Argus Biomass Asia Conference

08.30 - 09.30

Morning registration and networking

09.30 - 09.40

Chairperson’s opening remarks

Speakers Include:

Muhamad Fadhil

SVP Strategy and Business Development

Argus

Policy and regulatory landscape

09.40 - 10.00

European biomass and biofuels policies: environmental impacts and implications for global supply chains

• EUDR, RED, and Bioeconomy Strategy: overview of EU policies
• Key environmental safeguards: land use, carbon accounting, biodiversity impacts
• Risks and opportunities for Asian biomass and biofuel supply chains to the EU

 

Speakers Include:

Simon Suzan

Principal Analyst - Energy

Transport Energy Brussels (EU)

Market dynamics and trade flows

10.00 - 10.30

Argus market update: Outlook on the global biomass market

• How are market fundamentals and prices for wood pellets and palm kernel shells (PKS) evolving?
• How will regional production hubs and certification requirements affect trade flows?
• How do European biomass trade flows and policy shifts affect Asia’s markets, pricing and partnerships?
• Can biomass-fired power generation remain profitable without subsidies and feed-in-tariff schemes?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Jeff Kuntz

Editor - Biomass

Argus

Nadhir Mokhtar

Senior Market Reporter

Argus

10.30 - 11.00

Morning coffee and networking

11.00 - 11.40

Panel discussion: Wood pellet demand in Asia — navigating quality, supply and policy shifts

• How are Japan and South Korea’s evolving energy policies and carbon reduction targets reshaping demand for wood pellets and influencing procurement strategies?
• What are the key challenges in maintaining consistent wood pellet quality across the supply chain and how can producers, trading companies and consumers collaborate to address these issues?
• How can the region ensure long-term certified feedstock availability with Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia as major suppliers, given rising demand and tightening sustainability standards?

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Dato Leong Kin Mun

President

Malaysia Biomass Industries Confederation

Akito Usami

General Manager

RENOVA

Naoki Kawamoto

Vice Representative Director

Japan Biomass Fuel Standardization Association (JBSA)

11.40 - 12.00

NEW - Inside China’s biomass strategy: imports, innovation, and opportunities for Asia

• How do current import-export trends—particularly China’s growing reliance on biomass imports—impact regional and international markets?
• What policy initiatives are being introduced in China, and how will they influence investment, sustainability goals, and industry growth?
• How does the rise of SAF and biodiesel production relate to biomass availability and pricing, and what opportunities or challenges does this create?

Speakers Include:

Liu Hongrong

Executive Deputy Secretary-General

Biomass Energy Industry Promotion Association (BEIPA)

12.00 - 12.45

Panel discussion: Consumer and producer perspectives - from industrial fuel switching to emerging applications

• What opportunities exist for biomass in powering data centers and other next-generation energy demands?
• What are the biomass needs of the steel, cement, textile and fast-moving consumer goods industries?
• How can biomass replace petroleum coke and fossil fuels in industrial combustion processes?

Speakers Include:

Kazuyuki Nakamura

Marketing & Resource Trading Manager

Kobelco Trading Australia

Wee Khoon Oh

Founder/Managing Director

Sobono

12.45 - 13.45

Networking lunch

Palm to power — unlocking palm products’ biomass potential

13.45 - 14.10

Argus PKS market update: Supply, demand and future outlook

• What are the latest developments in the PKS market and how are supply-demand dynamics shaping the industry?
• How are regional supply variations, certification requirements and global energy shifts affecting PKS trade and availability?
• What are the near and mid-term projections for PKS and how should stakeholders plan for potential fluctuations and opportunities in the biomass sector?

 

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Andrew Jones

Editor, Solid Fuels, Asia-Pacific

Argus

14.10 - 14.30

NEW - Empty fruit bunch (EFB) focus — what progress has there been in EFB use?

• How are palm oil mills transforming EFBs into valuable products such as biofuels, compost and bioplastics?
• What recent technology developments have enhanced the efficiency of EFB processing and utilisation?
• How does EFB use contribute to the sustainability goals of the palm oil industry, particularly in reducing waste and promoting a circular economy?

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

David Hiel

Chief Commercial Officer

Wilhelmina

14.30 - 15.15

Panel Discussion: Harnessing palm — energy, innovation and scalable biomass solutions

• What are the current market trends and growth projections for PKS in the biomass industry and how are they influencing global energy strategies?
• What are the emerging applications of palm products beyond traditional energy generation, particularly focusing on palm oil mill effluent, EFB, palm kernel oil and crude palm oil?
• What infrastructure and aggregation models are necessary to effectively commercialise palm-based biomass while ensuring scalability and sustainability?

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Ir. Ts. Dr. Gideon Tan

Head - Group Transformation Division

FGV Holdings Berhad

Anita Puspita Sari

VP Pengembangan Bisnis, Pemasaran & Perencanaan Biomassa

PLN Energi Primer Indonesia

15.15 - 16.00

Afternoon coffee and networking

Carbon value chain — biochar, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (Beccs) and negative emissions

16.00 - 16.20

Unlocking the potential of biochar in biomass strategies

• How can biochar contribute to long-term carbon sequestration while enhancing soil health?
• What are the most scalable production methods for biochar using regional biomass feedstocks?
• What policy and market mechanisms are needed to accelerate biochar adoption in Asia?

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Yovindra Kanezin

CEO & Co-Founder 

Reclimate Pte Ltd

16.20 - 16.50

NEW - Unlocking Revenue Streams from Biomass Power: IRECs and Carbon Markets

• Through case studies, what lessons can be drawn from integrating IRECs into energy strategies for high-demand sectors like data centres, and what compliance and auditing requirements are critical for success?
• How can biomass power producers generate and monetize International Renewable Energy Credits (IRECs) and capitalize on biogenic carbon credits?
• How do IRECs and carbon credits align with corporate sustainability goals and evolving policies in Asia?

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Wee Khoon Oh

Founder/Managing Director

Sobono

Chester Tan

General Manager

Sobono

16.50 - 17.00

Chairperson’s closing remarks

 

 

 

17.05 - 18.30

Networking drinks reception

Forge valuable connections in good company and exchange insights with biomass industry experts.

 

 

 

08.00 - 08.30

Morning registration and networking

Breakfast briefing: Navigating certification for Asia’s biomass trade

08.30 - 09.00

NEW - Breakfast briefing: Navigating certification for Asia’s biomass trade

Learn from SBP - one of the leading certification schemes in the biomass sector about how producers can meet changing consumer requirements in Japan, South Korea and Europe.

• Prove origin and responsible sourcing across global supply chains with SBP, trace it so buyers and regulators can trust it.
• Certified data that travels: The SBP Data Transfer System for reliable sustainability data and GHG calculations.

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Nicolas Viart

Technical Director

SBP

09.00 - 09.05

Chairperson’s opening remarks

09.05 - 09.10

NEW - Opening interactive Slido Q&A: Technology showcase — biomass in action

• Interactive kick-off: Explore the latest biomass technologies and innovations shaping supply chains and consumer markets.
• Powered by Slido: Live polls will collect audience questions in real time, making the session more engaging and responsive.
• Audience-driven insights: Poll results and top-voted questions will guide the discussion and feed into the closing wrap-up session.

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Steve Tan

Editorial Manager

Argus Media

Black pellets: Market readiness and innovation

09.10 - 09.20

Argus Market Update: The Latest Landscape of Japan’s Biomass Markets

• Understanding current status and future outlook of FiT projects
• Long-term prospects and challenges with the country’s strategic energy plan
• What’s next? Exploring leading-edge advancements and innovations.

 

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Speakers Include:

Takeshi Maeda

Senior Reporter – Japan Biomass Markets

Argus

09.20 - 10.10

NEW - Panel discussion: Torrefied biomass — market and commercial readiness

• What are the main commercial and technical challenges in torrefied and black pellet production?
• Which regions and companies are leading in black pellet innovation?
• How can black pellets be positioned and priced as premium biomass products?

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Michael Wild

President

International Biomass Torrefaction and Carbonization Council IBTC

Naoki Kawamoto

Vice Representative Director

Japan Biomass Fuel Standardization Association (JBSA)

John Teal

Vice President

TSI

David McGregor

Director

Carbona

Michael Cook

Business Development Director

POWERWOOD CANADA

10.10 - 10.25

NEW - Advancing new biomass pellets — innovation, research and policy

• What recent research and pilot projects are advancing new biomass pellets, including black pellet, torrefaction and biocarbon pellet technology?
• How can scaling and logistical barriers be overcome through collaboration?
• What market trends and policy developments are shaping pellet adoption as coal alternatives in Asia?

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Tamio Ida

Director/Professor/Doctor

Kindai University, Bio-coke Research  Institute

Technology showcase - Innovations in Torrefaction and Carbonisation Technologies

10.25 - 10.40

Amandus Kahl: High Pellet Quality at Lowest Production Cost

Speakers Include:

Jerome Dubuc

Regional Director

Amandus Kahl

10.40 - 10.45

TSI: From Forest to Furnace – Maximizing Feedstock Yield Through Advanced Torrefaction Operations and Technology

Speakers Include:

John Teal

Vice President

TSI

10.45 - 10.50

Polytechnik - Torrefaction: Scale-up & Technology Readiness

Speakers Include:

Harald Fuchs

Director BU Carbonisation & Torrefaction

Polytechnik

10.50 - 10.55

John Cockerill's technical solutions for industrial-scale biomass conversion

Speakers Include:

Lionel Goiset

Business Development & Sales Manager

John Cockerill

10.55 - 11.30

Morning coffee and networking

Expanding the biomass definition — feedstocks of the future

11.30 - 12.10

Panel discussion: The rise of agricultural and alternative biomass feedstocks

• Which agri-biomass sources —  such as sugar cane, cashews, husks, Napier grass, etc — have the strongest commercial potential and how can low-quality feedstocks be matched to the right applications?
• How can technology be improved to make better use of the agri-biomass that is readily available?
• What investment and aggregation models can scale agricultural waste supply chains effectively?

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Jens Price Wolf

Founder

Voksigrene

Hector Ingram

Co-Founder and Group Strategy Director at RAW Energy

RAW Energy Ventures Pte Ltd.

Mohit Verma

Founder

Biomass Energeons India

12.10 - 12.50

NEW - From biomass to bioenergy: Syngas and methane in action

• How can biomass producers diversify into syngas, biomethane and biomethanol to unlock new revenue streams?
• What technologies, policies and market drivers are shaping growth in these advanced fuels?
• What infrastructure and partnerships are essential to scale and commercialise bioenergy opportunities?

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Simon Yim

Chief Executive Officer

Sky Renewables

Cai Rong Lim

Senior Manager Biomass Balance Solutions Asia Pacific

BASF

12.50 - 13.50

Networking lunch

13.50 - 14.10

Unlocking Biomass for Transportation: Technology Pathways to Renewable Fuels

• Opportunity to produce drop-in renewable aviation, marine, and road transportation fuels from abundant and lower-cost biomass sources.
• Renewable fuel market drivers and policy trends accelerating global adoption.
• Biomass conversion technology pathways and considerations to meet project goals.

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Michael Spivey

Director, Low Carbon Energy

Honeywell UOP

14.10 - 14.30

NEW - Biofuels & Biomass for SAF — Financing the Transition

• What innovative financing models (e.g., blended finance, green bonds, sustainability‑linked loans) can accelerate biofuel projects, and how can biomass producers tap into these opportunities?
• Which biofuel pathways and biomass feedstocks are most promising for near‑term SAF scale‑up, and how do policy incentives, certification schemes, and carbon markets strengthen investor confidence?
• How can biofuel supply chains—including biomass sourcing—adapt to meet SAF’s scale, quality, and sustainability requirements while securing long‑term offtake agreements with airlines and refiners?

Speakers Include:

Karan Khinchi

Director, Energy Transition

Standard Chartered Bank

14.30 - 14.45

NEW - Unlocking municipal solid waste (MSW) as a growth engine for the biomass sector

• What makes the MSW market attractive for biomass producers and how can they enter profitably?
• What technologies are enabling MSW from biomass conversion to biochar, syngas and bio-coal?
• What lessons can be learned from Thailand’s MSW ecosystem development?

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Rajesh Chaudhary

Director

Cogo Eco-tech Solutions Private Limited 

Tracking trade: Biomass shipping and supply chain trends

14.45 - 15.00

Biomass on the move — trade flows, freight dynamics and supply chain shifts

• How are shifting trade flows and regional supply constraints reshaping biomass shipping routes across Asia, Europe and beyond?
• What are the key freight and logistical challenges for bulk biomass cargoes such as wood pellets, PKS and EFB, and how are shipping companies adapting?
• How might rising domestic demand in southeast Asia and evolving certification requirements — such as Green Gold Label and the Sustainable Biomass Programme — affect long-term shipping contracts and vessel availability?

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Jayendu Krishna

Director - Head Maritime Advisors

Drewry

Innovation corner: What is next for biomass?

15.00 - 15.10

NEW - Closing interactive wrap-up — biomass market outlook and poll results

• Live wrap-up: Argus experts will summarise key insights and highlights from across the two-day agenda.
• Poll results and audience input: A review of the Slido poll outcomes and top audience questions to reflect on industry sentiment and priorities.
• Looking ahead: A discussion of the emerging trends and market outlook for biomass in Asia.

 

 

 

Speakers Include:

Jeff Kuntz

Editor - Biomass

Argus

Nadhir Mokhtar

Senior Market Reporter

Argus

Andrew Jones

Editor, Solid Fuels, Asia-Pacific

Argus

Marta Imarisio

Senior Reporter

Argus

15.10 - 15.15

Chairperson’s closing remarks and end of conference

15.15 - 15.30

Afternoon refreshments

15.30

End of conference