Damaged Iver bitumen tanker set to return end-Jan

: Oil products
25/01/09

A bitumen tanker damaged after a collision with a bulker five months ago is set to finish lengthy repair work by 23 January, and be back with its time charterer TotalEnergies at the firm's Donges refinery and export terminal on the French Atlantic coast on 26 January.

The 6,189dwt Iver Blessing — part of Dutch Vroon Group's Iver Ships unit — was under time charter with TotalEnergies and was offshore the French Atlantic port of Nazaire when the accident that caused serious damage to the bitumen tanker happened.

The vessel was en route to the company's 219,000 b/d Donges refinery to load its next bitumen export cargo in August 2024.

The tanker has since undergone repairs at a shipyard in Flushing, Netherlands, that had been due to last 1-2 months, but there have been repeated delays, including difficulties in obtaining replacement parts.

TotalEnergies is a key player in northwest European and Nordic bitumen cargo markets, and the prolonged repair work forced it to seek spot or other short-term tanker charters, mainly with Iver Ships, to maintain its shipping programme.

By Fenella Rhodes

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.

25/03/13

Nigeria's port authority raises import tariffs

London, 13 March (Argus) — The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has raised tariffs by 15pc on imports "across board", taking effect on 3 March, according to a document shown to Argus . The move comes as the independently-owned 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery continues to capture domestic market share through aggressive price cuts, pushing imported gasoline below market value in the country. Sources said that Dangote cut ex-rack gasoline prices to 805 naira/litre (52¢/l) today, from between 818-833N/l. The rise in NPA tariffs may add on additional cost pressures onto trading houses shipping gasoline to Nigeria, potentially affecting price competitiveness against Dangote products further. The move would increase product and crude cargo import costs, according to market participants. But one shipping source said the impact would be marginal as current costs are "slim", while one west African crude trader noted that the tariffs would amount to a few cents per barrel and represent a minor rise in freight costs. Port dues in Nigeria are currently around 20¢/bl, the trader added. One shipping source expects oil products imports to continue to flow in, because demand is still there. Nigeria's NNPC previously said the country's gasoline demand is on average around 37,800 t/d. Over half of supplies come from imports, the country's downstream regulator NMDPRA said. According to another shipping source, Dangote supplied around 526,000t of gasoline in the country, making up over half of product supplied. The refinery also supplied 113,000t of gasoil — a third of total total volumes in the country — and half of Nigeria's jet at 28,000t. By George Maher-Bonnett and Sanjana Shivdas Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Экспортная пошлина на нефть в Казахстане в марте выросла

25/03/13

Экспортная пошлина на нефть в Казахстане в марте выросла

Riga, 13 March (Argus) — Ставка экспортной пошлины на нефть в Казахстане в марте увеличилась до $78/т с $77/т — в феврале. Среднее значение котировок сорта Kebco (cif Аугуста) и Североморского датированного в период мониторинга цен с 20 декабря по 20 февраля составило $78/барр. по сравнению с $77/барр. — в период предыдущего мониторинга, по данным министерства финансов Казахстана. С сентября 2023 г. ежемесячная ставка пошлины на экспорт нефти и нефтепродуктов в Казахстане меняется при изменении средней мировой цены на $1/барр. вместо прежних $5/барр. в пределах диапазона $25—105/барр. При средней рыночной цене нефти $25—105/барр. размер ставки вывозной таможенной пошлины рассчитывается по следующей формуле: ВТП=Ср*К, где ВТП — размер ставки вывозной таможенной пошлины на нефть и нефтепродукты в долларах США за тонну; Ср — средняя рыночная цена нефти за предшествующий период; К — поправочный коэффициент 1. При значении средней рыночной цены на нефть до $25/барр. размер ставки вывозной таможенной пошлины равен нулю. При цене свыше $105/барр. применяются ставки вывозной пошлины в диапазоне от $115/т до $236/т. Средняя рыночная цена определяется министерством финансов Казахстана ежемесячно на основании мониторинга котировок Kebco и Североморского датированного в течение двух предыдущих месяцев. Полученный результат мониторинга в соответствии с поправками математически округляется до целого числа. ________________ 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 © 2025. Группа Argus Media . Все права защищены.

Chevron to produce Group III+ base oils in US

25/03/12

Chevron to produce Group III+ base oils in US

London, 12 March (Argus) — Chevron said it will begin Group III+ base oils production in the US, becoming the first domestic producer of these grades in North America. The Group III+, named NEXBASE 4 XP, will be produced at Chevron's 25,000 b/d base oils plant in Pascagoula, Mississippi, from the fourth quarter of 2026. Chevron will join Malaysian state-owned Petronas and South Korean Producer SK Enmove as the only global producers of Group III+, and could compete with these for market share in North America. "NEXBASE 4 XP will be globally available, starting with hubs across Europe, which will help customers optimise supply logistics and costs," said Chevron base oils general manager Alicia Logan. Use of Group III+ base oils in premium grade lubricants is rising as equipment manufacturers seek to meet the latest engine approvals. The new production will add to Chevron's portfolio of Group II, Group II+ and Group III base oils. Chevron in 2022 acquired Finish refiner Neste's Group III business , including 250,000 t/yr of Group III nameplate capacity from Finland's 197,000 b/d Porvoo refinery and 180,000 t/yr or 45pc of base oil nameplate capacity from Bahrain's 262,000 b/d Sitra refinery through a joint-venture agreement with Bapco. By Gabriella Twining Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Brazil refinery to produce fuel from eucalypt

25/03/11

Brazil refinery to produce fuel from eucalypt

Sao Paulo, 11 March (Argus) — Petrobras-controlled Riograndense refinery successfully conclude tests to produce fuels from eucalyptus biomass in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state. The refinery used a bio-oil from eucalyptus biomass and converted it in fractions of fuel gas, LPG, components to produce gasoline and marine fuel with renewable content and others. The bio-oil came from industrial company Vallourec's forest unit in southeastern Minas Gerais state. The test reveals the possibility of using wood and other forestry residues as feedstocks for products usually coming from a fossil origin, said Petrobras's technology, engineer and innovation director Renata Baruzzi. Petrobras intends to transform Riograndense refinery into the first oil plant to produce 100pc renewable fuels in the world, according to Petrobras' chief executive Magda Chambriard. The efforts are part of Petrobras' BioRefino program, which will invest almost $1.5bn to generate sustainable fuels as of 2029. Riograndense refinery is also controlled by Brazilian companies Ultra Group and Braskem petrochemical. By Maria Albuquerque Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump to declare power 'emergency' in some states

25/03/11

Trump to declare power 'emergency' in some states

Washington, 11 March (Argus) — President Donald Trump said today he intends to declare a "National Emergency on Electricity" in states that could be affected by Ontario's imposition of a 25pc surcharge on electricity exports and further threat to cut off exports entirely. The emergency declaration will allow the US to alleviate the "abusive threat" from losing electricity imports from Canada, Trump wrote in a post on social media. Trump said in response to the surcharge, he would double existing tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum , and warned Canada that it would pay a high cost if Ontario cuts off the flow of electricity to the US. "Can you imagine Canada stooping so low as to use ELECTRICITY, that so affects the life of innocent people, as a bargaining chip and threat?" Trump wrote. "They will pay a financial price for this so big that it will be read about in History Books for many years to come!" On Monday, Ontario put a 25pc fee on its electricity exports to New York, Michigan and Minnesota in response to Trump's tariffs on Canada. Ontario premier Doug Ford said he was applying "maximum pressure" on the US over its tariff war, and threatened to cut off exports entirely if Trump increased tariffs further. Ontario was the largest exporter of electricity to the US in 2023, sending 15.2 TWh to the US. Trump already declared a national energy emergency on 20 January, unlocking emergency authorities to fast-track permitting and seek to retain production of baseload power plants. Trump has yet to offer more details on the electricity emergency, but the US Department of Energy (DOE) can issue emergency orders that would allow power plants to run at maximum capacity or waive some environmental regulations. DOE did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The New York Independent System Operator, which runs the state's electric grid, said it was analyzing the effects of Ontario's orders and expects to have "adequate reserves to meet reliability criteria and forecast demand for New York." By Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. 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