Engie converts Chile diesel plant to renewables

Spanish Market: Battery materials, Oil products
04/02/25

French utility Engie has started commercial operations at its 68MW Tamaya battery energy storage system (BESS) on the site of its former diesel-fired power plant near Tocopilla in northern Chile's Antofagasta region.

BESS Tamaya will store electricity generated by the 114MW Tamaya photovoltaic (PV) plant on the same site, which began operations in February 2022.

The company is "repurposing the site to give it a second life and continue contributing to the local economy," said Engie Chile chief executive Rosaline Corinthien.

BESS Tamaya consists of 152 lithium battery containers with a storage capacity of 418MWh. It will be able to supply 50,800 homes over five hours of peak demand.

Engie is also constructing the 116MW Tocopilla BESS operation at its former Tocopilla coal and fuel oil-fired power complex in the same region. It disconnected the complex from the grid in September 2023.

Engie is the fourth-largest generator in Chile with 2.6GW of installed capacity. Its BESS portfolio consists of 2GWh in operation and construction.

The conversion of fossil fuel-fired plants is part of Chile's decarbonization plan to ensure a "just" energy transition, providing new sustainable economic activity for communities.

Since 2019, Chile has withdrawn 11 coal plants for a combined 1.7GW and is committed to closing the remaining 17 coal plants by 2040.

By Emily Russell

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14/03/25

Korea's Samsung SDI to raise funds for battery growth

Singapore, 14 March (Argus) — South Korean battery maker Samsung SDI is looking to raise 2 trillion Korean won ($1.38bn) to fuel its battery production developments, citing a Hungary plant expansion and its joint venture investment with US carmaker General Motors (GM). The capital raise is based on the mid- to long-term growth prospects of the electric vehicle battery market, given that battery facility investments take 2-3 years to reach mass production, said the firm on 14 March. Samsung SDI previously flagged that it intends to expand its plant in Hungary's God to 40 GWh/yr. The firm in August 2024 signed an agreement with GM to build a two-phase nickel-cobalt-aluminum battery plant that is expected to have a final production capacity of 36 GWh/yr in New Carlisle, Indiana. The joint venture investment will take around $3.5bn. The proceeds will also be used to invest in solid-state battery line facilities in South Korea, said Samsung SDI. The firm launched its first all solid-state battery pilot line back in March 2022 and aims to mass produce solid-state batteries in 2027, which are more stable and have high energy density, it said last year. Its facility investment has quadrupled from W1.7 trillion in 2019 to W6.6 trillion last year, but Samsung SDI expects this to shrink this year, citing "investment efficiency". Samsung SDI's battery usage fell by almost 11pc to 29.6GWh in 2024, according to data from South Korean market intelligence firm SNE Research, given a decline in demand from major car original equipment manufacturers in Europe and North America. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Nigeria's port authority raises import tariffs

13/03/25

Nigeria's port authority raises import tariffs

London, 13 March (Argus) — The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has raised tariffs by 15pc on imports "across board", taking effect on 3 March, according to a document shown to Argus . The move comes as the independently-owned 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery continues to capture domestic market share through aggressive price cuts, pushing imported gasoline below market value in the country. Sources said that Dangote cut ex-rack gasoline prices to 805 naira/litre (52¢/l) today, from between 818-833N/l. The rise in NPA tariffs may add on additional cost pressures onto trading houses shipping gasoline to Nigeria, potentially affecting price competitiveness against Dangote products further. The move would increase product and crude cargo import costs, according to market participants. But one shipping source said the impact would be marginal as current costs are "slim", while one west African crude trader noted that the tariffs would amount to a few cents per barrel and represent a minor rise in freight costs. Port dues in Nigeria are currently around 20¢/bl, the trader added. One shipping source expects oil products imports to continue to flow in, because demand is still there. Nigeria's NNPC previously said the country's gasoline demand is on average around 37,800 t/d. Over half of supplies come from imports, the country's downstream regulator NMDPRA said. According to another shipping source, Dangote supplied around 526,000t of gasoline in the country, making up over half of product supplied. The refinery also supplied 113,000t of gasoil — a third of total total volumes in the country — and half of Nigeria's jet at 28,000t. By George Maher-Bonnett and Sanjana Shivdas Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US lube industry wary of tariffs uncertainty

13/03/25

US lube industry wary of tariffs uncertainty

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Экспортная пошлина на нефть в Казахстане в марте выросла

13/03/25

Экспортная пошлина на нефть в Казахстане в марте выросла

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Thailand approves Sunwoda's $1bn battery investment

13/03/25

Thailand approves Sunwoda's $1bn battery investment

Singapore, 13 March (Argus) — Thailand has approved an investment of more than $1bn by major Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturer Sunwoda to produce battery cells for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS). Sunwoda's Thailand-based subsidiary Suwoda Automotive Energy Technology will build manufacturing facilities in the country's Eastern Economic Corridor, Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) said on 13 March. Its first plant will be in the Chonburi province and will produce lithium-ion battery cells for EV manufacturers. The plant's capacity was not disclosed. The plant is Sunwoda's first EV-related battery cell plant in the Asean region, said BOI. "Having EV battery cells produced locally will significantly reinforce our status as a manufacturing hub for EVs and hybrids, and increase the country's competitiveness," said BOI's secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi. Chinese automotive firms have entered Thailand to build facilities in recent years, including state-owned auto manufacturers Changan Automobile and Chery Automobile , and EV maker Hozon New Energy . Chinese battery firms have also been looking to do the same, with BOI previously indicating interests from major Chinese battery manufacturing companies. Changan's plant in Thailand is expected to be launched in the "coming weeks", said BOI, while Chery's plant is still under construction. Thailand's National Electric Vehicle Policy Board approved an extension in late 2024 for the battery EV production requirements for BEV producers in the country. BEV manufacturers in Thailand are required produce certain numbers of BEVs based on their import volumes in 2022-23. Thailand's automobile production totalled around 107,100 units in January, down by almost 25pc on the year, on the back of sluggish domestic sales owing to strict lending from financial institutions given high household debts, according to the Federation of Thai Industries. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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