India rolls out E20 biofuel
India's prime minister Narendra Modi has officially launched E20 fuel — fuel blended with 20pc ethanol — at 84 retail outlets of oil marketing companies in 11 states and union territories on 6 February.
The launch was part of the inauguration of the India Energy Week (IEW) 2023 which runs from 6 February to 8 February.
The second-generation (2G) ethanol is produced using biomass feedstock such as rice straw, which state-owned IOC is using for ethanol production.
"We established Asia's first 2G ethanol bio-refinery in August last year. We are committed to make 12 such commercial 2G ethanol plants," said Modi.
"In the first phase [of E20 roll out], 15 cities of the country will be covered and it will be expanded across the country in the next two years," said Modi. But the names of the cities, their respective states and union territories were not disclosed.
India's ethanol production capacity has increased by six times since 2013-2014, said the ministry of petroleum and natural gas.
The country currently produces 9.47bn litres/yr of ethanol, according to government estimates in December 2022, and is on track to meet projected demand for E20 implementation.
Pilot sales of E20 fuel were announced by petroleum minister Hardeep Puri during the end of December 2022.
The minister is also confident that India could reach its E20 blending mandate before the initial target of 2025.
Related news posts
Conab: Safra de cana-de-açúcar bate recorde
Conab: Safra de cana-de-açúcar bate recorde
Sao Paulo, 18 April (Argus) — A moagem de cana-de-açúcar da safra 2023-24 foi a maior da história do país, em meio a condições climáticas favoráveis e investimentos no setor, de acordo com dados da Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento (Conab). O processamento total de matéria-prima da safra de 2023-24, entre abril de 2023 e o mesmo mês deste ano, totalizou 713,2 milhões de t, alta de 16pc em comparação a 610,8 milhões de t na temporada anterior. As áreas destinadas à atividade canavieira aumentaram 0,5pc, para 8,3 milhões de hectares (ha). A maior disponibilidade de matéria-prima estendeu as operações de moagem – que normalmente param em novembro – até dezembro em importantes estados produtores, como São Paulo. Produção de etanol Tanto a produção de etanol quanto a de açúcar cresceram, segundo a Conab. A produção total de etanol do Brasil – excluindo o biocombustível à base de milho – atingiu 29,6 milhões de m³, salto de 11pc na base anual. O etanol hidratado representou a maior parte do crescimento do processamento este ano, totalizando 17,6 milhões de m³, aumento de 16pc em relação ao ciclo anterior. A paridade favorável para o E100 frente à gasolina na bomba nos principais estados consumidores impulsionou a demanda pelo biocombustível na temporada. Já a produção de etanol anidro subiu 6,5pc, para 12 milhões de m³. O processamento de etanol à base de milho avançou 33pc, registrando 5,9 milhões de m³, com crescentes investimentos no setor tanto no Centro-Sul quanto em outras regiões. O anidro de milho subiu 45pc, para 2,2 milhões de m³. Para o hidratado, o resultado foi de 3,6 milhões de m³, alta anual de 26pc. O Brasil exportou 2,5 milhões de m³ de etanol na temporada de 2023-24, queda de 2,9pc em comparação à safra passada. Os Estados Unidos foram os maiores compradores do biocombustível, com 33pc dos embarques. Em seguida, a Coreia do Sul e o hub Amsterdã-Roterdã-Antuérpia (ARA) responderam por 17pc e 12pc, respectivamente. Já as importações de etanol caíram 43pc em comparação ao ano anterior, somando 215.000m³. Quase todo o produto chegou dos EUA e do Paraguai, que representaram 55,5pc e 44,3pc do volume total. Enquanto isso, a produção de açúcar aumentou 24pc, para 45,6 milhões de t, com usinas direcionando mais matéria-prima para o adoçante em meio a preços atrativos para a commodity no mercado internacional. O Brasil exportou 35,2 milhões de t de açúcar de abril a março, alta de 26pc no ano, em um cenário em que grandes exportadores, como Índia e Paquistão, diminuíram as entregas. China, Índia e Indonésia foram os maiores importadores do produto brasileiro. Por Laura Guedes Envie comentários e solicite mais informações em feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . Todos os direitos reservados.
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.
Canada furthers investment in GHG reductions
Canada furthers investment in GHG reductions
Houston, 18 April (Argus) — The Canadian government plans to have C$93bn ($67.5bn) in federal incentives up and running by the end of the year to spur developments in clean energy technology, hydrogen production, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) along with a new tax credit for electric vehicle (EV) supply chains. The Canada Department of Finance, in its 2024 budget released on 16 April, said it expects to have the first planned investment tax credits (ITCs), for CCUS and renewable energy investments, in law before 1 June. The ITCs would be available for investments made generally within or before 2023 depending on the credit. The anticipated clean hydrogen ITC is also moving forward. It could provide 15-40pc of related eligible costs, with projects that produce the cleanest hydrogen set to receive the higher levels of support, along with other credits for equipment purchases and power-purchase agreements. The government is pursuing a new ITC for EV supply chains, meant to bolster in-country manufacturing and consumer adoption of EVs with a 10pc return on the cost of buildings used in vehicle assembly, battery production and related materials. The credit would build on the clean technology manufacturing ITC, which allows businesses to claim 30pc of the cost of new machinery and equipment. To bolster reductions in transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the government will also direct up to C$500mn ($363mn) in funding from the country's low-carbon fuel standard to support domestic biofuel production . Transportation is the second largest source of GHG emissions for the country, at 28pc, or 188mn metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent, in 2021. But the province of Alberta expressed disappointment at the pace of development of ITC support that could help companies affected by the country's move away from fossil fuels. "There was nothing around ammonia or hydrogen, and no updates on the CCUS ITCs that would actually spur on investment," Alberta finance minister Nate Horner said. The incentives are intended to help Canada achieve a 40-45pc reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, relative to 2005 levels. This would require a reduction in GHG emissions to about 439mn t/yr, while Canada's emissions totaled 670mn in 2021, according to the government's most recent inventory. The budget also details additional plans for the Canada Growth Fund's carbon contracts for a difference, which help decarbonize hard-to-abate industries. The government plans to add off-the-shelf contracts to its current offering of bespoke one-off contracts tailored to a specific enterprise to broaden the reach and GHG reductions of the program. These contracts incentivize businesses to invest in emissions reducing program or technology, such as CCUS, through the government providing a financial backstop to a project developer. The government and developer establish a "strike price" that carbon allowances would need to reach for a return on the investment, with the government paying the difference if the market price fails to increase. CGF signed its first contract under this program last year , with Calgary-based carbon capture and sequestration company Entropy and has around $6bn remaining to issue agreements. To stretch this funding further, the Canadian government intends for Environment and Climate Change Canada to work with provincial and territorial carbon markets to improve performance and potentially send stronger price signals to spur decarbonization. By Denise Cathey Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Korea’s Hyundai starts operations at biodiesel plant
Korea’s Hyundai starts operations at biodiesel plant
Singapore, 18 April (Argus) — South Korean refiner Hyundai Oilbank has started commercial operations at its 130,000 t/yr biodiesel plant at Daesan as of 17 April, according to a source from the company. The plant is currently being fed with palm oil fatty acid distillates (Pfad). Most of the produced biodiesel will likely be kept to meet domestic demand, said other South Korea-based market sources. Hyundai had been trialing feedstocks at the plant since last December, which include Pfad, used cooking oil (UCO) and soybean oil. It previously entered an agreement with food manufacturer Lotte Confectionery in 2022, which involved Lotte supplying UCO as feedstock to the plant. The refiner said earlier this year that it is also considering co-processing biofuels at its 520,000 b/d Daesan refinery. It has plans for another 500,000 t/yr plant that can produce renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel and bio-naphtha, initially scheduled to come on line in the middle of the decade. But a final investment decision has yet to be reached for this plant. By Sarah Giam Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Business intelligence reports
Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.
Learn more