US Senate approves waterways infrastructure bill
The US Senate today unanimously approved a waterways infrastructure bill authorizing river navigation improvements, setting the stage for negotiations later in the year with the US House of Representatives, which has passed its own legislation.
This is "crucial bipartisan legislation to invest in our nation's water infrastructure, protect our communities and support good-paying jobs," said senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Carper introduced the biennial bill earlier this year.
The bill would authorize US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) projects focused on navigation, flood control and ecosystem restoration. In all, the Senate bill measure would authorize 83 feasibility studies and 13 new and modified projects.
The bill regularly draws bipartisan support because its projects and programs impact all 50 states. "By passing this legislation, the Senate took a significant step toward strengthening our water infrastructure, supporting our national economy, better protecting communities from flood risks, and helping the Corps carry out its mission now and in the future," senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia).
The House approved a companion but somewhat different bill on 22 July. Lawmakers now will have to hammer out difference between the two versions in a conference committee, unless one chamber opts to pass the other house's language.
But no action is expected before September at the earlier.
The Senate adjourned today for its August recess and is not expected to reconvene until 9 September. The House left town last week.
Passage of a final bill could be further complicated by election year politics.
Related news posts
South Sudan eyes restart of Dar Blend crude exports
South Sudan eyes restart of Dar Blend crude exports
London, 17 September (Argus) — South Sudan is aiming to restart exports of its heavy sweet Dar Blend crude through Sudan within weeks, the country's presidency said. Around 100,000 b/d of Dar Blend has been shut in since February because of ruptures and blockages along the Petrodar pipeline which links oil fields in South Sudan to war-torn Sudan's Red Sea export terminal at Bashayer. "Sudanese engineers have accomplished the necessary technical preparations for the resumption of oil production," South Sudan said following a visit by the head of Sudan's army, Abdel Fattah Al Burhan. South Sudan said its engineers are expected to visit Sudan in the coming weeks to "familiarise themselves with the readiness of the facilities so as to jump-start production". Previous attempts to repair and restart pipeline flows have been hampered by the civil war in Sudan, which pits the army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. International efforts to forge a ceasefire have been unsuccessful, with the war now in its 18th month. Production of South Sudan's medium sweet Nile Blend crude grade has not been impacted, as it is transported to Bashayer through the Greater Nile pipeline. Nile Blend now accounts for all of South Sudan's production, which stood at 60,000 b/d in August compared with around 150,000 b/d before the closure of the Petrodar pipeline, according to Argus estimates. The closure of the pipeline has put immense economic strain on South Sudan, which depends on oil sales for more than 90pc of government revenues. Meanwhile, South Sudan has postponed long-delayed national elections scheduled for December by two years. The move is seen by many as a bid by the country's leadership to cling onto power. By Aydin Calik Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Ethiopian EABC urea tender's lowest offer at $355/t cif
Ethiopian EABC urea tender's lowest offer at $355/t cif
London, 17 September (Argus) — Ethiopian Agricultural Businesses (EABC) closed a tender today to buy 250,000t of urea in five cargoes for September-October loading, with the lowest offer at $355/t cif. Pacific International appears to have offered at the lowest levels across all five cargoes on a cif basis. The firm offered lot 1 at $355/t cif, lot 2 at $359/t cif, while the offers on cif basis for the remaining three cargoes were at $368/t, $373/t, and $375/t, respectively. The urea is likely to be sourced from Oman. There were also seven other offers from suppliers. West Trade offered all cargoes, similarly to be sourced from Oman, on a cif basis at $375/t, $378/t, $380/t, $385/t and $382/t for lots 1-5, respectively. Midgulf likely offered one cargo under lot 5 at $410/t fob Egypt. Samsung offered three cargoes on a fob basis at $352/t fob Middle East, $375/t fob Egypt, and $362/t fob Middle East for lots 1,3 and 5. Supplier Fertiglobe appears to have offered $348/t fob under the first lot. ETG offered five cargoes, four of which are likely to be supplied from Onne, Nigeria, and offers were around $418/t cif, 419/t cif, $435/t cif and $422/t cif. Lot 4 was offered at $422/t cif basis and is likely to be sourced from Egypt. But there was no confirmation from the parties involved. Another supplier offered $450/t cif for lot 4. The lowest offer at $355/t cif marks a drop from $363/t cif under EABC's 12 July tender . By Dana Hjeij Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India’s energy transition hinges on power sector
India’s energy transition hinges on power sector
Mumbai, 17 September (Argus) — India's rapid economic growth has led to surging power demand, which the country aims to meet through expanded renewable energy capacity. But for now, coal remains firmly in its energy mix. Indian GDP grew by 6.7pc last year, according to energy watchdog the IEA, with emissions growing at a slightly faster 7pc, or about 190mn t, to 2.8 gigatonnes of CO2. Accelerating the transition to cleaner power generation is imperative for the country to meet its development and climate goals. But it is still heavily reliant on coal for energy security. India's coal-fired capacity stands at almost 218GW for the 2024 fiscal year, according to government think-tank Niti Aayog, accounting for a 49pc share of the country's total installed power mix. And it aims to add 80GW more coal-fired capacity by April 2031-March 2032. Coal-based power makes up 94pc of India's thermal power generation at present, and is likely to account for at least a 60pc share by 2030, reducing only slightly to 50pc by 2040, state-controlled producer Coal India business development director Debasish Nanda says. India's thermal power generation also includes natural gas, naphtha and diesel. India and more than 200 other countries reiterated a pledge to accelerate "efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power" at the UN Cop 28 climate summit in Dubai last year. To reduce its reliance on coal, the Indian government has outlined plans to become a gas-based economy. It aims to increase the share of gas in its energy mix to 15pc by 2030 from about 6pc in 2022. And it plans to expand its renewable energy capacity to 500GW by 2030 from 197GW now. Solar power currently makes up the highest share of this, with 43pc or 81GW, followed by wind power with 46GW. India is set to add a further 6GW of solar-based capacity and 1.2GW of wind-based power by March 2025, according to Niti Aayog. The power sector accounted for more than half of the increase in India's total emissions in 2023, the IEA says. Accelerating the transition is essential, but progress in individual states is highly uneven, according to a report by US-based think-tank the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis and UK think-tank Ember. States such as Karnataka and Gujarat have effectively integrated renewable energy into their power sectors, but others have not. India has many central and state-level policies to encourage energy independence, but implementation has not been adequate or transparent, the report says. Power move Firms are taking steps to boost renewable capacity. India's largest power producer, NTPC, primarily relies on coal but its 2032 plan to become a major diversified energy supplier includes renewable and nuclear power generation, chairman and managing director Gurdeep Singh says. It expects to have about 60GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032, and is looking to add 10GW of nuclear capacity, with an additional 4GW in a joint venture with a nuclear power corporation, Singh says. India also aims to electrify as much of its industrial sector as possible. State-controlled power transmission company Powergrid has set a target to meet 50pc of its internal energy needs through renewables by 2025 and achieve net zero emissions by 2047. Industry experts predict India's energy-related emissions are likely to increase up to 2028 and recede thereafter. But funding still poses a challenge, especially for a country so large. India earlier this year submitted to UN climate body the UNFCCC a call for developed countries to provide at least $1 trillion/yr in climate finance to developing countries from 2025, in reference to the so-called new collective quantified goal. The government says India alone requires $70bn-80bn/yr to fund its green energy goals. By Rituparna Ghosh and Prethika Nair CO2 emissions by sector, India, 2021 India power capacity sources Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Competitive SAF prices, policy needed to scale market
Competitive SAF prices, policy needed to scale market
Monterey, 16 September (Argus) — Efforts to scale the US sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market will hinge on the industry's ability to narrow the price premium to conventional jet fuel, an impossible task without expanded policy and a coordinated industry focus, stakeholders said today. "The final frontier of scale is cost," SGP Bioenergy chief executive officer Randy Delbert Letang said at the Argus North American Biofuels, LCFS and Carbon Summit. Airlines are ultimately concerned with the economic feasibility of low carbon fuels versus conventional, Letang said, adding that where finer details on the road to the lowest-cost and -carbon SAF are concerned, they don't necessarily want to "know or see how the sausage is made". Fellow panelists deemed advancement in feedstock technology, risk mitigation for investors and lenders and a coordinated industry effort as essential in scaling SAF in the US and abroad via the lowering of SAF prices. Incentive programs such as Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) programs across the west coast, and the potential for expansion into other states, are one way to narrow the gap. But those present opposed restrictions on incentives between renewable feedstocks, such as those recently proposed for diesel alternatives in California, and agreed the market remains in too early a stage for complicating incentives. To narrow the scope of the aviation industry's carbon-reduction discussion to specific feedstocks and their respective carbon intensity scores could "let perfect be the enemy of good," said Eric Holle, Phillips 66's renewable fuels commercial optimization manager. As SAF projects are alternately proposed and shuttered , panelists emphasized a need for the industry to mitigate but ultimately accept the risks inherent to an adolescent and quickly evolving market. Ensuring the industry's narrative is consistent will be key in the next few years to convincing investors and lenders to accept that risk, Letang said. Reducing the carbon footprint of conventional petroleum fuels via blending biofuels, as well as expanding the applicability of those fuels — to the maritime and aviation industries, as example — is the best focus of industry efforts in the near term, he added. By Jasmine Davis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. 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