the influential trade group American Petroleum Institute (API). Retaliatory tariffs by Mexico, threatened by Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum last week in response to Trump's initial threat of tariffs, would likely impact that gas trade. Sheinbaum and Trump have since taken on a more conciliatory tone toward the subject after the two had what Trump called a "wonderful" conversation. API repeatedly called on Trump in his first administration to de-escalate his trade dispute with China, which it said threatened investment in US LNG. A section of API's website on trade titled "The Truth about Tariffs" reads: "Tariffs are taxes on imported goods that increase costs for consumers." Aside from the threat of tariffs causing "alarm" in Canada, it is not clear how US consumers would benefit from a tariff on all Canadian products, including oil and gas, said Robert Johnston, senior director of research at Columbia University's think tank Center on Global Energy Policy. On the diplomatic front, there is a "tension" between the incoming Trump administration's argument that US oil and gas production must be increased to support American allies, when it is also threatening tariffs to support American industry over that of its trade partners, Johnston said. The initiation of new trade disputes could also erode the US' ability to compete with China, said Jason Grumet, chief executive of trade group American Clean Power Association. "Are we trying to take China on alone, or are we trying to build a global economy of the democratic nations who have been our allies for 50 years?" Grumet asked. Whether the incoming Trump administration will actually go ahead with tariffs on Canada and Mexico is far from certain. From its rhetoric, the administration appears to care deeply about narrowing the US' trade deficit, leveraging its massive energy production on the global stage, and keeping energy prices low for US consumers, Meyer said. But "if that's the vision, what is the form that specific policies take?" he asked. By Julian Hast Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EU finalisiert Zölle auf chinesische Biokraftstoffe


24/12/03
24/12/03

EU finalisiert Zölle auf chinesische Biokraftstoffe

Hamburg, 3 December (Argus) — Die europäische Kommission wird ab Februar 2025 Zölle auf importierte chinesische Biokraftstoffe erheben. Dies geschieht in Reaktion auf ungewöhnlich große und teilweise falsch deklarierte Biokraftstoff-Importmengen aus China seit dem Frühjahr 2023. Die Zölle werden am 14. Februar 2025 in Kraft treten und fallen je nach betroffenem chinesischem Unternehmen unterschiedlich hoch aus. Je nachdem, wie kooperativ sich das jeweilige Unternehmen gegenüber der Europäischen Kommission bei den Ermittlungen zu etwaigen Betrugsfällen mit fortschrittlichen Biokraftstoffen gezeigt hat, liegt der Zollsatz zwischen 11,1 % und 36,6 %. Dies geht aus einem Dokument der Generaldirektion für Handel der Kommission hervor, das Argus vorliegt. Die vorläufig erlassenen Zölle wurden ursprünglich in einer Spanne von 12,8 % bis 36,4% festgelegt. Endgültig eingeführte Zölle gelten für gewöhnlich für eine Zeitspanne von fünf Jahren, allerdings kann eine Revision bereits nach dem ersten Jahr angefragt werden. Die Kommission bestätigt in dem Dokument außerdem, dass Nachhaltiger Flugzeugkraftstoff (SAF) von den Antidumping-Zöllen ausgeschlossen ist, da der Kraftstoff weder mit Biodiesel oder HVO austauschbar sei, noch mit diesen konkurriere. Verschiedene europäische Unternehmen und Verbände, darunter der finnische Produzent Neste und das European Biofuels Board (EBB) hatten zuvor gewarnt, dass durch den Ausschluss von SAF von den Zöllen der Flugzeugkraftstoff von verpflichteten Unternehmen zur Erfüllung von Dekarbonisierungsmandaten im Straßenverkehr genutzt werden könnte. Durch sogenannte Opt-Ins können Unternehmen in manchen EU-Staaten, zum Beispiel in den Niederlanden, nicht straßengebundene Kraftstoffe wie SAF auf die Erfüllung ihrer Mandate im Straßensektor anrechnen lassen. Als HVO jedoch Anfang November im Handelszentrum Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerpen (ARA) teurer gehandelt wurde als SAF, gab es keine Anzeichen, dass der Flugzeugkraftstoff tatsächlich verstärkt im Straßenkraftstoffmarkt Einzug hielt. Seit Anfang 2023 erreichten große Mengen von meist als fortschrittlich deklariertem Biokraftstoff aus China den europäischen Markt. Das daraus resultierende Überangebot setzte europäische Produzenten unter Druck und senkte in Deutschland die Kosten zur Erfüllung der Treibhausgasminderungsquote . Von Simone Burgin & Max Steinhau Senden Sie Kommentare und fordern Sie weitere Informationen an feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

German 2030 coal phase-out called into question


24/12/03
24/12/03

German 2030 coal phase-out called into question

London, 3 December (Argus) — Germany's coal phase-out targets are being reassessed owing to the likelihood of further delays to the passing of the power plant security act (KWSG), as well as decisions already taken on the future design of the electricity market. Germany has pledged to phase out coal and lignite-fired generation by 2038 at the latest, but energy ministry BMWK said an earlier, market-driven phase-out by 2030 is possible . Grid regulator Bnetza said 21GW of new gas-fired capacity — which should in the future be hydrogen-ready — would be needed by 2031 for a complete coal phase-out. Utility Leag said it does not see the current government changing the legal phase-out deadline. But "any further delay" to adding controllable replacement capacities would create an "urgent" situation, it said. And utility EnBW told Argus that it remains committed to phasing out coal by 2038 at the latest, while adding that "security of supply must not be jeopardised". At a transmission system operators' (TSO) forum held in November, TSO Amprion's Peter Lopion said the KWSG is vital to encourage plant construction in the south, where more gas-fired capacity is crucial if coal is to be phased out. He also raised concerns about Germany's target to phase out gas-fired power by 2045 — the year in which the country aims to reach climate neutrality — given the lack of a hydrogen economy and hydrogen production. Earlier this month, the CDU/CSU opposition parties commissioned an investigation into the feasibility of reactivating decommissioned nuclear plants, seeing the shutdown of Germany's final nuclear plant in April 2023 as "ideologically wrong". EnBW has told Argus that the decommissioning of its 1.4GW GKN II plant — the dismantling of which began in May 2023 — is "virtually irreversible". By Bea Leverett and John Horstmann Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

German stakeholders doubt power plant strategy passing


24/12/03
24/12/03

German stakeholders doubt power plant strategy passing

London, 3 December (Argus) — The collapse of the German government on 6 November has led to uncertainty over the future of Germany's power market, particularly with regard to the passing of the power plant strategy (KWSG) before federal elections scheduled for 23 February. Under the power plant strategy, economic and climate ministry BMWK proposed tenders for the construction of 12.5GW of power plant capacity and 500MW of long-term storage over the next few years. This includes 10GW of hydrogen-ready gas-fired capacity, of which 5GW was planned to be offered next year, with the government aiming to hold tenders in early 2025 . Renewables association BEE announced on 26 November that BMWK had submitted a KWSG draft for industry consultation over 72 hours, indicating the minority government's urgent desire to enact the law before the elections. Incumbent energy minister Robert Habeck previously said politicians from the opposition CDU party had been "constantly" writing letters to ask when the power plant strategy would "finally" be passed. But the deputy head of the CDU/CSU, Jens Spahn, told an industry event last week that owing to the former coalition's sidelining of the opposition when drawing up the strategy, the CDU/CSU cannot be expected to support it. Utility EnBW told Argus in November that it expects the KWSG to be "supported" under the next government owing to a cross-party consensus on the need for more capacity. EnBW said it would be prepared to take part in the tenders "if the conditions allow it", whereas utility Leag told Argus that while "considerable progress" had been made in its preparations for the tenders, it is unable to do anything "concrete" until the regulatory framework has been clarified. But it voiced doubts over whether the KWSG will be passed before the elections. And utility RWE told Argus that while it would not "speculate" on the KWSG's passing, it will "not put planning efforts on hold" and will "proceed as usual" in its preparations. Vattenfall declined to comment, while Uniper was not immediately available. At an electricity market forum hosted by the country's four transmission system operators last month, grid regulator Bnetza's Tobias Lengner-Ludwig said that Bnetza and potential investors will need at least six months to prepare for the tenders, which could cause further delays. But in its position paper on the KWSG in response to BMWK's consultation, energy and water association BDEW said investing in the tenders in their current form is unattractive, as risks are too high owing to a potential lack of hydrogen supply, possible delays in the setting up of hydrogen infrastructure and short implementation timeframes. And while BEE told Argus that it does not expect the KWSG to be passed in this legislative period, it is not demanding its passage, as it views the proposal to invest in hydrogen-ready gas-fired plants unfavourably. Such a strong commitment to hydrogen risks fossil fuel lock-ins and high electricity prices, it said, particularly owing to the initially limited availability of green hydrogen. It said the government should focus on adding flexible renewable capacity by maximising the potential of existing sources, including hydropower, geothermal, battery storage and combined heat and power. German solar association BSW told Argus that alternatives to conventional generation — such as flexible bioenergy and storage systems — should be expanded to add dispatchable capacity. Even if the KWSG were passed in this legislative period, it would only have an impact in the early 2030s, it said. While clean spark spreads for lower-efficiency units for each year to 2027 have remained mostly negative this year, clean spark spreads for higher-efficiency units for 2025 turned negative in September after being in the money for most of 2024. And clean spark spreads for higher-efficiency units for 2026 and 2027 have averaged around €0.25/MWh and minus €1.40/MWh this year, despite the latter almost consistently being positive since the start of September. By Bea Leverett and John Horstmann Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

КМГ планирует производить SAF в Казахстане


24/12/03
24/12/03

КМГ планирует производить SAF в Казахстане

Riga, 3 December (Argus) — Госнефтехолдинг Казмунайгаз (КМГ) рассматривает возможность производства экологически чистого авиационного топлива SAF в Казахстане. Казмунайгаз — Аэро, дочерняя компания КМГ, заключила рамочное соглашение с казахстанской BioOperations о совместной реализации проекта по SAF, сообщил холдинг в ноябре. SAF в Казахстане планируется производить по технологии ATJ (Alcohol-to-Jet), учитывая наличие биоэтанола, производимого BioOperations на заводе в Северо-Казахстанской области. BioOperations экспортирует биоэтанол в европейские страны, доставляя около 3,5 тыс. т/месяц продукта по железной дороге из Казахстана в латвийский порт Лиепая. Начало выпуска SAF в Казахстане прогнозируется примерно в 2027 — 2030 гг., после того как крупные НПЗ перейдут на производство авиатоплива Jet A-1. Ежегодный объем выпуска SAF, как ожидается, превысит 50 тыс. т/год. Использование SAF возможно только при смешивании с авиатопливом Jet A-1. На сегодня все три крупных НПЗ готовы к производству авиакеросина Jet A-1. Для перехода на использование этого вида авиатоплива необходимо провести подготовку по международным стандартам всей авиационной инфраструктуры, от НПЗ до крыла самолета, включая хранение, транспортировку и процесс заправки. КМГ может в течение месяца перейти на выпуск Jet A-1 с нынешних РТ и ТС-1, — сообщил отраслевой источник. Потенциальное сотрудничество в производстве SAF в Казахстане обсуждается между лицензиарами технологий, производителями SAF и его потребителями, частным бизнесом и госкомпаниями. Ранее КМГ заключил меморандумы о сотрудничестве с LanzaJet — разработчиком технологии получения SAF из этанола и французской Axens. ________________ Больше ценовой информации и аналитических материалов о рынках нефти и нефтепродуктов стран Каспийского региона и Центральной Азии — в еженедельном отчете Argus Рынок Каспия . Вы можете присылать комментарии по адресу или запросить дополнительную информацию feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Группа Argus Media . Все права защищены.

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