Australian hydrogen promoter Spark accepts takeover bid
Australian power network investor Spark Infrastructure has advised shareholders to accept the takeover offer from a consortium of US and Canadian investors, as it plans to develop a 2,500MW renewable energy hub to power hydrogen production.
The takeover values Spark, which owns gas and power distribution networks, at A$5.2bn ($3.76bn) through the offer of A$2.95 per share. The consortium compromises the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board, US private equity group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board.
Spark said its proposed Dinawan energy hub in New South Wales will be unaffected by the planned takeover. Dinawan is proposed to be built in two stages, starting with 1,000MW of solar and wind capacity at a cost of A$1.8bn and the A$2.45bn second stage to add a further 1,500MW of solar and wind capacity. The addition of hydrogen production is planned under the second stage, with details of capacity and the kind of electrolyser to use still under consideration.
Around two-thirds of east Australia's electricity comes from coal-fired power stations, around 30pc by renewable energy and the remainder by gas-fired plants.
The bid for Spark is one of several merger and acquisitions under way in Australia's energy sector. Australian fuel distributor and retailer Ampol this week launched a NZ$2bn ($1.37bn) takeover offer for New Zealand fuel retailer Z Energy. Australian independent Woodside Petroleum last week unveiled plans to merge with the petroleum arm of UK-Australian resources firm BHP. Australian independents Santos and Oil Search this month announced a A$21bn merger.
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Austria advances hydrogen subsidy law
Austria advances hydrogen subsidy law
Hamburg, 16 May (Argus) — Austria's government has agreed on a law for subsidising renewable hydrogen production. The law foresees €400mn being allocated to projects through a competitive bidding system this year as fixed-premium subsidies over a 10-year period, with another €420mn to be made available in 2025-26 . Funds could be made available by utilising the European hydrogen bank's "auction-as-a-service" scheme, which allows EU member states to use the mechanism to allocate funds to projects on their territory. A second European hydrogen bank auction is due to launch towards the end of this year. Austria could use this to allocate funds, but the law also leaves the option open of conducting auctions outside of the hydrogen bank mechanism. In a supplementary text, the government said that the projects supported through the law could start operations between 2027 and 2030. The government estimates that the €820mn budget could support some 18,000-40,000 t/yr of renewable hydrogen production, assuming subsidies come in at an average €2-4.50/kg. Under the hydrogen bank auction mechanism, funds are allocated to the projects requesting the least amount of support. In the hydrogen pilot auction, for which results were announced in late April, five Austrian projects participated, but they were all unsuccessful. Subsidies went to plants in Spain, Portugal, Norway and Finland instead . The Austrian projects represented a combined 278MW of electrolyser capacity with anticipated production of around 33,200 t/yr. A single project made up well over half of this and with a bid of around €0.60/kg was not far off the clearing price. Meanwhile, bids for the other, much smaller projects were close to the auction's ceiling price of €4.50/kg. Germany was the only country to use the "auction-as-a-service" mechanism for the pilot auction, but other countries, such as Belgium , are also considering using it in the future. Austria's hydrogen subsidy law has now been passed to parliament for review. By Stefan Krumpelmann Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazilian governors back renewable H2 support bill
Brazilian governors back renewable H2 support bill
Rotterdam, 15 May (Argus) — A group comprising the governments of nine states in northeast Brazil has endorsed the latest amendments filed in the country's hydrogen bill, which envisage generous tax credits and financial incentives for renewable hydrogen production and demand. Governors from the nine states have joined calls by the Brazilian green hydrogen industry association ABHIV to push the national government to embrace the suggestions, recently filed by senator Otto Alencar. The consortium, which is an instrument for "political, judicial and economic" integration of the states that make up the northeast region, is urging more support from federal government at the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam. The current pipeline of planned projects in the northeast would amount to approximately 12mn t/yr of renewable hydrogen production, and "if only 10pc of these projects materialise, it would already place us in a global leadership position," Piaui's governor and consortium representative Rafael Fonteles said. The proposals in the bill resemble incentives that were given to other energy sectors such as ethanol and biodiesel to make alternative sources more competitive, ABHIV director Fernanda Delgado said. "Brazil knows how to do these policies, this is not new". The amendments are currently being discussed by the senate. ABHIV expects some pushback from the finance ministry regarding the tax credits, mainly regarding the 20-year offer, Delgado told Argus , but the initial proposal has left some room for negotiation and even a more modest version will already help the industry, she said. The current proposal envisions tax credits to up to 15GW of electrolyser capacity in the country, with up to 6.58 Brazilian reais ($1.27) per kg for production and 8.55 reais/kg for domestic consumers. While the northeast of Brazil offers competitive renewables generation and available land, these factors alone are "not enough" because "competition is worldwide," according to the head of Latin America at French renewables firm Voltalia, Robert Klein. The first molecules will be the most expensive ones and the tax cashback will help make them more competitive and projects reach gigawatt scale, Klein said. Momentum has accelerated for Brazilian renewable hydrogen projects, although almost all are at a very early stage. During the event, Brazilian utility Eletrobras signed an agreement to support European group Green Energy Park's planned renewable hydrogen and ammonia production in Piaui with electricity transmission infrastructure. By Pamela Machado Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Chinese importers seek five LNG cargoes for Jun-Sep
Chinese importers seek five LNG cargoes for Jun-Sep
Shanghai, 15 May (Argus) — Five Chinese importers, mostly second-tier buyers, are each seeking one LNG cargo for June-September delivery, according to an official notice published by China's national pipeline operator PipeChina on 15 May. The five importers are PipeChina, Chinese independent ENN, Hong Kong-listed city gas firm China Resources Gas, Hong Kong-based Towngas and state-owned China Gas. PipeChina and ENN have indicated a target price of at most $9.50/mn Btu for their intended cargoes, both for delivery to PipeChina's 6mn t/yr Tianjin terminal. China Gas has indicated a target price of at most $9.30/mn Btu for delivery to PipeChina's 6mn t/yr Beihai termial. China Resources Gas and Towngas have both indicated a target price of at most $9/mn Btu for delivery to PipeChina's 2mn t/yr Yuedong and Tianjin terminals, respectively. This consolidated requirement came about because of a need for PipeChina to better leverage on its infrastructure advantages and, at the same time, meet the varying needs of gas importers and consumers in the country. But this requirement comes at a time when spot LNG prices are still somewhat higher than the importers' targeted prices. But the importers can choose not to buy if offers are not within their expectations. The front-half month of the ANEA, the Argus assessment for spot LNG deliveries to northeast Asia, was last assessed at $10.485/mn Btu on 15 May. Chinese importers mostly perceive spot prices below $9-9.50/mn Btu for June-September deliveries to be unattainable for now because there is strong buying interest from south and southeast Asia in particular. Indian state-controlled refiner IOC most recently bought LNG for delivery between 22 May and 15 June at around $10.60/mn Btu, through a tender that closed on 14 May. Thailand's state-controlled PTT most recently bought three deliveries for 9-10 July, 16-17 July and 22-23 July through a tender that closed on 13 May , at just slightly above $10.50/mn Btu. The most recent spot transaction was Japanese utility Tohoku Electric's purchase of a 10-30 June delivery at around $10.55/mn Btu through a tender that closed on 14 May . This is at least $1/mn Btu higher than Chinese importers' indications. Summer requirements have so far been muted but concerns among buyers about potential supply disruptions remain. Malaysia's 30mn t/yr Bintulu LNG export terminal suffered a power loss on 10 May, but this issue may have been resolved as of early on 15 May, according to offtakers. Some unspecified upstream issues may still be affecting production at the Bintulu facility, resulting in Malaysia's state-owned Petronas having to ask some of its buyers for cargo deferments, according to offtakers. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Q&A: Brazil adds Asian indexation for flexible gas
Q&A: Brazil adds Asian indexation for flexible gas
Sao Paulo, 13 May (Argus) — Three years after the natural gas market liberalization in Brazil, the number of consumers migrating from regulated supply has slowly increased and more flexible pricing mechanisms adopted. Argus spoke to Alessandro di Domenico , president of gas and power trader Delta Geração, about the current state of the market. Excerpts follow. Explain Delta's supply contract with Bolivia through 2026 despite Bolivia's gas production decline. The decline in production will happen because there is less investment [in Bolivia] than a few years back. But there are still some volumes that can supply the Brazilian market, especially in flexible contracts in the liberalized market. There is some gas that was being directed to Argentina and is now available. Even with the decline in Bolivia production, we will continue to have natural gas in the short-term. Besides that, the Rota 3 pipeline project [in Brazil's southeast] is close to being completed, which will bring more gas from pre-salt fields, leaving the market with more supply. This boosts the growth of the liberalized market. Delta is positioning itself to meet those demands and will sign other supply contracts soon. What types of contracts has Delta and others signed in the liberalized market? These are interruptible contracts. Their innovation relies on flexibility. Volume and duration are flexible. This allows us to meet clients almost back-to-back. How are these flexible contracts priced? They are competitive with the regulated market and are connected to international parity prices. Contracts are using Brent, Henry Hub and [Japan-Korea marker LNG spot prices]. How has the market progressed since 2021? This market was born rigid and is now gaining flexibility, in baby steps. In the beginning, there were only three consumers: Acelen, Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau and petrochemical group Unigel. Now we have companies in the cellulose business, metallurgy and automotive industry, which are all gas-intensive. So, in the future, there will be a big movement depending on state regulations, because that is an important axis of articulation for the mobility the liberalized market requires. State regulations play a very important role in allowing smaller entities to enter the market. By Rebecca Gompertz Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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