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German government approves building modernisation law
German government approves building modernisation law
Hamburg, 13 May (Argus) — Germany's cabinet approved the building modernisation act on 13 May, sending it to parliament for further deliberation, with only minor changes from the original draft. The new act will remove the existing requirement that new heating systems run on at least 65pc renewable energy . Instead, owners will again be able to choose between technologies, including gas and oil boilers, heat pumps, district heating, biomass installations or hybrid systems. The core element of the reform remains the increasing quota for climate-neutral fuels, under which gas and oil boilers must gradually use more renewable or low-carbon energy from 2029. Minimum shares are set at 10pc in 2029, 15pc in 2030, 30pc from 2035 and 60pc from 2040. Most of the changes that were made apply to biomass, with rules on a hierarchy for use of wood scrapped following industry opposition. But a new limit was introduced on use of maize and grain in biogas plants. These feedstocks can now make up no more than 40pc for biogas units that became operational after 31 December 2023. Bioenergy industry representatives broadly welcomed the law, but still see shortcomings. Berlin-based lobby group Hauptstadtburo Bioenergie points to a possible loophole, as the new act applies to heating systems installed after it takes effect. Units added since the previous act took force would face no related obligations, leaving an estimated 900,000 oil and gas boilers to fall through the gap. Industry associations are also seeking annual adjustments to bio-targets, rather than steep jumps years apart, arguing this would support investment security and avoid sharp price movements. Changes around biomethane imports have also come into focus. The current bill does not limit EU imports when producers benefit from subsidy schemes, but industry groups have proposed excluding any biomethane that received significant incentives in its country of origin or which counts towards renewable targets there. Details of the bill are still open to amendment. The lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, will first hold a reading before referring the bill to committees, which usually make the most substantive changes based on expert hearings. After committee discussions, the Bundestag will hold second and third readings, before the upper house, the Bundesrat, takes up the bill. Here, there could be delays, as states and municipalities are responsible for implementing and enforcing the law. Disagreements among states could trigger mediation, further slowing progress. The economy and energy ministry wants the law to take force on 1 July. By Svea Winter Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Rise in bitumen supply stabilises French values
Rise in bitumen supply stabilises French values
London, 13 May (Argus) — A rise in bitumen availability together with sluggish demand in the French market has weighed on domestic truck prices of the product. An Iran war-related rise in bitumen prices during March and April, together with recent holidays, have weakened French bitumen demand, which has also come under pressure after regional market participants built up sufficient stocks over March and April. The extra spot availability in the past two weeks has reassured regional players that supply will remain adequate. While there is expected to be some tightness in the west as TotalEnergies' 219,000 b/d Donges refinery undergoes two-month maintenance from mid-May, the Repsol-operated Nantes terminal has increased bitumen availability. The terminal — in the northwest — has three 4,000t storage tanks and is supplied by the Repsol/Moeve joint venture's 1.2mn t/yr Tarragona refinery, which exported roughly 12,000t to France in April. Bitumen prices from Nantes were €600-610/t ex-works. In the north, prices were lifted after hard-grade bitumen from North Atlantic's 236,000 b/d Port Jerome refinery remained in short supply through late March and April. Output has since resumed, with spot offers in the €600-610/t ex-works range, according to market participants, although details could not be confirmed. In eastern France, flows from Germany's 310,000 b/d Miro refinery increased in mid-April. Delivered prices from Miro fell by €18-20/t for May compared with April. The refinery is a key regional supplier, but was focused on middle distillate output in March after crude prices surged. Argus assessed French domestic bitumen prices in the €575-590/t delivered range for the north and central region on 8 May, down by €15/t on the week. French imports reached 153,000t in January-April, compared with 155,000t in the same period of 2025. By Navneet Vyasan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Railroads blast UP-Norfolk Southern merger plan
Railroads blast UP-Norfolk Southern merger plan
Houston, 13 May (Argus) — Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern's four Class I competitors urged US federal regulators to once again reject as incomplete the merger proposal to create the first US transcontinental railroad company. UP and Norfolk Southern in December filed their original merger application with US rail regulator the Surface Transportation Board (STB), starting the clock on a multi-year process. It will be the largest merger the STB has ever scrutinized, and the process will likely feature high-profile hearings and congressional scrutiny. The three-member STB in January ruled that the would-be partners' merger application was incomplete, sending it back to UP and Norfolk Southern to fill in key informational gaps. The railroads on 30 April refiled their proposal, which they say reinforces their argument the merger would drive growth, save shipping costs and bolster the US supply chain. UP said its updated analysis shows the merger will shift freight shipments from the roads to the rails, saving shippers an estimated $3.5bn/yr and removing about 2.1mn trucks from the road. However, all of the remaining Class I competitors heaped criticism on the merger application. According to BNSF Railway, UP's western Class I competitor, "the amended merger application makes things worse, not better." The refiled application "largely repackages" the first version while offering only "cosmetic changes to gloss over the serious and fundamental competition, pricing, and service concerns that were previously raised", BNSF said in an 8 May filing with the STB. In its updated analysis, UP said the combined railroad will hold a 39pc market share of US rail freight market, which the railroad says would put it roughly on par with BNSF by certain metrics. BNSF said that UP's actual market share would be considerably higher, a fact that it has downplayed in its application. "UP continues to lowball its projected market shares to the board but signals to Wall Street — the engine behind this proposed merger — that the market shares and pricing power will be even higher," BNSF said, urging the STB to reject the application again as incomplete. Canadian Class I railroads Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Canadian National both filed separate comments urging the STB to reject the application as incomplete, as did eastern US Class I railroad CSX. In response to the filings, UP on 12 May said its updated application "is comprehensive and complete, and provides all the information" that the STB needs, including market share data. The merger would create a single rail network stretching about 55,000 miles, handling about half of US freight traffic. UP and Norfolk Southern say that a coast-to-coast network will speed transit times by 24 to 48 hours and lead to greater efficiency. The two companies expect the transaction to be completed in the first half of 2027. The UP-Norfolk Southern merger will be the first test of STB rules enacted in 2001 requiring Class I railroads to demonstrate that major mergers enhance, rather than merely preserve, competitive shipping options. By Chris Baltimore Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
DHL signs 10‑year SAF offtake deal with Bahrain project
DHL signs 10‑year SAF offtake deal with Bahrain project
London, 13 May (Argus) — German logistics firm DHL Express said it has signed its first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offtake deal in the Middle East, securing supply from a Bahrain project by Dubai-based developer SAF One from 2028. DHL will take 25,000 t/yr of unblended SAF for 10 years, or 250,000t in total. It will act as an anchor offtaker, providing demand certainty as the project progresses toward construction and start-up from 2028. This commitment marked "an important step" toward bringing the facility on line, said SAF One co-founder and chief executive Deepak Munganahalli. Earlier this year SAF One secured $30mn investment and hired an engineering partner to start building a hydrotreating plant in 2026 at an unnamed Middle East location — now seemingly confirmed as Bahrain. DHL will allocate the SAF globally through a book-and-claim system, enabling its customers to reduce Scope 3 emissions even on routes not directly fuelled with SAF. DHL used 10pc SAF in 2025 from suppliers in Europe, the US, and Asia-Pacific, and has a target of using 30pc SAF by 2030. The firm has scaled SAF through a business-to-business model, where its customers willingly absorb SAF premiums in exchange for emissions reductions. Passenger airlines can struggle to pass higher fuel costs to travellers. By Aidan Lea Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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