India mulls using more natural gas in steel sector

: Emissions, Metals, Natural gas
24/04/19

India's steel ministry is considering increasing natural gas consumption in the sector as it aims to lower carbon emissions from the industry.

Steelmakers held a meeting with the steel ministry earlier this month, to discuss challenges and avenues to increase gas allocation to the sector, according to a government document seen by Argus. Steel producers requested that the government set gas prices at an affordable range of $7-8/mn Btu for them, to make their gas-based plants viable, as well as for a custom duty waiver on LNG procured for captive power. India's LNG imports attract a custom duty of 2.5pc. City gas distribution firms sell gas at market-determined prices to steel companies.

Representatives from the steel industry also requested for the inclusion of gas under the purview of the country's goods and service tax, and to be given higher priority in the allocation of deepwater gas, which has a higher calorific value. Deepwater gas is currently deployed mostly to city gas distribution networks.

Steelmakers are currently undertaking feasibility tests for gas pipeline connectivity at various steel plants. But a gas supply transmission agreement requires a minimum five-year period for investment approval.

The steel industry is heavily reliant on coal, and the sector accounts for about 8-10pc of carbon emissions in the country.

A task force of gas suppliers including IOC, Gail, BPCL, Shell, and HPCL and steel producers like Tata Steel, AMNS, All India Steel Re-roller Association and the Pellet Manufacturers Association has been set up, and the team is expected to submit a report on increasing natural gas usage and lowering carbon emissions by 15 May, the government document said. This team is one of the 13 task forces approved by the steel ministry to define the country's green steel roadmap.

The steel ministry aims to increase green steel exports from the country in the light of the policies under the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will take effect on 1 January 2026. Under the CBAM, importers will need to declare the quantity of goods imported into the EU in the preceding year and their corresponding greenhouse gas emissions. The importers will then have to surrender the corresponding number of CBAM certificates. CBAM certificate prices will be calculated based on the weekly average auction price of EU Emissions Trading System allowances, expressed in €/t of CO2 emitted.

This is of higher importance to Indian steelmakers as the EU was the top finished steel export destination for Indian steelmakers during the April 2022-March 2023 fiscal year with total exports of 2.34mn t, and has been the preferred choice for Indian steel exports in the current fiscal year owing to higher prices compared to other regions.

Indian steelmakers have started to take steps to lower their carbon emissions by announcing collaborations with technology companies to decarbonise, and are trial injecting hydrogen in blast furnaces, and increasing the usage of natural gas in ironmaking.

By Rituparna Ghosh

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25/06/14

Israel strikes Iran gas plants in first energy attacks

Dubai, 14 June (Argus) — Israel launched drone strikes on two gas treatment facilities in southern Iran on 14 June, marking the first attacks on energy infrastructure since the latest round of hostilities began on 13 June. Israeli drones targeted a gas treatment plant in Assaluyeh that processes sour gas from phase 14 of the offshore South Pars gas field, Iranian state media reported. South Pars, which Iran shares with Qatar, is the world's largest gas field and has 24 development phases. Images and videos circulating on social media showed parts of the Assaluyeh facility on fire. The plant includes four gas sweetening trains, each with a capacity of 14mn m³/d, enabling total output of up to 56mn m³/d from phase 14. At full capacity, the phase can produce 77,000 b/d of gas condensate, 2,900 t/d of LPG, 2,750 t/d of ethane and 400 t/d of sulphur. One of the four trains was hit, temporarily halting 12mn m³/d of production from one offshore platform, according to state media. A separate fire broke out at the Fajr-e-Jam gas processing plant, which handles gas from both South Pars and the Kangan field, and produces around 200 t/d of LPG and 80 t/d of gas liquids. Iran's oil ministry said emergency teams were deployed to both sites immediately after the incidents, helping to contain the fires. South Pars has been in production since 2002 and accounts for 70–75pc of Iran's total gas output. The field also supplies a significant share of feedstock for Iran's petrochemical and gasoline production. The Qatari portion of the field is known as the North field. Saturday's attacks are the first time either side has targeted energy infrastructure. Israel focused on military and nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow when it launched its initial attacks in the early hours of 13 June. Iran responded with ballistic missile and drone strikes on military targets in Israel, including the Kirya complex in Tel Aviv, which houses the defence ministry headquarters. Further Israeli strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure could threaten up to 3.4mn b/d of crude output and around 1.5mn b/d of exports. By Nader Itayim Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump approves Nippon Steel’s acquisition of USS

25/06/14

Trump approves Nippon Steel’s acquisition of USS

Tokyo, 14 June (Argus) — US president Donald Trump approved Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel's $15bn acquisition plan of US Steel in his executive order that reversed his predecessor's decision to block the deal, the Whitehouse announced late on 13 June. The threat to national security for the US arising as a result of the deal can be adequately mitigated by entering into a National Security Agreement (NSA) with Nippon and US Steel, Trump said in a statement. Former US president Joe Biden on 3 January rejected the proposed merger plan, citing national security concerns with a Japanese firm owning a major US steel maker. The firms signed the NSA with the US government yesterday, following Trump's executive order, Nippon Steel told Argus , leaving no major obstacles to proceed with the transaction. "We thank President Trump and his Administration for their bold leadership and strong support for our historic partnership. This partnership will bring a massive investment," the firms said. The partnership means an acquisition of US Steel, the representative of Nippon Steel who spoke to Argus reiterated, rejecting speculation that the approved investment plan does not entail a merger bid. Nippon Steel will make a $11bn investment in US Steel by 2028 as part of the requirements by the NSA, according to the Japanese firm. It will start investing in the US this year after necessary regulatory approvals were granted, the company told Argus . The Japanese steel producer will also issue a "golden share" to the US government as required under the NSA, according to the White House. A "golden share" typically grants its holder the right to veto decisions by the firm's board members or its majority shareholders. But Nippon Steel told Argus that the company freedomto run US Steel is guaranteed, rejecting speculation that the US government would retain full control of the business. A "golden share" can take a variety of forms, the representative told Argus , although the Japanese firm did not disclose if the White House is granted veto power. The Trump's executive order is likely to settle the 18-month approval process that faced a number of challenges including legal action by the firms against the Biden administration and opposition to the deal by the United Steelworkers (USW) union. Nippon Steel persists in the US market because it is the most prominent steel market among the advanced economies with robust demand for high quality steel products, said Eiji Hashimoto, chief executive of Nippon Steel in January . The acquisition of US Steel is the only promising solution to strengthen the steel industries in both countries, Hashimoto added. The Japanese steelmaker and US Steel agreed on the acquisition in part because the collaboration would enhance US Steel's ability to serve automobile, construction and other industries including emerging energy transition sectors, according to the firms. Nippon Steel is among the top producers of electrical steel essential to electric vehicles production, according to the Japanese producer. Nippon Steel is targeting India, the US and southeast Asia as strategic regions to achieve 100mn t/yr of crude steel production globally as part of its mid- to long-term strategy. By Yusuke Maekawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EPA proposes record US biofuel mandates: Update

25/06/13

EPA proposes record US biofuel mandates: Update

Updates with new pricing, reactions throughout. New York, 13 June (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration today proposed requiring record biofuel blending into the US fuel supply over the next two years, including unexpectedly strong quotas for biomass-based diesel. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal, which still must be finalized, projects oil refiners will need to blend 5.61bn USG of biomass-based diesel to comply with requirements in 2026 and 5.86bn USG in 2027. Those estimates — while uncertain — would be a 67pc increase in 2026 and a 75pc increase in 2027 from this year's 3.35bn USG requirement, above what most industry groups had sought. The proposal alone is likely to boost biofuel production, which has been down to start the year as biorefineries have struggled to grapple with uncertainty about future blend mandates, the halting rollout of a new clean fuel tax credit, and higher import tariffs. The National Oilseed Processors Association said hiking the biomass-based diesel mandate to the proposed levels would bring "idled capacity back online" and spur "additional investments" in the biofuel supply chain. The EPA proposal also would halve Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits generated from foreign biofuels and biofuels produced from foreign feedstocks, a major change that could increase US crop demand and hurt renewable diesel plants that source many of their inputs from abroad. US farm groups have lamented refiners' rising use of Chinese used cooking oil and Brazilian tallow to make renewable diesel, and EPA's proposal if finalized would sharply reduce the incentive to do so. Biofuel imports from producers with major refineries abroad, notably including Neste, would also be far less attractive. The proposal asks for comment, however, on a less restrictive policy that would only treat fuels and feedstocks from "a subset of countries" differently. And EPA still expects a substantial role for imported product regardless, estimating in a regulatory impact analysis that domestic fuels from domestic feedstocks will make up about 62pc of biomass-based diesel supply next year. The Renewable Fuel Standard program requires US oil refiners and importers to blend biofuels into the conventional fuel supply or buy credits from those who do. One USG of corn ethanol generates one RIN, but more energy-dense fuels like renewable diesel can earn more. In total, the rule would require 24.02bn RINs to be retired next year and 24.46bn RINs in 2027. That includes a specific 7.12bn RIN mandate for biomass-based diesel in 2026 and 7.5bn in 2027, and an implied mandate for corn ethanol flat from prior years at 15bn RINs. EPA currently sets biomass-based diesel mandates in physical gallons but is proposing a change to align with how targets for other program categories work. US soybean oil futures surged following the release of the EPA proposal, closing at their highest price in more than four weeks, and RIN credits rallied similarly on bullish expectations for higher biofuel demand and domestic feedstock prices. D4 biomass-diesel credits traded as high as 117.75¢/RIN, up from a 102.5¢/RIN settle on Thursday, while D6 conventional credits traded as high as 110¢/RIN. Bids for both retreated later in the session while prices still closed the day higher. Proposed targets are less aspirational for the cellulosic biofuel category, where biogas generates most credits. EPA proposes lowering the 2025 mandate to 1.19bn RINs, down from from 1.38bn RINs previously required, with 2026 and 2027 targets proposed at 1.30bn RINs and 1.36bn RINs, respectively. In a separate final rule today, EPA cut the 2024 cellulosic mandate to 1.01bn RINs from 1.09bn previously required, a smaller cut than initially proposed, and made available special "waiver" credits refiners can purchase at a fixed price to comply. Small refinery exemptions The proposal includes little clarity on EPA's future policy around program exemptions, which small refiners can request if they claim blend mandates will cause them disproportionate economic hardship. EPA predicted Friday that exemptions for the 2026 and 2027 compliance years could total anywhere from zero to 18bn USG of gasoline and diesel and provided no clues as to how it will weigh whether individual refiners, if any, deserve program waivers. The rule does suggest EPA plans to continue a policy from past administrations of estimating future exempted volumes when calculating the percentage of biofuels individual refiners must blend in the future, which would effectively require those with obligations to shoulder more of the burden to meet high-level 2026 and 2027 targets. Notably though, the proposal says little about how EPA is weighing a backlog of more than a hundred requests for exemptions stretching from 2016 to 2025. An industry official briefed on Friday ahead of the rule's release said Trump administration officials were "coy" about their plans for the backlog. Many of these refiners had already submitted RINs to comply with old mandates and could push for some type of compensation if granted retroactive waivers, making this part of the program especially hard to implement. And EPA would invite even more legal scrutiny if it agreed to biofuel groups' lobbying to "reallocate" newly exempted volumes from many years prior into future standards. EPA said it plans to "communicate our policy regarding [exemption] petitions going forward before finalization of this rule". Industry groups expect the agency will try to conclude the rule-making before November. The proposed mandates for 2026-2027 will have to go through the typical public comment process and could be changed as regulators weigh new data on biofuel production and food and fuel prices. Once the program updates are finalized, lawsuits are inevitable. A federal court is still weighing the legality of past mandates, and the Supreme Court is set to rule this month on the proper court venue for litigating small refinery exemption disputes. Environmentalists are likely to probe the agency's ultimate assessment of costs and benefits, including the climate costs of encouraging crop-based fuels. Oil companies could also have a range of complaints, from the record-high mandates to the creative limits on foreign feedstocks. American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers senior vice president Geoff Moody noted that EPA was months behind a statutory deadline for setting 2026 mandates and said it would "strongly oppose any reallocation of small refinery exemptions" if finalized. By Cole Martin and Matthew Cope Proposed 2026-2027 renewable volume obligations bn RINs Fuel type 2026 2027 Cellulosic biofuel 1.30 1.36 Biomass-based diesel 7.12 7.50 Advanced biofuel 9.02 9.46 Total renewable fuel 24.02 24.46 Implied ethanol mandate 15 15 — EPA Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Japan’s Jera signs LNG supply agreements with the US

25/06/13

Japan’s Jera signs LNG supply agreements with the US

Singapore, 13 June (Argus) — Japanese power producer Jera said this week that it has signed multiple long-term LNG supply agreements with US partners over the past two months, to procure up to 5.5mn t/yr over 20 years. This includes 2mn t/yr from NextDecade and 1mn t/yr from Commonwealth LNG. It also signed non-binding interim agreements with Sempra Infrastructure for 1.5mn t/yr and with developer Cheniere for 1mn t/yr. The deals offer competitive pricing and flexible contract terms. All supply will be delivered on a fob basis priced against the US' Henry Hub, allowing Jera to optimise shipping routes and respond flexibly to domestic demand and market conditions, the company said. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Limited prompt impact on LNG from Israel-Iran conflict

25/06/13

Limited prompt impact on LNG from Israel-Iran conflict

London, 13 June (Argus) — Israel has halted production at two of its major gas fields and cut pipeline exports to Egypt, but resulting LNG demand may only come later this summer when Egypt builds out its LNG import capacity. Israel's Karish and Leviathan fields have stopped production following a government order issued in the wake of Israeli airstrikes on Iran . Israel's energy ministry today said it expects the minister to declare a state of emergency in the gas sector. Pipeline exports to Egypt and Jordan have since dropped sharply, market participants said, resulting in Egypt cutting gas supply to urea plants as it prioritises gas for power generation. But Egypt has access to only one LNG import terminal at present — the 170,000m³ Hoegh Galleon floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at Ain Sukhna. Three carriers were holding offshore today waiting to deliver, and the terminal is importing at maximum capacity already, so Egypt cannot import more than it already is through the facility. And Jordan no longer has LNG import capacity, with the 160,000m³ Energos Eskimo having departed ahead of installation later this summer in Egypt. The FSRU at present is at a shipyard in Egypt's Ain Sukhna, unable to import LNG for either Jordan or Egypt. The gas supply cuts from Israel also come ahead of the region's peak cooling demand season. LNG demand could rise if Israeli gas supply is constrained for an extended period of time. Egypt plans to build out its LNG import terminal capacity to three FSRUs later this summer, as well as an additional temporary FSRU for summer leased from Turkey's Botas, and additional LNG import capacity would allow for stronger imports if Israeli supply remains constrained. Two of these FSRUs — the Energos Eskimo and 174,000m³ Energos Power — are at Egyptian shipyards and could be installed in the coming weeks or months. Egypt is understood to have bought at least 110 cargoes for delivery this year , which is equivalent to just under 8mn t. But the country plans to add about 18mn t/yr of LNG import capacity for its peak summer season, assuming 750mn ft³/d of regasification capacity at three FSRUs. Egypt imported 10.2bn m³, or almost 8mn t, of pipeline gas from Israel last year, according to data from the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (Jodi), meaning that with three FSRUs, Egypt has enough capacity to substitute lost Israeli volumes with LNG imports. But it remains unclear for how long Israeli gas exports will be curtailed. Iran also struck Israeli targets with missiles in early October last year , with Israel's Tamar and Leviathan fields having gone off line temporarily, although production returned after one day. Another potential impact of escalating tensions in the Middle East is disruption to shipping around the Strait of Hormuz, but LNG carriers have continued to transit the route as normal today. The tensions could compound insurance costs, adding to shipping costs from the Middle East. More than 80mn t/yr of LNG supply, mostly from Qatar, has to transit the Strait of Hormuz to reach international delivered markets. By Martin Senior Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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