Australia to spend $33mn on diesel exhaust fluid supply
The Australian government plans to spend A$49.5mn ($33.38mn) on diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) stockpiles and to build Australia's manufacturing capacity to ensure supply to the domestic trucking industry. This follows threats of shortages of the fluid over the past 12 months.
The market for DEF, which is known in Australia as Adblue, has seen extreme volatility in recent times, Australian energy minister Chris Bowen said. DEF is critical to the operation of trucking and other diesel vehicles, and it lowers noxious emissions. The former conservative coalition government formed a taskforce to address a potential shortage of DEF in Australia.
Canberra's spending measures include a government-controlled strategic stockpile of 7,500t of technical grade urea (TGU) that will provide an additional five weeks of supply beyond industry stock levels in case of a supply shortage, Bowen said.
A grants programme will be launched to support manufacturing projects that will look to produce TGU domestically, the minister said. There will also be a collection of voluntary data provided by the industry to provide market awareness of TGU and DEF domestic stocks.
"While the market is currently well-supplied, we need to put in place measures to deliver certainty and provide back-up in case of disruption," Bowen said. "We are also monitoring and engaging with industry to ensure the market is functioning properly and the supply chains are delivering."
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TUI Cruises receives methanol-ready ship
TUI Cruises receives methanol-ready ship
New York, 18 April (Argus) — Cruise ship company TUI Cruises took delivery of a methanol-ready cruise ship which will start operations at the end of June. Methanol-ready vessels allow ship owners to easily retrofit their vessels to burning methanol in the future. The 7,900t deadweight Mein Schiff 7 will operate in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, along the European Atlantic coast and in the Mediterranean and run on marine gasoil (MGO). It was built by Finland's Meyer Turku shipyard. In January, TUI Cruises signed a memorandum of understanding with trading company Mabanaft for future supply of green methanol. Mabanaft would cover TUI's methanol needs in northern Germany, and gradually add other European locations. Grey methanol was pegged at $717/t MGO equivalent and biomethanol at $2,279/t MGOe average from 1-18 April in Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp. About 0.9 times and 2.9 times, respectively, the price of MGO, Argus assessments showed. TUI Cruises is a joint venture between the German tourism company TUI AG and US-based cruise ship company Royal Caribbean. By Stefka Wechsler Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
UAE air traffic recovery begins after storm disruptions
UAE air traffic recovery begins after storm disruptions
Singapore, 18 April (Argus) — Air traffic at Dubai International (DXB) has begun to recover after an unprecedented storm hit the country on 16 April, although flight delays are expected to continue. "DXB resumed inbound flights of international airlines operating out of terminal 1", a spokesperson for DXB operator Dubai Airports said on 18 April. But it urged travellers not to come to the terminal for outbound flights before confirming their flight status, as it said the access to the terminal is "strictly limited" to guests with confirmed departures. Prolonged flight disruptions at DXB, which was ranked the second-busiest airport in the world in 2023, according to the Airports Council International's preliminary ranking, could affect regional jet fuel demand. Dubai low-cost carrier flydubai said it has now resumed partial operations from DXB, having previously cancelled all of its flights scheduled to depart from Dubai on 16 April evening until 10am on 17 April. Select outbound flights were to operate from DXB's terminal 2 with scheduled operations resuming after 8pm on 17 April, it said, while flights from terminal 3 were due to resume after midnight. But Dubai-owned Emirates Airlines has extended the suspension on check-in for passengers departing DXB until 9am on 18 April, after having initially suspending it between 8am and midnight on 17 April. The airline said the extension was because of "continued operational challenges caused by bad weather and road conditions". Neighbouring Abu Dhabi's Zayed international airport said it is "operating smoothly", despite issuing a warning on 17 April that some flights might be delayed. By Ieva Paldaviciute Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
June deadline set for Citgo auction bids
June deadline set for Citgo auction bids
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