South Australia closes Hydrogen Power SA office

Market: Hydrogen, Metals
02/05/25

The state government of South Australia has rolled its Office of Hydrogen Power SA (OHPSA) into the Department of Energy and Mining (DEM), after scrapping plans for a 250MW electrolyser and 200MW hydrogen-fired power station.

The OHPSA has been absorbed into the other state department, a spokesperson for SA energy minister Tom Koutsantonis said on 2 May. This comes after the state cut the A$593mn ($381mn) it had promised for its Hydrogen Jobs Plan in early 2025. The funds were reallocated to subsidise the 1.2mn t/yr Whyalla steelworks, which entered administration on 19 February.

The associated Office of Northern Water Delivery, which was intended to support the green hydrogen sector in the state's upper Spencer Gulf region with new water pipeline supply, has also been incorporated within the DEM, Koutsantonis said on 1 May.

SA's other major hydrogen hub planned at nearby Port Bonython was also overseen by the OHPSA. Development agreements with five companies have been signed for Port Bonython, including with London-based energy company Zero Petroleum for an e-SAF plant.

SA is aiming to transition the ageing Whyalla steelworks to develop low emissions iron and steel products, but administrator KordaMentha is yet to finalise a buyer for Whyalla's controlling company OneSteel, which was formerly owned by UK-based GFG Alliance.

By Tom Major

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14/06/25

Trump approves Nippon Steel’s acquisition of USS

Tokyo, 14 June (Argus) — US president Donald Trump approved Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel's $15bn acquisition plan of US Steel in his executive order that reversed his predecessor's decision to block the deal, the Whitehouse announced late on 13 June. The threat to national security for the US arising as a result of the deal can be adequately mitigated by entering into a National Security Agreement (NSA) with Nippon and US Steel, Trump said in a statement. Former US president Joe Biden on 3 January rejected the proposed merger plan, citing national security concerns with a Japanese firm owning a major US steel maker. The firms signed the NSA with the US government yesterday, following Trump's executive order, Nippon Steel told Argus , leaving no major obstacles to proceed with the transaction. "We thank President Trump and his Administration for their bold leadership and strong support for our historic partnership. This partnership will bring a massive investment," the firms said. The partnership means an acquisition of US Steel, the representative of Nippon Steel who spoke to Argus reiterated, rejecting speculation that the approved investment plan does not entail a merger bid. Nippon Steel will make a $11bn investment in US Steel by 2028 as part of the requirements by the NSA, according to the Japanese firm. It will start investing in the US this year after necessary regulatory approvals were granted, the company told Argus . The Japanese steel producer will also issue a "golden share" to the US government as required under the NSA, according to the White House. A "golden share" typically grants its holder the right to veto decisions by the firm's board members or its majority shareholders. But Nippon Steel told Argus that the company freedomto run US Steel is guaranteed, rejecting speculation that the US government would retain full control of the business. A "golden share" can take a variety of forms, the representative told Argus , although the Japanese firm did not disclose if the White House is granted veto power. The Trump's executive order is likely to settle the 18-month approval process that faced a number of challenges including legal action by the firms against the Biden administration and opposition to the deal by the United Steelworkers (USW) union. Nippon Steel persists in the US market because it is the most prominent steel market among the advanced economies with robust demand for high quality steel products, said Eiji Hashimoto, chief executive of Nippon Steel in January . The acquisition of US Steel is the only promising solution to strengthen the steel industries in both countries, Hashimoto added. The Japanese steelmaker and US Steel agreed on the acquisition in part because the collaboration would enhance US Steel's ability to serve automobile, construction and other industries including emerging energy transition sectors, according to the firms. Nippon Steel is among the top producers of electrical steel essential to electric vehicles production, according to the Japanese producer. Nippon Steel is targeting India, the US and southeast Asia as strategic regions to achieve 100mn t/yr of crude steel production globally as part of its mid- to long-term strategy. By Yusuke Maekawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Australia allows emissions reporting for biomethane, H2

13/06/25

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13/06/25

Australia allows emissions reporting for biomethane, H2

Sydney, 13 June (Argus) — The Australian government will enable companies to report scope 1 emissions from the consumption of biomethane and hydrogen, which will need to be backed by eligible renewable gas certificates, it announced today. Companies will be able to prove that the gas they receive from the natural gas network and consume in a reporting year contains an amount of renewable gas, as represented by renewable gas certificates retired or completed by them or on their behalf, adjusted for losses, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said on 13 June. The new product guarantee of origin (PGO) certificates registered under the guarantee of origin (GO) scheme, as well as the renewable gas guarantee of origin (RGGO) certificates issued under the GreenPower Renewable Gas Certification (RGC), will both be allowed. Any gas sourced from the natural gas network that is not covered by the new certificate-backed loss-adjusted amount must be reported as natural gas, the DCCEEW said. The changes are part of updates to the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme, which is used to measure and report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy production and consumption. These are the latest changes following the implementation of the recommendations made at the end of 2023 by Australia's Climate Change Authority (CCA), which reviews the NGER scheme every five years. The market-based reporting allowing companies to report the scope 1 emissions benefits from their renewable gas purchases will start from 1 July 2025, and be applicable from the July 2025-June 2026 financial year onwards. They will affect NGER scheme reports to be submitted by corporations by 31 October 2026. The updates also include amendments to support the reclassification of hydrogen as a fuel type. Hydrogen was previously classified in the NGER scheme as an energy commodity. The DCCEEW will monitor the uptake of biomethane as a feedstock for ammonia and hydrogen production and may revisit some technical rules in future annual NGER scheme updates, it said. Potential impact on oil and gas facilities Other changes announced on 13 June include updates to the emission factors used in two methods for gas flared in oil and natural gas operations. Some submissions to a public consultation raised concerns about the potential overestimation of methane emissions resulting from the assumption that flare gas is 100pc methane, and implications of the proposed emission factors on facilities covered by the safeguard mechanism, the DCCEEW said. The Clean Energy Regulator has the discretion to vary the facility's baseline to accommodate the regulatory change if the revised factors have a material impact on emissions reported by a facility covered by the safeguard mechanism, it said. Facilities under the oil and gas extraction sector received a combined 3.07mn safeguard mechanism credits (SMCs) in the July 2023-June 2024 financial year as their covered scope 1 emissions were below their baselines. By Juan Weik Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Brazil BEV sales hit record high in May

12/06/25

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12/06/25

Brazil BEV sales hit record high in May

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US Senate looking at ways to save 45V: Cornyn

12/06/25

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12/06/25

US Senate looking at ways to save 45V: Cornyn

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UK ETS emissions fell by 11pc on the year in 2024

12/06/25

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12/06/25

UK ETS emissions fell by 11pc on the year in 2024

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