Chile clears groundbreaking green H2, fuels project
Chile granted an environmental permit to a trailblazing green hydrogen project that will produce methanol and carbon-neutral gasoline and LPG.
The $45mn Haru Oni pilot project, belonging to the Highly Innovative Fuels (HIF) consortium led by Chilean firm AME, will be developed in the deep southern region of Magallanes, traditionally known for modest hydrocarbons production and penguins.
The project, which was approved unanimously by the Magallanes regional environmental commission today, will produce green hydrogen derived from water separated through electrolysis using 3.4MW of dedicated wind energy. The hydrogen will be combined with CO2 from the atmosphere and synthesized into green methanol, which will then be used to produce carbon-neutral gasoline and other products.
The initial project, based in the regional capital of Punta Arenas, will produce 350 t/yr of methanol and 130,000 l/yr of gasoline, and is designed to be scaled up in two subsequent stages.
The methanol and e-gasoline will be transported some 35km (21.7mi) by truck to Puerto Mardones for export.
The project will also produce 16 t/yr of carbon-neutral LPG.
HIF has support from the German government, and its partners include Italian generator Enel, German engineering giant Siemens and Chile's state-owned oil company Enap.
HIF is one of several green hydrogen projects taking root in Chile, where 1,800GW of solar and wind energy potential is some 70 times more than current installed capacity.
Underpinned by a 2050 net-zero emissions target, Chile unveiled a green hydrogen strategy in late 2020 with the promise of becoming the world's lowest-cost producer, decarbonizing the copper mining industry and diversifying exports.
Another leading green hydrogen developer is France's Engie, which is working with Chile's copper mining industry to decarbonize heavy transport and introduce green ammonia for manufacturing mining explosives.
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Dutch FincoEnergies supplies B100 biodiesel to HAL
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UN carbon market enshrines appeal, grievance processes
UN carbon market enshrines appeal, grievance processes
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US job growth nearly halved in April: Update
US job growth nearly halved in April: Update
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US job growth nearly halved in April
US job growth nearly halved in April
Houston, 3 May (Argus) — The US added fewer jobs in April as the unemployment rate ticked up and average earnings growth fell, signs of gradually weakening labor market conditions. The US added 175,000 jobs in April, the Labor Department reported today, fewer than the 238,000 analysts anticipated. That compared with an upwardly revised 315,000 jobs in March and a downwardly revised 236,000 jobs in February. The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9pc from 3.8pc. The unemployment rate has ranged from 3.7-3.9pc since August 2023, near the five-decade low of 3.4pc. The latest employment report comes after the Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its target lending rate unchanged for a sixth time and signaled it would be slower in cutting rates from two-decade highs as the labor market has remained "strong" and inflation, even while easing, is "still too high". US stocks opened more than 1pc higher today after the jobs report and the yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 4.47pc. Futures markets showed odds of a September rate cut rose by about 10 percentage points to about 70pc after the report. Average hourly earnings grew by 3.9pc over the 12 month period, down from 4.1pc in the period ended in March. Job gains in the 12 months through March averaged 242,000. Gains, including revisions, averaged 276,000 in the prior three-month period. Job gains occurred in health care, social services and transportation and warehousing. Health care added 56,000 jobs, in line with the gains over the prior 12 months. Transportation and warehousing added 22,000, also near the 12-month average. Retail trade added 20,000. Construction added 9,000 following 40,000 in March. Government added 8,000, slowing from an average of 55,000 in the prior 12 months. Manufacturing added 9,000 jobs after posting 4,000 jobs the prior month. Mining and logging lost 3,000 jobs. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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