South African court cancels Eskom's permission to build new gas-powered plant
A top court in South Africa on Wednesday revoked a government permit that allowed state utility Eskom build a large natural gas-burning power plant, claiming there was not a proper consultation with the public. The government is planning to build a 3,000-megawatt plant on the east coast in the port city of Richards Bay as part of its plans to boost the country's power generation capacity following years of blackouts, and move away from coal. The Supreme Court of Appeal's judgment stated that "the effect of this order was to nullify the authorisation".
JERA in Talks to Buy $1.7b of US Natural Gas Assets
Japan's top power generator JERA is in advanced talks to buy natural gas production assets in the U.S. for around $1.7 billion, people familiar with the matter said, the latest example of the Asian nation investing in America's energy sector.JERA emerged as the top bidder for the assets owned by GEP Haynesville II, a joint venture between Blackstone-backed GeoSouthern Energy and pipeline operator Williams Companies, after banks solicited offers in recent weeks, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.The deal would mark JERA's first foray in shale gas production…
India's Vedanta will keep coal as its base energy source despite clean energy push
Vedanta, an Indian mining and metals company, will continue to use coal as the primary source of energy for its mining operations. However, it aims to increase its share of renewable energy sources in its energy blend, according to a senior executive on Tuesday. Deshnee Niaidoo said that coal accounts for almost 70% of Vedanta’s energy mix in an interview at the FT Live Energy Transition Summit India. Naidoo stated that coal will be the main contributor to Vedanta's baseload. Naidoo stated that the company plans to increase the share of renewables in its operations…
Vedanta's top executive: coal will remain the base energy source for India's Vedanta
Vedanta, an Indian mining and metals company, will continue to use coal as the primary source of energy for its mining operations. However, it aims to increase its share of renewable energy sources in its energy blend. Deshnee Niaidoo said that coal accounts for almost 70% of Vedanta’s energy mix in an interview at the FT Live Energy Transition Summit India. Naidoo stated that coal will be the main contributor to Vedanta's baseload. Naidoo stated that the company plans to increase the share of renewables in its operations, by reducing the dependence on coal power to 50-60% within the next three or four years.
Canada and BC approve Ksi Lisims Liquefied natural gas project on Pacific Coast
The federal government of Canada and the province British Columbia have approved Ksi LNG, a project to build a liquefied gas export terminal on Canada's northwest Pacific Coast. The Canadian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, aims to speed up the construction and completion of natural resources projects in order to increase the economy's potential impact from U.S. Tariffs. The approval granted on Monday officially authorizes Ksi Lisims in accordance with the Impact Assessment Act. This is the comprehensive regulatory framework that governs all major infrastructure projects across Canada.
Andy Home, recycling pioneer, races to close rare earths scrap gaps
This question is more urgent now than ever after China restricted its exports in the first half of this year. The move sent shockwaves throughout Western manufacturing chains. The race to create domestic mine-to magnet supply chains is accelerating, especially in the United States. Here, the Department of Defense has taken a direct stake, MP Materials, the operator of the only rare earths mining facility in the country, and guaranteed a minimum price for the products. Old laptops, powertools and smartphones are all part of the solution.
Andy Home, recycling pioneers racing to close rare earths scrap gaps
This question is more urgent now than ever after China restricted its exports in the first half of this year. The move sent shockwaves throughout Western manufacturing chains. The race to create domestic mine-to magnet supply chains is accelerating, especially in the United States. Here, the Department of Defense has taken a direct stake, MP Materials, the operator of the only rare earths mining facility in the country, and guaranteed a minimum price for the products. Old laptops, powertools and smartphones are all part of the solution.
Australia approves the North West Shelf Gas Plant to operate until 2070
Australia approved Woodside's application to operate Australia's second largest and oldest liquefied gas plant, the LibNaGa Plant, until 2070. The new emission rules were imposed to reduce its environmental impact. North West Shelf, a plant in Western Australia, is expected to emit up to 4.3 million metric tons carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Critics say this will endanger nearby ancient rock art as well as set back climate change efforts. Murray Watt, the Environment Minister, told a Friday press conference that Woodside had accepted a number of conditions to protect Indigenous art.
Third Russian Tanker from Sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 Discharges and Departs China
A third tanker from Russia's Arctic LNG 2 plant, which is under Western sanctions, discharged its cargo and exited a terminal in China on Wednesday, LSEG and Kpler's ship-tracking data showed.The U.S.-sanctioned LNG tanker Zarya unloaded more than 160,000 cubic meters of LNG from the sanctioned Russian project Arctic LNG 2 at the Beihai LNG Terminal in Guangxi, southern China.China has so far received three cargoes of LNG from Arctic LNG 2, totalling more than 386,000 cubic meters of LNG, according to data from LSEG.Two more Arctic LNG 2 cargoes are a few days away from Beihai, on the 174,000 cbm Buran and the 174,000 cbm Iris.
Bangladesh increases its power purchase from India and reduces its fuel oil consumption as the demand for electricity rises
Industry officials and analysts report that Bangladesh is increasing power imports from India as well as the output of fuel oil-fired plants to try and meet its rising electricity demand. The country faces a shortage of gas and maintenance costs for coal power plants. Government data revealed that power imports from eastern India's Adani Power coal-fired plants rose by 70% during the seven-month period ending in July, and they helped to meet most of the growing demand. The country's electricity demand was largely met by natural gas in the decade ending in 2020.
Brazil's Cemig plans on leveraging hydroelectric expertise to build new power plants
Reynaldo Passanezi Filho, CEO of Brazil's Cemig state-controlled electricity utility, said that Cemig will use its hydropower experience to invest in clean technologies to boost the country's grid. Cemig has a plan to invest nearly 40 billion reais (7,4 billion dollars) from 2025 to 2029. The company prioritizes power distribution and gradually shifts from network expansion to digitization in order to improve consumer experience. The firm has already begun planning its distribution business and is now focusing more on innovations in the sector…
GASTECH-Japan’s Inpex considers UAE production increase, Norway expansion
Inpex, Japan's largest oil and gas exploration company, is looking at increasing production in its concessions onshore and off-shore in the United Arab Emirates as well as expanding their activities in Norway. This was announced by its chief executive and president on Tuesday. Takayuki ueda, speaking on the sidelines at the Gastech conference held in Milan, stated that this is in line the UAE's plan to increase production from 4 to 5 million barrels a day. We have assets in Norway and just recently acquired assets in the Northern Sea. We also have land to expand our operations in Norway.
Third Russian Arctic LNG 2 Plant Tanker Arrives in China
A third tanker from Russia's Arctic LNG 2 plant, which is under Western sanctions, has arrived in China, LSEG ship-tracking data showed on Tuesday.The data showed that LNG tanker Zarya is berthed at China's Beihai LNG terminal in the southern region of Guangxi.A first LNG cargo from Arctic LNG 2 was delivered last month to China by the Arctic Mulan tanker, the data showed.The Arctic project began production in December 2023, but is behind schedule in supplying cargoes of gas because of shortages of ice-class gas carriers and Western sanctions over Russia's conflict with Ukraine.Another LNG tanker, Voskhod, delivered a cargo to the port i
State media report that Malaysia's deputy PM claims Petronas was threatened to "burn" LNG facilities
According to state media, the Malaysian authorities issued a security warning for liquefied gas facilities after an employee of state energy company Petronas was threatened by telephone to burn them down. Petronas or Petroliam Nasional Berhad confirmed that it is working with the authorities following a directive from the National Security Council to tighten security at LNG facilities in Sarawak on Monday. Petronas’ flagship LNG plant, the Bintulu Complex, has a production capacity of 29,3 million metric tonnes per year.
SIX delists shares in Meyer Burger, a solar panel manufacturer.
The SER regulatory firm of the Swiss stock exchange operator SIX announced on Tuesday that it will delist Meyer Burger's registered shares after the solar panel manufacturer appears to be missing the deadline for submitting its annual report by 2024. SER said that the reasons for the delay in the annual report were not addressed and will likely not be resolved by the deadline requested, leading to a request to delist the shares. SER stated that the decision was not yet legally binding, and could be appealed in 20 days.
ConocoPhillips will purchase LNG from NextDecade Rio Grande Train 5 Project
ConocoPhillips, a U.S. oil producer and gas exporter, will buy 1.0 million tonnes of liquefied gas per year from NextDecade Rio Grande's Texas export facility for 20 years. NextDecade, also known by the name of a train or its fifth liquefaction plant, will provide superchilled fuel at Rio Grande from their fifth liquefaction unit. The shares of the LNG producer increased 2.3% during extended trading. Since President Donald Trump lifted the pause on new permits for exports in January, there has been a boom in commercial activity in the U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas sector.
Bapco Energies eyes fourth quarter completion for refinery expansion
Alexander van Veldhoven said that the group chief strategy officer of Bahrain's state oil company Bapco Energies, Alexander van Veldhoven spoke at the Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference in Singapore on Monday. He said that the expansion would increase Sitra's refinery capacity from 265,000 barrels per day to "just below 400,000 barrels per days". "We are at the end of this program. He added that the majority of units were already up and running. "We are getting close to commissioning our last refinery units," he said.
Italian Minister says gas storage levels are excellent in Italy and Europe
Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, the Italian Energy Minister, said that the gas storage levels in Europe were "good". He added that his country was near the 90% target set out by the European Union. Pichetto, speaking at the TEHA forum in Cernobbio, said: "In Italy, we are not worried about gas storage. Gas storage at high levels can act as a buffer for unexpected spikes in demand in winter. After the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine 2022, the EU set storage targets. The EU has set a 90% target for member states to reach between October 1 and Dec.
Russell: ADNOC must offer more than just money to make the Santos deal work.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's (ADNOC) $18.7billion bid for Australian liquefied gas producer Santos faces a much higher hurdle than the money offered. The politics surrounding the deal, which would represent Australia's biggest-ever cash takeover in history, are becoming increasingly difficult to overcome. ADNOC, Australia's second largest oil and gas company launched its bid in June, and a preliminary due diligence was to be completed no later than August. The deal was delayed from August 19 to September 19, despite the fact that no major problems were found with the transaction.
Canada commits money and regulatory reforms to boost biofuels
Canada's government announced on Friday that it would spend hundreds of millions of dollar and ease regulations in order to boost the production of biofuels, which is facing stiff competition from the United States. In an announcement of aid designed to help businesses deal with the damage caused by U.S. trade disruptions and tariffs, Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted support for biofuels. Canola seed, which is used in biofuels and other products, faces high tariffs and duties in China, its largest export market.