India raises commercial LPG prices
Indian state-controlled oil marketing companies have raised commercial LPG cylinder prices for August after cutting prices for four consecutive months since April. A 19kg commercial LPG cylinder in Delhi now costs 1,652.5 rupees ($20), up by Rs6.5 from a month earlier, and in Mumbai costs Rs1,605, up by Rs7 from a month earlier. Prices in Kolkata rose by Rs8.5 to Rs1,764.5, while prices in Chennai rose by Rs7.5 to Rs1,817, state-controlled refiner IOC's website shows. Prices for 14kg residential cylinders remained at Rs803 in Delhi, Rs802.50 in Mumbai, Rs829 in Kolkata and Rs818.50 in Chennai.
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Roadblocks across Colombia cut LPG supply
Roadblocks across Colombia cut LPG supply
Bogota, 5 September (Argus) — Colombia's LPG shortages are worsening as a fourth day of protests and roadblocks over higher diesel prices are limiting production and distribution. Protesters have completely blocked roads to processing plants in the key Cusiana and Cupiagua fields, preventing trucks from moving supply. Those two fields along with the Ty Gas processing plant handle 41pc of the country's LPG supply, LPG association (Agremgas) director Sara Velez told Argus . Colombia uses about 60,000 metric tonnes (t)/month of LPG. The Cusiana plant that produces about 15,000t/month of LPG is flaring 100t/d of LPG that cannot be transported, Velez said. "If Cusiana is unable to move out the LPG, it may force it to shut in, affecting natural gas as well," Velez said. Blockades are also preventing LPG produced at the 250,000 b/d Barrancabermeja and the 200,000 b/d Cartagena refineries from reaching distributors. The refineries produce 24pc of the country's LPG supply, equivalent to 14,400t/month. Adding to troubles, multiple rebel attacks have put sections of the country's 220,000 b/d Cano Limon-Covenas and the 120,000 b/d Bicentenario crude pipelines out of service for repairs, restricting crude supply to the refineries. The smaller LPG field of Capacho controlled by Canadian oil company Parex shut in 5,000 b/d of oil equivalent (boe/d), or about 10pc of its Colombian output. That reduced LPG supplies to the Arauca department, the LPG association added. The departments of Caqueta, Cundinamarca and Valle del Cauca have inventories for four days. Another 28 departments have LPG inventory for one or two days. Velez has called on the government to create a safe corridor to help LPG reach consumers. The LPG shortage is also affecting industries. Fenavi, the country's poultry association, consumes 42mn kg/yr of LPG, which is equivalent to state-controlled Ecopetrol's monthly LPG production. The LPG is used to warm the poultry, but the association also said that blockades have also cut supplies of feed and could put the chickens at risk of starvation. The country produces 1.8mn tonnes/yr of chickens and 1.6bn eggs/yr. In Colombia 1.2mn families already still cook with wood, and the current shortage will likely increase that number. By Diana Delgado Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Order ending Canadian rail work stoppage appealed
Order ending Canadian rail work stoppage appealed
Washington, 30 August (Argus) — A Canadian rail employees union is appealing federal government orders that last week forced the resumption of rail service and sent the union and two railroads to binding arbitration. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) filed an appeal with the Federal Court of Appeal on Thursday, challenging labour minister Steven MacKinnon's order ending the work stoppage and sending the parties to binding arbitration under the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). The union also appealed CIRB's 24 August decision upholding that order . "These decisions, if left unchallenged, set a dangerous precedent where a single politician can bust a union at will," union president Paul Boucher said. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) declined to comment on the appeal, saying only that "operations continue and recovery is progressing well." Canadian National (CN) did not address the appeal directly but said it is prepared to participate in binding arbitration. "While that process is ongoing, we are focusing on our recovery plan and powering the economy," CN said. MacKinnon's 22 August order ended the work stoppage less than 18 hours after the union launched a strike at CPKC, while CPKC and CN locked out union members . The work stoppage froze ongoing rail operations, even though shipments of hazardous materials and other products had already ceased. The union subsequently notified CN that members would go on strike on 26 August. That strike was averted by the CIRB ruling on MacKinnon's order. By Abby Caplan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Low water spurs Mississippi River restrictions
Low water spurs Mississippi River restrictions
Houston, 27 August (Argus) — The US Coast Guard implemented draft restrictions for the lower Mississippi River yesterday as water levels fall. Beginning from around Tiptonville, Tennessee, to Rosedale, Mississippi, southbound barge drafts cannot be greater than 11ft and tow more than seven barges wide. Southbound transit from Rosedale to Tunica, Mississippi, cannot have a draft deeper than 11.5ft. Northbound drafts from Tunica to Tiptonville cannot be greater than 10ft. The operating drafts were reduced to 9ft in mid-October , but water levels began declining in June last year. The low water threshold of -2ft has been passed at Tunica Mhoon Landing, Mississippi, reaching -3.4ft. Memphis, Tennessee is only 2.5ft above its low water threshold. The US Coast Guard has initiated a 9ft draft requirement over the last two years when several points along the lower Mississippi have fallen below their low water threshold. Multiple sites on the lower Mississippi are forecast to reach their low water thresholds by the second week of September, according to the National Weather Service. Southbound freight rates are likely to rise as draft restrictions force barge carriers to employ larger fleets to move the same volumes, especially as crop harvests continue. With restrictions on the number of towable barges, more transits will have to occur for both south and northbound products. Grain exporters at New Orleans have taken to the sidelines as the risk of grain being caught on the lower Mississippi River has increased. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Canadian labor board orders rail service to resume
Canadian labor board orders rail service to resume
Houston, 25 August (Argus) — Canada's two Class I railroads avoided a crippling extended work stoppage on Saturday, after an independent labor board upheld the Canadian government's order for the railroads to enter binding arbitration with a labor union representing more than 9,000 rail employees. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), in two separate orders, directed the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) to enter binding arbitration with the nation's two Class I railroads — Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Canadian National (CN). The order heads off an extended work stoppage that would have echoed across North American supply chains for virtually all commodities, from crude, refined products, LPG and coal to fertilizers like potash, as well as consumer and industrial goods. Virtually all railed shipments carried by CN and CPKC came to a grinding halt early on 22 August after months-long talks between the railroads and the TCRC hit an impasse. Later the same day, the Canadian government stepped in to force parties into binding arbitration, but the TCRC said it would not abide by the directive without a ruling from the CIRB. In its rulings, the CIRB ordered CN and CPKC employees represented by the TCRC to resume their duties as of 12:01 am EDT on 26 August and remain "until the final binding interest arbitration process is completed". The CIRB also ruled that no further labor stoppages, including lockouts or strikes, could occur during the arbitration process, effectively voiding a TCRC strike notice issued on 23 August for CN workers set to take effect on 26 August. CN and CPKC said they will comply with the CIRB order, and CPKC asked TCRC employees to return to work on 25 August "so that we can get the Canadian economy moving again as quickly as possible and avoid further disruption to supply chains". The TCRC said it would comply with the CIRB decision, even though it sets a "dangerous precedent". TCRC plans to appeal the ruling in federal court. "The ruling signals to corporate Canada that large companies need only stop their operations for a few hours, inflict short-term economic pain, and the federal government will step in to break a union," TCRC president Paul Boucher said. "The rights of Canadian workers have been significantly diminished today." It could take weeks for Canadian rail operations to return to normal. CPKC said it could take several weeks for its rail network to fully recover from the work stoppage and even longer for supply chains to stabilize. Canadian railroads last week embargoed shipments of toxic materials and earlier this week stopped loading any new railcars. By Chris Baltimore Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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