Industry Trends

October 2023

See what has been happening in Asia’s petrochemicals, agrochemicals, automotive, bio energy, and mining industries over the last weeks. What are experts and industry magazines talking about?

What has been happening?

Malic enzyme’s role in enhancing soybean oil production, Industrial CO2 and dolomite used to produce construction materials, isolating enzymes to convert CO2 to formate efficiently, and more. See what industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Latest Industry Articles

Researchers discover important role played by malic enzyme in enhancing soybean oil production

Biofuels Digest

In Missouri, as a potent source of protein and oil, soybeans are a vital global crop for food, animal feed, industrial applications, and biofuel production. Even minor improvements in soybean seed content can therefore have far-reaching implications for agricultural productivity and global economies. Research led USDA and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Danforth Center uncovered an important role played by malic enzyme in enhancing soybean oil production.

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Industrial CO2, dolomite used to produce construction materials

MINING.com

Researchers at Korea’s Chung-Ang University are proposing the idea of using industrial CO2 and dolomite – a common and abundant sedimentary rock that is a rich source of calcium and magnesium – for the production of two commercially viable products: calcium formate and magnesium oxide.

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German researchers isolate enzymes to convert CO2 to formate efficiently

Biofuels Digest

In Germany, increasing research efforts are going into developing strategies to convert greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), into valuable products. CO2 accumulates dramatically over the years and is chemically very stable, thus challenging to transform. Yet, for billions of years, some microbes have actively captured CO2 using highly efficient enzymes.

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Five ‘good practices’ for integrating ESG in mining

MINING.com

Contrary to popular perception, the mining industry has been responding to what we like to call “ESG” concerns since the environmental movements of the 1970s. Even the acronym “ESG” (environmental, social and governance) is not new and was first popularized in the 2004 report titled “Who Cares Wins,” a joint initiative of financial institutions at the invitation of the United Nations.

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Japanese researchers gain insights into marine algae for biofuel feedstock

Biofuels Digest

In Japan, researchers from Hokkaido University have unpicked the mechanism behind a marine feeding strategy that could provide a valuable renewable source of biofuel. Their research has been published as a Reviewed Preprint in eLife, with the revised version appearing today. It is described by the editors as an important study providing convincing evidence on how the sea slug Aplysia kurodai optimizes its digestion of brown algae, in a classical predator-prey ‘arms race’ at the molecular level.

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X-Batt and Consol collaborate on coal-based battery tech

MINING.com

Battery material innovator X-Batt has partnered with Consol Innovations, an offshoot of Consol Energy (NASDAQ: CEIX), to fast-track their coal-based anode technology. The two companies announced Tuesday their C-Batt Innovations joint venture, formed to push forward the development of battery materials sourced from coal.

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Atlas Materials secures $27m for new nickel processing technology for EV batteries

Mining Technology

Atlas Materials has raised £27m for its new technology that enables the processing of low-grade nickel for us in EVs. The post Atlas Materials secures $27m for new nickel processing technology for EV batteries appeared first on Mining Technology.

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One-atom-thick ribbons could improve batteries, solar cells and sensors

Batteries News

Researchers created nanoribbons made of phosphorus and tiny amounts of arsenic, which they found were able to conduct electricity at temperatures above -140 degrees Celsius, while retaining the highly useful properties of the phosphorus-only ribbons.

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Indonesia saved 27.8 million CO2e thanks to B30 in 2022

Biofuels Digest

In Indonesia, the Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said that throughout 2022, the mandatory B30 biodiesel program succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 27.8 million CO2e with a biodiesel quota allocation of 11 billion liters, worth more than $10 billion.

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Nextgreen Resources creates biodiesel and UCO trading JV in Malaysia

Biofuels Digest

In Malaysia, the Board of Directors of Nextgreen announced that Nextgreen Resources Sdn Bhd, its wholly-owned subsidiary, on Wednesday entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with P Teguh Services Sdn Bhd to undertake a joint venture through a special purpose vehicle to be incorporated in Malaysia under the Companies Act 2026 to engage in the business of trading, supply and export of biodiesel, edible cooking oil and various other related products including equipment and facilities, construction .

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Eni announces significant gas discovery in Indonesia to LNG portfolio

LNG industry

Eni has announced a significant gas discovery from the Geng North-1 exploration well drilled in North Ganal PSC, about 85 km off the cost of East Kalimantan in Indonesia.

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Vietnam’s construction boom “poses existential threat to Mekong Delta”

Global Construction Review

The Mekong Delta in Vietnam may run out of sand by 2035 as the country’s building boom and the installation of up-river hydroelectric schemes put the region’s ecosystems at risk. The warning is contained in “Sand Budget for Vietnam Mekong Delta”, a report produced by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), an organisation that has followed the depletion of Vietnam’s sand resources over the years. The delta is formed where the Mekong empties into the South China Sea.

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Philippines considers more government-led critical minerals exploration

Mining Technology

The Philippines Government is planning to pursue more government-led exploration focused on critical minerals such as nickel and chromium. The post Philippines considers more government-led critical minerals exploration appeared first on Mining Technology.

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Indonesian 2023 biodiesel consumption at 8.5M tons through September

Biofuels Digest

In Indonesia, Reuters reports that biodiesel consumption reach 8.5 million metric tons between January and September 2023 with total consumption for the year seen at about 11.5 million tons, thanks to the increased blending level set at 35% in February from 30% previously. Even though the mandate was increased in February, many regions needed improved infrastructure for the higher blend, so it wasn’t implemented nationwide until August.

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China to spend $14 trillion on green power transformation

Global Construction Review

China is planning to invest around $13.7 trillion in its electricity sector between 2020 and 2060, reports the Xinhua news agency. Quoting a State Grid Corporation book, Xinhua said the investment would create a “new power system”, with $140bn to be spent on each of a number of “key sectors”, such as energy storage, energy integration, and the “energy internet”. The latter term refers to a grid that uses electronics to manage a complex distribution system with many inputs from renewable sources.

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Monument begins production at Malaysia’s Selinsing gold mine

Mining Technology

Monument Mining begins operations at Selinsing gold mine in Pahang, Malaysia, which had operated at 90% of its designed capacity. The post Monument begins production at Malaysia’s Selinsing gold mine appeared first on Mining Technology.

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Is the Philippines serious about mining?

BusinessWorld

The Philippines is rich in mineral resources and is estimated have more than $1 trillion worth of mineral reserves but still undeveloped. Only about 3% of the land area is covered by mining claims or leases. In 2021, the estimated value produced for gold was at P72 billion, P90 billion for nickel, and P17 billion for copper. Mining’s contribution to the national economy was at 1.3%, very small relative to its potential.

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Report: Malaysian cooking oil continues to be smuggled into Thailand

The Malay Mail Online

Malaysia’s subsidised cooking oil, both bottled and in 1kg polybags, continues to be smuggled out of the country due to high demand from Thailand. News Straits Times (NST) reported today that Malaysian cooking oil was initially spotted in local stalls and small convenience shops near the border, such as Takbai and Sungai Golok, close to Kelantan but now it has made its way into different provinces and sub-provinces in southern Thailand, such as Narathiwat and Yala.

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Panasonic first in Malaysia to have net-zero carbon emission plant

NST Online Latest News

Panasonic has announced a significant achievement at its automotive systems factory in Penang, Malaysia with the facility now operating as a net-zero carbon emission plant.

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Vietnam EV maker VinFast absorbs lithium battery affiliate

Nikkei Asia

VinFast said it will secure lithium batteries for its electric vehicles by absorbing VinES, a sister company under a parent firm started by Vietnam’s richest man.

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