Netherlands joins in to end fossil fuel funding abroad

: Coal, Crude oil, LPG, Natural gas, Oil products
21/11/08

The Netherlands today said it will join a group of 25 countries and institutions to end public financing of unabated coal, oil and gas projects overseas by the end of 2022.

The initial pledge, signed at the UN Cop 26 conference in Glasgow on 4 November, seeks to prioritise financing of green projects, but the details still need to be ironed out.

The US, Canada and the UK are among the countries committed to stop new direct support to fossil fuels by 2022, along with Denmark, Finland, Mali, Costa Rica and South Sudan. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is also party to the deal.

"Dutch development bank FMO had already signed up to the statement but not the Dutch government as a whole," campaign group Oil Change International said. "Today's announcement by the Netherlands means that the Dutch export credit agency — Atradius Dutch State Business, which is responsible for about €1.5mn ($1.74mn) in public support for fossil fuels overseas — will also need to end financing for oil, gas and coal projects by the end of 2022."

Public investments to be shifted from fossil fuels to cleaner energy could now amount to $19bn/yr if signatories follow through with their pledges.

By Caroline Varin

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25/03/17

Indonesia’s RMK raises 2024 coal loading, sales volumes

Manila, 17 March (Argus) — Indonesian coal logistics and mining firm RMK Energy raised its coal loading and sales volumes in 2024 compared with 2023 on the back of higher coal production out of Sumatra. The total volume of coal loaded onto barges rose by 19pc to 9.02mn t of coal in 2024, up from 7.56mn t a year earlier, the company said. The increase was because of higher output from mining companies in Sumatra that used RMK for its logistics service, according to the firm. The company's total coal sales rose by 19pc to 2.81mn t in 2024. This was despite lower coal output from its coal mines, which fell by 13pc to 900,120t in 2024 from 1.035mn t in 2023. The decrease was because the company opted to focus on developing new areas, RMK said. The firm moved more overburden material in 2024, which resulted in an increase in the mine's strip ratio and coal cash cost. RMK sourced its coal from other mining companies through its trading arm to offset this, the company said. The company produces GAR 3,000-4,200kcal/kg coal which is sold mainly for blending purposes. RMK has set higher operational targets for 2025 on projections of increased output from Sumatra's mining companies and in order to offset continued weak prices of coal. Total coal sales are targeted to reach 3.8mn t in 2025, a 35pc increase on the year. Barge loading volumes are targeted to reach 11mn t, a 24pc increase on the year. RMK will also focus on improving its logistics infrastructure. This includes the integration of new coal mines such as the Wiraduta Sejahtera Langgeng (WSL) and Duta Bara Utama (DBU) into the company's dedicated coal hauling road as well as upgrades to loading and unloading stations to support higher coal transportation volumes, the company said. By Antonio delos Reyes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

China’s CNOOC starts Caofeidian, Wenchang crude output

25/03/17

China’s CNOOC starts Caofeidian, Wenchang crude output

San Francisco, 16 March (Argus) — Chinese state-controlled CNOOC has started output at the Caofeidian 6-4 oil field comprehensive adjustment project and the Wenchang 19-1 oil field phase 2 project offshore China, the company said today. Caofeidian 6-4 produces mainly light crude and is located in the western part of the Bohai Sea, at an average water depth of about 20m. Wenchang 19-1 produces mainly medium crude and is located in the western part of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, at an average water depth of around 125m. Caofeidian 6-4 is expected to achieve peak production of around 11,000 b/d of oil equivalent (boe/d) in 2026 and Wenchang 19-1's output is expected to peak at 12,000 boe/d in 2027. CNOOC plans to put into production a total of 38 development wells at the two projects. It is also planning 22 production wells at Caofeidian 6-4. CNOOC is the operator of the projects and holds a 100pc interest. The associated gas of Caofeidian 6-4 will be reinjected into the reservoir with gas injection compressors, which will reduce CO2 emissions by about 13,000 t/yr. Wenchang 19-1 uses a megawatt-level high-temperature flue gas ORC power generation unit, which is expected to generate up to 24GWh of electricity and reduce CO2 emissions by about 23,000 t/yr, CNOOC said. The company has mainly started output at oil fields in 2025 but said in early March that it made a "major breakthrough" in natural gas exploration as part of a gas discovery at the Weizhou 10-5 oil and gas field at a water depth of 37m in the Beibu Gulf basin in the Bohai sea, with test results indicating production capacity of around 13.2mn ft³ of gas and about 800 b/d of crude. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

New Zealand's Genesis Energy signs wood pellet deal

25/03/14

New Zealand's Genesis Energy signs wood pellet deal

Sydney, 14 March (Argus) — New Zealand utility Genesis Energy has signed an initial agreement with biomass developer Carbona to study the viability of commercial wood pellet supply to the Huntly Power Station, supporting efforts to transition it from coal-fired power to wood-fired. Carbona is also building a 180,000 t/yr torrefied wood pellet plant in central North Island, it announced on 14 March. The company plans to sell the pellets it produces at the site to major utilities in New Zealand and abroad, beginning in 2028. Genesis-operated Huntly is New Zealand's largest power station, supplying the country's grid with 1,200MW, and currently runs on gas-fired and coal-fired generators. But Genesis has been exploring opportunities to substitute coal with biomass at Huntly over recent years. Genesis signed a non-binding pellet purchase agreement with Australian biomass producer Foresta last month. The utility at that time said that it would need 300,000 t/yr of torrefied wood pellets by 2028 to achieve its coal reduction goals. Carbona's deal with Genesis also comes just days after the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment released data showing that coal and gas-fired electricity generation across New Zealand collapsed in the October-December 2024 quarter , dropping by 42pc on the year. By Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Dangote refinery buys first cargo of Eq Guinea crude

25/03/13

Dangote refinery buys first cargo of Eq Guinea crude

London, 13 March (Argus) — Nigeria's 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery has bought its first cargo of Equatorial Guinea's medium sweet Ceiba crude, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. Dangote bought the 950,000 bl cargo loading over 12-13 April from BP earlier this week, sources told Argus . Price levels of the deal were kept under wraps. Most Ceiba exports typically go to China. Around 18,000 b/d discharged there last year, while three shipments went to Spain and one to the Netherlands, according to Vortexa data. This year, two cargoes loading in February and March are signalling Zhanjiang in China, according to tracking data. Traders note that buying a Ceiba cargo is part of Dangote's efforts to diversify its crude sources. Last month the refinery bought its first cargo of Algeria's light sweet Saharan Blend crude from trading firm Glencore, which is due to be delivered over 15-20 March. Market sources said Dangote seems to have sourced competitively priced crude from Equatorial Guinea at a time when domestic grades are facing sluggish demand from Nigeria's core European market amid ample supply of cheaper Kazakh-origin light sour CPC Blend, US WTI and Mediterranean sweet crudes. Several European refineries are due to undergo maintenance in April, which is also weighing on demand. Nigeria's state-owned NNPC is currently in negotiations with the Dangote refinery about extending a local currency crude sales arrangement , which involves crude prices being set in dollars and Dangote paying the naira equivalent at a discounted exchange rate. Any changes to the terms of the programme may pressure Dangote to increase the amount of foreign crude in its slate. Refinery sources told Argus in January that Dangote will source at least 50pc of its crude needs on the import market and is building eight storage tanks to facilitate this. By Sanjana Shivdas 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

25/03/13

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.

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