Industry Trends

March 2024

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?

‘Software-Defined Battery’ Project, Record high methane emissions from fossil fuels in 2023, Trial starts for stationary power generation system fueled by bio-ethanol, and more. See what industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Latest Industry Articles

Volvo Buys Into 'Software-Defined Battery' Project

MINING.com

Graphjet Technology, developer of technologies to produce graphite and graphene directly from agricultural waste, and Energem (Nasdaq: ENCP, ENCPW) closed their previously announced merger and on Friday, Graphjet’s ordinary shares start trading as (Nasdaq: GTI). Graphjet’s warrants will be delisted from Nasdaq and begin trading on the OTC as (GTIWW).

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Record high methane emissions from fossil fuels in 2023, IEA says

WardsAuto

Investment into U.K. battery charging company claims possibility of faster charges without compromising lifespan.

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Nissan starts trial of stationary power generation system fueled by bio-ethanol

Biofuels Digest

In Japan, Nissan Motor Co. announced that it has developed a stationary, bio-ethanol-fueled system capable of high-efficiency power generation. Trials have begun at Nissan’s Tochigi Plant in Japan aimed to improve power generation capacity toward full-scale operations from 2030, the company said. In 2016 Nissan became the first automotive company in the world to create a vehicular propulsion system powered by a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) run by bio-ethanol.

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Graphjet Technology, Energem merge to create direct biomass-to-graphite company

Mining Technology

The IEA latest report shows that methane emissions from the energy sector reached about 120 million tonnes in 2023, a record high. The post Record high methane emissions from fossil fuels in 2023, IEA says appeared first on Mining Technology.

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Batteries for airborne electric vehicles that take off and land vertically

ScienceDaily

Researchers are taking cleaner transportation to the skies by creating and evaluating new batteries for airborne electric vehicles that take off and land vertically. Researchers are developing new energy-dense materials, learning how these materials degrade under extreme conditions, and developing battery control systems.

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The future of uranium mining in Australia

Mining Technology

With new mines in development and potential new markets opening up, what’s the outlook for uranium mining in Australia?

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Road to better performing batteries using less critical raw materials

ScienceDaily

Researchers are developing batteries that can charge faster, offer more stable storage and are made of sustainable materials that are widely available. In doing so, they offer a cheaper alternative to lithium-ion batteries that consist of rare materials and have a high CO2 -footprint.

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Can Europe Save Forests Without Killing Jobs in Malaysia?

Agriculture and Farming

A new regulation aims to rid the palm oil supply chain of imports that come from former forestland. Southeast Asian countries say it threatens livelihoods.

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China and Saudi Arabia develop $6.3bn petrochemical plant in Zhangzhou

Global Construction Review

Work began this week on a $6.3bn petrochemical plant in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, China. When complete in 2026, the factory is expected to produce 1.8 million tonnes of ethylene a year. The project is a joint venture between Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (51%) and the Fujian Energy Petrochemical Group (49%). It’s the biggest single investment by a non-Chinese company in the history of Fujian, Xinhua reports.

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ExxonMobil, Shell Selected for 2.5 MMtpa CCS Project in Singapore

Rigzone.com

Singapore picked a CCS partnership between ExxonMobil and Shell to develop a cross-border project with a capacity to capture and store 2.5 MMtpa of CO2.

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Petronas, ExxonMobil Ink Deal with Suriname on Potential Gas Development

Rigzone.com

Petronas and ExxonMobil agreed to further explore a potential gas production area offshore Suriname where the leaseholders had declared a gas discovery, albeit a commercially unattractive one.

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Concerns grow over finances of Thailand’s biggest contractor

Global Construction Review

Thailand’s biggest contractor is talking to banks about loans as it faces a liquidity crunch, Bangkok Post reports. The Italian-Thai Development company (ITD), founded in 1958, said the talks followed delays in payments to workers and suppliers. Trading in the company’s shares was suspended this month after it failed to submit a 2023 financial statement by the deadline. As of September last year, the company has a total liability of $2.9bn, including bonds, loans and trade credit.

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BMI Flags Indonesia's Exploration Success

Rigzone.com: Latest News Headlines

‘The country’s exploration success in offshore areas has bolstered our outlook for its natural gas reserves and production,’ BMI analysts said.

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China is heading towards peak coal demand, national association says

Mining Technology

China is heading towards peak coal demand according to the nation’s coal association but others claim demand will continue for longer. The post China is heading towards peak coal demand, national association says appeared first on Mining Technology.

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Malaysia to monitor changes in EU curbs on palm biofuel after recent WTO ruling

Biofuels Digest

In Malaysia, CNA reported that the government of Malaysia said it will closely monitor how the EU responds to a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that supported the bloc’s stance that palm oil-based biodiesel should not count as a renewable biofuel, but sought changes in how it implemented that decision.

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3 Power Firms Invest $3.3B in Philippines' 1st Integrated LNG Facility

Rigzone.com

The project will augment the country’s power supply with over 2,500 MW and connect its energy sector with the global natural gas supply chain.

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Solar power becomes coal’s greatest competitor in Asia-Pacific – report

MINING.com

A recent report by Wood Mackenzie shows that the cost of electricity generated from renewable sources, known as the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), is declining significantly in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and reached an all-time low in 2023. According to the consultancy firm, this decline makes renewable energy increasingly competitive with conventional low-cost coal power, driven by a significant reduction in capital costs for renewable power.

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Indonesian palm oil producers concerned about increasing demand for biodiesel

Biofuels Digest

In Indonesia, Chem Analyst reports the national palm oil association is concered about a potential conflict between food and fuel production if demand for biodiesel continues to expand. About 46% of last year’s production of 23.2 million metric tons went to fuel production while 44% went to food production, and the remaining to cosmestics and other uses. About 58% of last year’s production was exported, but the association is concerned that with increased fuel demand, exports will be hit.

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Honeywell collaborates with The Green Solutions Corporation for green hydrogen plant in Vietnam

Biofuels Digest

In Vietnam, Honeywell announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Green Solutions Group Corporation (TGS) on the Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen project, which is Vietnam’s first green hydrogen plant in the Mekong Delta.

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