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Brazil's Olfar exports first biodiesel cargo
Brazil's Olfar exports first biodiesel cargo
Sao Paulo, 18 March (Argus) — Brazilian biodiesel producer Olfar Group exported its first soy methyl ester (SME) biodiesel cargo on 11 March. The company sent the biofuel to the Kao-hsiung port in Taiwan from the Itapoa port in Santa Catarina state. It did not share the cargo's volume. The cargo was 100pc soybean oil-based and was produced at Olfar's plant in Erechim, in Rio Grande do Sul state. Asia "is increasing biodiesel demand, opening business opportunities for South America," Olfar said. Brazil's biodiesel exports more than doubled in 2023 to 107.9mn l (1,800 b/d) from 41.9mn l in 2022, according to trade ministry data. The most common destinations were Europe and the US. Renewable fuels producer Be8 shipped 85mn l of this total. "With the market opening for exports and the decision to raise the blending mandate to 14pc, the expectation is that the group will increasingly expand its operations," Olfar said. National energy policy council CNPE raised the biodiesel mix mandate to 14pc from 12pc on 1 March. By Laura Guedes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Norway, Canada propose ECAs for Arctic waters
Norway, Canada propose ECAs for Arctic waters
London, 18 March (Argus) — Delegates from Canada and Norway submitted proposals to designate their Arctic Ocean waters as emissions control areas (ECAs) during the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) 81st Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting. Canada's proposal would regulate its Arctic waters as an ECA for nitrogen oxide (NOX), sulphur oxide (SOX), and particular matter (PM), while Norway proposes an ECA for NOX and SOX emissions. The two areas are not covered by the existing North Sea and North America ECAs. The proposals were met positively by most other groups at the meeting, including delegates from the Cook Islands, Finland, the US, Mexico, Panama, and Ireland — all of whom supported the proposals going into consideration by the technical committee. But the proposals faced resistance from the Russian Federation, whose delegate said the proposals do not meet the "specified requirements for ECA designation" under MARPOL regulations — pointing to insignificant navigation networks in those areas, lack of a major port, and a sparse population in the two areas under the proposal. The delegate from Russia added that the control measures against NOX and SOX emissions in those areas can be introduced on a national legislative level, rather than being proposed under MARPOL regulations. The session concluded with MEPC agreeing to establish a technical group on the designation of ECAs to evaluate the two proposals. By Hussein Al-Khalisy Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Global standard needed to decarbonise shipping: IMO SG
Global standard needed to decarbonise shipping: IMO SG
London, 18 March (Argus) — A global approach to regulations will be essential in meeting the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) decarbonisation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets set in 2023, its secretary general Arsenio Dominguez said today. Dominguez emphasised the need for "global regulations for a global sector", and said existing regional regulations such as the EU emissions trading system (ETS) will need to align to a global standard. He said the timeline to finalise these measures will be by autumn 2025, with the aim for the measures to become effective from 2027. He said an "economic pricing mechanism" will be in place by this time next year, which may be relabelled in the future as a "levy" or a "rebate". The IMO general secretary said the GHG emissions reduction strategy and the economic pricing mechanism will serve as incentives to encourage further uptake of alternative marine fuels. They will be combined with the establishment of an expert group on fuel specification standards, in order to establish marine-specific standards in response to widening specification variety in recent months. Dominguez said the IMO will retain its "fuel agnostic" approach to minimise cross-industry competition and maximise the potential for the maritime sector to meet the GHG emissions reduction targets. In addition to alternative marine fuel specifications, market participants had reported concerns around the viability of carbon intensity index (CII) regulations and how consequences for non-compliant fleets will be enacted. Dominguez said that when CII was adopted, it was regarded as a "soft implementation" that will be revised in 2026. He said a working group will be established at the next Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting, which will review the CII system. By Hussein Al-Khalisy Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Prates calls for passage of Brazil transition laws
Prates calls for passage of Brazil transition laws
Houston, 18 March (Argus) — Brazil needs to approve this year a slate of draft legislation to unlock investment in clean energy technologies and show that the country has done its homework before it hosts the UN Cop 30 climate conference in Belem in 2025, chief executive of Brazil state-controlled Petrobras, Jean Paul Prates, told Argus . Draft bills that create a framework for renewable hydrogen , offshore wind , carbon capture and storage, first and second-generation biofuels and the creation of a carbon market have been through several debates in the lower house and the senate, impeding the development of the respective industries. Prates was the author of several of these bills as a senator before he took on the role of head of Petrobras. "We have been debating in the last year very hard," Prates said on the sidelines of the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, Texas, on Monday. "It was the first year of a new government that had to change many things, including in energy policy. They [the draft bills] ensure security for the country and sovereignty. Just because we host Cop 30 in Belem, we need to show that we are doing our homework," he said. Petrobras expects that around half of its revenue will come from renewable technologies, including low-carbon motor fuels, but Prates said the company is being cautious in the process of transforming its business to reduce its emissions. "We are moving in a responsible way, we are not rushing," he said. "We are ready to give new businesses [financial] security because we have the infrastructure, the scale needed [for new projects] and the experience." Apart from biofuels production, green hydrogen and offshore wind development are key areas for the company. The company is analyzing options to replace fossil fuel-based hydrogen used at its refineries with renewable hydrogen. It has also submitted applications for offshore wind areas to the federal environmental protection agency (Ibama). By Jacqueline Echevarria Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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