Colombia's electricity woes add to unrest against Petro

: Electricity, Oil products
24/04/22

Colombians took the streets of major cities and towns across the nation on Sunday to protest mainly against health, pension and labor changes, but potential power outages are also creating discontent.

Authorities estimated that about 250,000 Colombians marched in widespread protests, sparked by changes in healthcare. Congress in April had rejected President Gustavo Petro's proposals in the sector, and the government the next day seized the two largest private-sector health insurers. Protesting healthcare workers say the government did this to implement changes through a back channel.

"Regulatory noise and risk are likely to remain high amid announcements, proposals, and measures [that do not require congressional approval], aimed at changing the game's rules in strategic sectors," brokerage Credicorp Capital said.

Colombians also protested being on the verge of electricity rationing like that in neighboring Ecuador as hydroelectric reservoirs remain at record-low levels. Several unions and other associations have long warned the Petro administration to take measures to offset the effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Electricity distributors last year called for allowing bills for energy purchased on the spot market to be deferred and for loosening price index rules, among other proposals. The national business council sent at least three letters to the president on the issue. At least nine separate letters calling for preparation to prevent blackouts were sent to the president and ministers. Several actions were only recently implemented.

"There are no risk of electricity rationing in Colombia," former energy minister Irene Velez said in 2023. "We do not understand why some people are interested in generating panic."

Government weather forecasts also overestimated rainfall expected for March, leading hydroelectric plants to use more water in the reservoirs than they otherwise would have, said director of the thermoelectric generation association (Andeg) Alejandro Castaneda.

Reservoir levels stood at 29.5pc today, rising thanks to rains since 19 April, up from 28.75pc on 18 April. Electricity rationing is set to begin when reservoirs drop below 27pc, according to grid operator XM.

By Diana Delgado

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

25/06/12

Ultracargo expande linhas férreas para combustíveis

Sao Paulo, 12 June (Argus) — A empresa de logística Ultracargo finalizou a construção de um desvio ferroviário conectando o terminal de etanol de Paulínia, em São Paulo, com seu terminal em Rondonópolis, em Mato Grosso, para facilitar o transporte de etanol de milho e derivados de petróleo do Centro-Oeste para o Sudeste. A operação, que poderá funcionar com até 80 vagões, terá capacidade para transportar 180.000m³ de combustíveis por viagem e movimentar até 3 milhões de m³/ ano de etanol e 3 milhões de m³/ano de derivados de petróleo. O desvio liga o maior terminal independente de etanol do país com Mato Grosso, o maior produtor de etanol de milho do Brasil, através de 4,4km de linhas ferroviárias. A empresa investiu cerca de R$200 milhões para construir o projeto, que está conectado à malha ferroviária da empresa de logística Rumo, que também finalizou recentemente os trabalhos para aumentar sua capacidade de movimentação até o porto de Santos, em São Paulo. A Ultracargo informou que a utilização de trens em vez de caminhões para longas distâncias também reduzirá a emissão de gases de efeito estufa em 35pc – cerca de 51.000 toneladas de CO2 equivalente. A empresa também planeja entregar outros trechos de linhas ferroviárias e expandir a capacidade de armazenagem no terminal de Rondonópolis, assim como inaugurar o terminal de Palmeirante, em Tocantins, para melhorar o transporte de combustíveis no Arco Norte até o fim de 2025. Esses corredores logísticos ajudarão a diminuir os gargalos, custos e impactos ambientais, disse o diretor da Ultracargo Fulvius Tomelin. Por Maria Albuquerque Envie comentários e solicite mais informações em feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . Todos os direitos reservados.

EPA readies new biofuel blend mandate proposal

25/06/12

EPA readies new biofuel blend mandate proposal

New York, 12 June (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration is close to releasing two regulations informing oil refiners how much biofuel they must blend into the conventional fuel supply. The two rules — proposed biofuel blend mandates for at least 2026 and most likely for 2027 as well as a separate final rule cutting cellulosic fuel mandates for last year — exited White House review on Wednesday, the last step before major regulations can be released. Previously scheduled meetings as part of the process appear to have been cancelled, another signal that the rules' release is imminent. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said it wants to get the frequently delayed Renewable Fuel Standard program back on its statutory timeline, which would require volumes for 2027 to be finalized before November this year. Any proposal will have to go through the typical public comment process and could be changed. A coalition of biofuel-producing groups and feedstock suppliers, including the American Petroleum Institute, has pushed EPA to set a biomass-based diesel mandate of 5.25bn USG for 2026, hoping that a record-high target will support biorefineries that have struggled this year. Many plants have idled or run less recently, as uncertainty about future blend mandates, the halting rollout of a new clean fuel tax credit, and tariffs that up feedstock costs all hurt margins. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin also told a House subcommittee last month the agency wanted "to get caught up as quickly as we can" on a backlog of small refiner requests for program exemptions. Courts took issue with EPA's exemption policy during Trump's first term and again during President Joe Biden's tenure, leaving officials now with dozens of waiver requests covering multiple compliance years still pending. It is unclear whether the rule will provide clarity on EPA's plans for program waivers — including whether the agency will up obligations on other parties to make up for exempt small refiners — but biofuel groups have worried that widespread exemptions would curb demand for their products. The price of Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits used for program compliance have been volatile this year on rumors about these exemptions, which EPA has called market manipulation. RIN trading picked up and prices rose on the news as Thursday's session began. Bids and offers for 2025 ethanol D6 RINs, the most prevalent type currently trading, began the day at 96¢/RIN and 98¢/RIN, respectively. Deals were struck shortly after at 98¢/RIN and 99¢/RIN, with seller interest at one point reaching 100¢/RIN — well above a 95.5¢/RIN settle on Wednesday. Biomass-based diesel D4 RINs with concurrent vintage followed the same path with sellers holding ground as high as 107¢/RIN. By Cole Martin and Matthew Cope Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

UK ETS emissions fell by 11pc on the year in 2024

25/06/12

UK ETS emissions fell by 11pc on the year in 2024

Seville, 12 June (Argus) — Emissions in sectors covered by the UK emissions trading scheme (ETS) declined by 11.5pc year on year in 2024, data published by the UK ETS authority show, slowing their decline slightly from the previous year. Stationary installations covered by the UK ETS emitted 76.7mn t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), down by 12.9pc from 2023, the data show. But this was offset somewhat by a 2pc increase in aviation emissions to 8.99mn t CO2e. Overall UK ETS emissions now have declined for two consecutive years, having fallen by 12.5pc in 2023. Emissions under the scheme rose by 2.5pc in 2022, as a strong rebound in aviation activity following earlier Covid-19 restrictions outweighed declining stationary emissions. Stationary emissions have decreased in every year since the scheme launched in 2021. The majority of the decline in stationary emissions under the UK ETS last year took place in the power sector, where emissions dropped by 18.2pc to 30.6mn t CO2e. The country's last coal-fired plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, closed in September last year. And the share of gas-fired output in the generation mix dipped as wind, solar and biomass production and electricity imports edged higher. Industrial emissions also declined, by 8.9pc to 46.1mn t CO2e. The iron and steel sector posted the largest relative drop of 30pc to 6.54mn t CO2e. Emissions from crude extraction fell by 6.4pc to 6.0mn t CO2e, while emissions from gas extraction, manufacture and distribution activities decreased by 8.9pc to 5.3mn t CO2e. The chemicals sector emitted 2.28mn t CO2e, down by 5.2pc on the year. A total of 43 installations were marked as having surrendered fewer carbon allowances than their cumulative emissions since the launch of the UK ETS, as of 1 May. A further two installations failed to report their emissions by the deadline. "Appropriate enforcement action" will be taken against operators that fail to surrender the required allowances, the UK ETS authority said. Overall greenhouse gas emissions across the UK economy dropped by a smaller 4pc last year, data published by the government in March show. This decline also was driven principally by lower gas and coal use in the power and industry sectors, with smaller declines in transport and agriculture, not covered by the UK ETS, and an increase in buildings emissions, also out of the scheme's scope. Emissions under the EU ETS in 2024 dipped by a projected 4.5pc from a year earlier, based on preliminary data published by the European Commission in April. The UK and EU last month announced that they will "work towards" linking the two systems together. By Victoria Hatherick UK ETS emissions mn t CO2e Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Ice gasoil backwardation widens as supply tightens

25/06/12

Ice gasoil backwardation widens as supply tightens

London, 12 June (Argus) — The premium of front-month Ice gasoil futures against the second-month futures has widened over the past two weeks, reflecting tighter supply. The premium of Ice June futures against the July contract settled at $9.50/t on Wednesday, 11 June. The backwardation — where prompt prices are greater than forward prices — has steepened in the past two weeks, peaking at a premium of $16/t on Tuesday, 10 June, the joint-widest in 14 months along with 11 March. Two weeks ago, on 23 May, the premium settled at $6.50/t. The June contract expires today, which could have contributed to the steepening backwardation as traders close their open positions, according to market participants. But the size of the premium suggests a tightening market. A closed arbitrage from the Mideast Gulf and India since April has reduced supply to Europe, European traders have said. Only 2.97mn t of diesel and other gasoil has arrived in Europe from the Mideast Gulf and India in April and May, according to ship-tracking service Vortexa, compared with about 5.72mn t in the same period last year. The arbitrage has been closed because of relative weakness in European prices compared with those in Singapore. The premium of front-month Ice gasoil futures against Singaporean equivalents averaged $18.65/t in May, compared with $23.81/t in May 2024. Singaporean middle distillate stocks fell to a nine-month low in the week ending 23 April, increasing demand for imports. European diesel values fell sharply at the start of April in response to the implementation of US tariffs, largely because of dampened expectations of industrial performance, and have not recovered. The start of the Mediterranean emissions control area (ECA) at the start of May has also placed strain on European supply of diesel and other gasoil. The ECA requires ships in the Mediterranean to use fuel with a sulphur content of 0.1pc, rather than the previous requirement of 0.5pc. Marine gasoil (MGO) fits the new requirement, as does ultra-low sulphur fuel oil (ULSFO). With supply of the latter limited in Europe, the majority of shipowners have switched to MGO. Refineries have probably increased MGO production to meet this new demand, but MGO supply is still "very tight" , a Mediterranean-based marine fuels trader said. Most of the gasoil used for blending in MGO is suitable for desulphurisation and use as road fuel, and so it diversion into marine fuels restricts supply of diesel. Independently-held inventories of diesel and other gasoil at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub have dropped since the start of April. The four-week average came to about 2.1mn t on 5 June, lower on the year by 8.5pc, according to consultancy Insights Global. On 3 April the four-week average was 5.1pc higher than a year earlier. A recovery in Rhine river water levels in recent weeks , after lows that restricted barge movement inland from ARA, contributed to the stockdraw. By Josh Michalowski Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EPA seeks end to power plant CO2, mercury rules

25/06/11

EPA seeks end to power plant CO2, mercury rules

Washington, 11 June (Argus) — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday proposed the repeal of CO2 and mercury emissions standards for power plants, its latest steps in an effort to undo many of the regulations enacted by President Donald Trump's predecessors The agency said the repeals will help bring about an end to the "war on much of our domestic energy supply" waged by previous administrations, while saving consumers money "We have chosen to both protect the environment and grow the economy," EPA administrator Lee Zeldin said. "There was this false binary choice made before we got here." Together, the repeals would save more than $1bn/yr for American families, Zeldin said. The standards, finalized last year by EPA during the administration of former president Joe Biden, cover CO2 emissions from existing and new coal-fired power plants and new natural gas-fired units, as well as mercury emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants. At the time, EPA said the CO2 rules will lead to a 90pc reduction in emissions from coal-fired power plants, while it tightened the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for coal- and oil-fired units by 67pc and included new emissions-monitoring requirements. In addition, the MATS for lignite-fired units were tightened by 70pc to put them in line with the standards for other coal plants. The CO2 rule includes standards for new coal and gas units and guidance for existing coal-fired power plants, the latter of which vary by unit type, size and other factors such as whether a power plant provides baseload or backup power. It does not include standards for existing gas-fired generators, which EPA had proposed in 2023 but last year decided to scrap in favor of a "new, comprehensive approach". While the CO2 regulation would be fully repealed, Zeldin said the agency is proposing to only undo last year's "gratuitous" changes to MATS, such as the new lignite standards. "If finalized no power plant will be allowed to emit more than they do now or as much as they did one or two years ago," he said. In addition to repealing the two Biden regulations, EPA is proposing to undo the Clean Power Plan, developed by the agency during the administration of former president Barack Obama. It would do this in part by reversing a previous agency determination that it could regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from power plants, and by also finding that those emissions "do not contribute significantly to dangerous air pollution." The Clean Power Plan has never been enforced, and the US Supreme Court in 2022 ruled the agency lacked the authority to regulate CO2 emissions from power plants in the way envisioned by that approach. Unlike during Trump's first term, when EPA first sought to repeal the Clean Power Plan, the agency this time around is not proposing any replacement. The previous replacement rule was struck down by the US District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals in 2021. The lack of a new rule could make EPA more vulnerable to legal challenges, which are all but certain to be filed by environmental groups and some states. "This administration is transparently trading American lives for campaign dollars and the support of fossil fuel companies, and Americans ought to be disgusted and outraged that their government has launched an assault on our health and our future," Sierra Club climate policy director Patrick Drupp said. Zeldin said he was not concerned about any potential litigation. "I would say with great enthusiasm and excitement for the future, I know we are absolutely going down the right path," he said. Coal and electric sector groups cheered EPA's proposal. "Today's announcement nullifies two of EPA's most consequential air rules, removing deliberately unattainable standards and leveling the playing field for reliable power sources, instead of stacking the deck against them," National Mining Association president Rich Nolan said. EPA in March included the CO2 and mercury rules among 31 Obama and Biden-era regulations and actions it planned to review and potentially repeal. Since then, the White House has identified more than 60 fossil fuel-fired power plants that will have two extra years to comply with the more-stringent MATS, giving them a reprieve while EPA works to formally repeal the regulations. The March announcement also included a reconsideration of the 2009 endangerment finding for GHG emissions, which underpins all of the major climate regulations EPA issued in recent years. "I don't have anything to announce today as it relates to any proposed rulemaking that may be to come on that topic," Zeldin said. EPA will open a 45-day public comment period on each proposed repeal once they are published in the Federal Register . By Michael Ball Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. 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