Argus Biomass Asia Conference

08.00 - 09.00

Morning registration and networking

09.00 - 09.05

Producer’s opening remarks

09.05 - 09.10

Chairperson’s opening remarks

09.10 - 09.30

Ministerial address: Shaping Asia’s biomass industry – future policies, mandates and incentives

Join this important session to gain better clarity on governmental policies in Malaysia and Indonesia
• How are governments encouraging growth in the biomass markets? Will new incentives and subsidies be put in place?
• What new mandates are emerging, and are regions backing them?
• How can regulatory fragmentation be reduced so that doing business is made easier?

09.30 - 10.00

Argus Market Update: Outlook of the Global and Asian Biomass Markets

• Against the backdrop of recent volatility in the developing biomass market, gain insights on new developments and opportunities as Argus experts discuss supply demand trends and biomass price volatility

10.00 - 10.40

Morning coffee and networking

END-USER PERSPECTIVES – IPPs AND POWER UTILITIES

10.40 - 11.20

Japan as a key demand centre: Key market drivers behind changing biomass consumption

• What are the causes of Japan’s lower than usual biomass demand, and how is this affecting the market?
• How are Japanese utilities adapting their strategies to enhance biomass utilisation amid market challenges?
• What role do government policies and incentives play in shaping the future of biomass demand in Japan?

11.20 - 11.40

South Korea’s evolving biomass landscape: Adapting to REC changes and evolving market demands

• How are the changes to REC requirements in South Korea affecting market dynamics?
• What are buyers seeking from biomass producers in terms of specifications and quality?
• How are South Korean power producers’ strategies for utilising biomass evolving in response to the energy transition?

11.40 - 12.20

FMCG, steel, and cement industries – creating new trends in biomass demand and co-firing

• How are increasing targets to phase out coal consumption and the rising preference for biomass influencing regional biomass demand?
• How is the evolving demand for biomass as a coal alternative shaping market dynamics in the FMCG, steel and cement sectors?
• What challenges are operators facing as they shift towards co-firing and small to medium-scale biomass applications, and what strategies can be employed to overcome these obstacles?

12.20 - 13.20

Networking lunch

PRODUCERS’ CORNER – OUTLOOK OF TRADITIONAL BIOMASS, FROM PKS TO PELLETS

13.20 - 14.00

Pellets panel discussion: Strategies for sustainable supply amid tightening resources and market pressures

• How will Asia meet long-term pellet supply needs?
• As raw material supplies tighten, how is the pellet industry competing with other sectors, such as the furniture industry, for resources?
• How is severe weather in SEA affecting the supply chain, and what role does growing storage capacity play in reducing costs?

14.00 - 14.40

PKS Panel discussion: PKS and its future, looking at southeast Asia

• What factors in the past 12 months have contributed to the present challenges and opportunities for palm kernel shell (PKS) suppliers in Indonesia and Malaysia?
• How are regional governments, including Japan with its new April 2024 regulations, handling biomass regulations, and what steps should producers take to adapt to this evolving and fragmented landscape?
• How are PKS trade flows to Thailand evolving, particularly with cargoes moving to non-traditional markets, and what changes in trade patterns can we anticipate?

14.40 - 15.20

Afternoon coffee and networking

CERTIFICATION – LOOKING AT THE BIOMASS COMPLIANCE MARKET

15.20 - 16.00

Certification panel discussion: Asia’s new biomass rules – compliance and certification in Asia

• What emerging regulations should producers and end-users in Asia be aware of, with a focus on recent changes in Japan and South Korea?
• What are the latest updates and essential aspects of regulatory compliance, including key import/export regulations and tips for successful certification?
• How is the quality of biomass being evaluated, and what strategies can be employed to meet the growing and complex certification requirements?
• What is the impact of the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on biomass production and trade in Asia?

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHTS

16.00 - 16.40

Key developments in India's biomass and bioenergy sector

• With the introduction of new co-firing mandates in India, what are the recent governmental drivers and policy updates influencing biomass production in India, including incentives and penalties for producers?
• How is India advancing its biomass utilisation goals, focusing on woody biomass, palm waste and agricultural residues for energy generation and sustainability?
• What is the outlook for agri-biomass and biogas in India, and how are Indian steelmakers contributing to the demand for biomass in the domestic market?

16.40 - 17.00

Biomass in China’s energy transition: How does the biomass industry compete with other diverse energy sources?

• China plans to phase out coal faster than any other country in Asia. How is the biomass industry fitting into the country’s decarbonisation strategy?
• With China being the largest global producer of pellets, what are the prospects for its domestic market, and is there a future for pellet exports?
• In the context of increasing power consumption and diverse renewable energy sources, how is the biomass industry positioning itself alongside co-firing initiatives with green hydrogen and competition with CCUS, solar and wind energy?

17.00 - 17.05

Chairperson’s closing remarks

17.05

Networking drinks reception

Forge valuable connections in good company, and exchange insights with biomass industry experts.

08.00 - 09.25

Morning registration and networking

09.25 - 09.30

Chairperson’s opening remarks

09.30 - 10.15

Panel discussion: Exploring the role of co-firing with alternative energy sources

• Exploring the role of biomass in co-firing with alternative energy sources such as ammonia and hydrogen: What does the future hold, and how might this affect opportunities for stakeholders in the biomass industry?
• What are the latest advancements in co-firing technologies with thermal coal, including improvements in burn rates, retrofitting and safety procedures? What key technological considerations should be taken into account?
• As Asian countries adopt stricter co-firing regulations, will the supply of biomass be sufficient to meet these new standards?

10.15 - 11.00

Morning coffee and networking

FEEDSTOCK FOCUS

11.00 - 11.40

Panel discussion: The rise of alternative agri-biomass and how it is transforming the traditional biomass market

• What are the growth rates and contributions of increasing agri-feedstock, including sources such as empty fruit bunches, olive pits, bagasse, rice husks, sugar cane, coconut shells and pineapple residue?
• Agri-biomass presents unique processing challenges and higher costs. What are the key price drivers, and how prepared is the biomass industry, along with government incentives, to address these issues?
• How does the use of agri-waste byproducts impact sustainability? Is it financially viable to invest in agri-biomass at this stage, and what are the anticipated timelines for its adoption?

11.40 - 12.20

Panel discussion: The market for liquid fuels – how biomass players can capitalise on the booming biofuels industry?

• How can biomass players leverage opportunities in the thriving biofuels market, including sustainable aviation fuels, POME and traditional biofuels, while identifying preferred feedstocks and key industry players?
• What essential regulations should biomass producers be aware of to align with advanced biofuels and ensure compliance?
• What does the potential future of the biogas industry look like, and how does it fit within the broader liquid fuels market?

BIOMASS GOING GREEN – THE BIOMASS CARBON CORNER

12.20 - 13.20

Networking lunch

13.20 - 13.50

Heat treated pellets: Torrefied biomass, a sustainable solution or just hype?

• Explore the latest developments, longevity and feasibility of torrefied biomass pellets as a coal substitute
• With increasing regulations in countries such as India and Indonesia mandating 5-10pc co-firing, what is the projected growth trajectory for torrefied biomass in the energy sector?
• As demand rises from sectors such as steel manufacturing, what is the commercial viability of torrefied pellets, and how can they capitalise on this growing interest?

13.50 - 14.20

The role of biochar in reducing carbon emissions and opportunities for biomass producers

• Biochar is emerging as a promising solution for carbon sequestration and coal replacement in certain applications. How can biomass industry players fully capitalise on this opportunity? An overview of the biochar carbon credit system.
• With increasing social and economic pressure to use biomass locally, how can biochar contribute to meeting carbon emissions reduction targets?
• Explore the advancement of biochar, biocarbon and bio-coal, focusing on standardisation, key industry players and end-user expectations

14.20 - 14.40

Understanding carbon emissions: Scopes 1, 2, and 3 explained

• Breakdown of Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions: How do they affect your business?
• A deep dive into Scope 3 emissions in the biomass supply chain: What embedded emissions exist, and how can a lifecycle analysis help you accurately calculate your business’ carbon footprint?
• What key environmental factors should your business consider when calculating emissions? An overview of industry-specific standards and reporting requirements

14.40 - 15.10

Afternoon coffee and networking

15.10 - 15.30

Trade flows: How shipping can affect pricing and business strategy

• From shifting freight costs to evolving trade routes, how will the future of global shipping affect your business and expenses?
• With conflicts affecting key routes through the Suez and Panama Canal, and the Red Sea, how will these disruptions affect your costs?
• What are the financial implications of changing points of origin? Explore supply reliability, quality and offtake agreements in the evolving market

15.30 - 15.50

Briquettes in Asia: Growth, innovations and government support

• Asia’s briquette market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. What role will briquettes play in the future, and where will we see the most growth?
• What new technological innovations are addressing current challenges such as bulk density, handling and logistics in the briquette sector?
• Exploring the intersection of briquettes and torrefaction: How are governments in Asia, particularly in India and Vietnam, fostering market growth in key regions?

15.50 - 16.30

Panel discussion: Financing in the biomass industry

• Who is funding new biomass projects? Where is investment needed, and who are the key players in the market?
• What do financiers and major lenders seek? Gain insights directly from industry experts on the future of green investment and the role of biomass
• What steps are necessary to secure funding, and what criteria lead to successful investments?

16.30 - 16.45

Fighting fires – how to protect your plant from damages

• Examine the impact of recent dust explosions and fires on the biomass market and the current state of affairs
• Anticipate changes in plant operations to prevent fire accidents and understand expectations for facilities returning to operation
• Discover strategies for risk mitigation and insights into effective industrial fire prevention and protection systems

16.45

Chairperson’s closing remarks and end of conference