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Japan’s Shizuoka Gas expands Indian gas presence
Japan’s Shizuoka Gas expands Indian gas presence
Tokyo, 19 July (Argus) — Japanese gas distributor Shizuoka Gas has ventured into India's biogas sector, buying a stake in Indian manure-based producer Farm Gas. Shizuoka Gas has bought 10pc of Farm Gas, a joint venture between Indian gas distributor IRM Energy and Indian consultant Eximius Resources, for an undisclosed sum. Shizuoka Gas previously bought a stake in Gujarat-based IRM Energy in 2021 , which supplies natural gas to the industrial sector. Farm Gas has been operating a biogas plant using cow dung and rice straw since December 2022. The manure-derived biogas is sold to auto firms as a vehicle fuel. The organic fertilizer produced as a by-product during the production process is sold to fertilizer companies and nearby farmers. Cow dung and rice straw creates air pollution, which is a huge problem in India, Shizuoka Gas said. It said it will build its experience in biogas production from the Farm Gas acquisition, with an aim to develop biogas plants in India and southeast Asia in the future. But shipping the biogas to Japan is not a current option, as Japan has already established pipeline gas supplies, it added. By Reina Maeda Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spain includes SAF, marine fuels in renewables targets
Spain includes SAF, marine fuels in renewables targets
London, 17 July (Argus) — Spain will start counting sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and marine fuels towards its renewable energy targets, the government said. Starting from the 2024 financial year, SAFs and marine fuels will count toward meeting targets for sale or consumption of biofuels. A multiplier of 1.2 will be applied to the energy content of the fuels. An EU-wide SAF mandate will come into effect in 2025 that will set a minimum target of 2pc. The target rises to 6pc from 1 January 2030 and to 20pc from 1 January 2035, with a minimum share of 5pc of synthetic aviation fuels. The law defines synthetic aviation fuels as certified renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO) that includes renewable hydrogen and derivatives such as e-methanol, e-ammonia and e-kerosene. EU states must bring this into their national legislation in line with the revised renewables directive by 21 May 2025. Spain's new remit also introduces hydrogen , biogas and RFNBOs . These will be double counted under Spain's biofuels certification system. By Evelina Lungu Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia’s Snowy, Lochard ink Iona gas storage deal
Australia’s Snowy, Lochard ink Iona gas storage deal
Sydney, 15 July (Argus) — Australian state-owned utility Snowy Hydro has signed a 25-year deal to store gas at the country's largest domestic gas storage in Victoria state to support its gas-fired power stations. The agreement with the 26PJ (694mn m³) Iona site, owned by domestic gas storage firm Lochard Energy, will commence in January 2028. This will be ahead of the permanent closure of the 1,480MW Yallourn brown coal plant, operated by Hong Kong-owned utility EnergyAustralia, in mid-2028. "The gas storage agreement with Lochard Energy will support the operation of our gas-fired power stations in Victoria," Snowy Hydro chief executive Dennis Barnes said on 15 July. Snowy Hydro, which owns and operates three gas-fired power stations totalling 1,290MW at present, is building the 750MW Kurri Kurri gas-fired plant , of which the initial 660MW stage is scheduled to come on line in late 2024. Snowy's 320MW Laverton North and 300MW Valley Power generators are located in Victoria. The deal is expected to underwrite the Heytesbury underground gas storage project , Lochard's chief executive Tim Jessen said, which will expand the capacity of Iona by approximately 3PJ. Australia's southeastern states are expected to face significant shortfalls of gas later this decade as fields supplying Victoria's 1,150 TJ/d (30.7mn m³/d) Longford gas plant deplete. A mixture of pipeline expansions to bring more gas south from Queensland state, LNG import terminals, and reducing demand have been floated to bridge this gap. Two LNG import terminals are proposed for Victoria but both require environmental approvals from the state government. Snowy Hydro is facing significant pressure from the federal government over its delayed Snowy 2.0 pumped hydroelectric project, which has suffered significant cost overruns and delays. Snowy last year said the scheme's costs had doubled to A$12bn ($8.1bn) from a previous A$5.9bn estimate , which was itself higher than the original guidance. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Shale could help Brazil gas output
Shale could help Brazil gas output
Sao Paulo, 8 July (Argus) — Shale gas is the latest topic on Brazil's agenda to bolster its hydrocarbon reserves, as officials from several federal agencies visited Texas in May to learn more about the process. The group — led by Joao Henrique Nascimento, a director at the government's investment and partners program — visited with oil and gas regulator the Texas Railroad Commission and discussed possible cooperation on the oversight of onshore hydrocarbons production. The group also visited a natural gas field owned by China's CNOOC, including production wells and treatment units. Natural gas from US shale formations lead to a surge in production that lowered prices for consumers, even amid times of global turmoil, and also reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by displacing more-polluting power plant fuels like coal and fuel oil, according to Lucas Ribeiro, an economist specialized in energy and regulation, author of the paper "Unconventional gas: Forgotten energy sovereignty in the interior of Brazil." Shale gas exploration has been controversial in Brazil for at least a decade. Contracts awarded at an auction round aimed at expanding natural gas exploration and involving hydraulic fracturing in 2014 were suspended because of environmental concerns. Hydrocarbons regulator ANP — then led by now state-controlled Petrobras' chief executive Magda Chambriard — officially terminated the contracts in 2019. Recently, some lawmakers in states like Bahia and Mato Grosso, presented proposals to prohibit shale exploration. In Mato Grosso the governor vetoed a bill last week, saying it was a federal regulatory matter. In the national Congress a similar bill has not advanced since 2019. Hydraulic fracturing in unconventional reservoirs involves injecting large volumes of fluids at high pressure into formations that are inaccessible through most techniques. Environmental fears stem from the potential for groundwater contamination. Shale gas is among several Brazilian strategies to grow its gas supply on mines and energy minister Alexandre Silveira's agenda. Brazil has been importing gas from the US for decades, including shale gas, and the Brazilian market is following the development of Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale basin, according to Fernando Xavier, partner and head of oil and gas at the Machado Meyer law firm. Brazil's own unconventional gas reserve exploration should remain on the table, he said. Vaca Muerta holds 308 Tcf of natural gas and 16bn bl of crude, according to the US Energy Information Administration. By Betina Moura Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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