May 2021

While fossil fuel-based hydrogen (grey hydrogen) as a fuel is not new, blue hydrogen (natural gas-based) and green hydrogen (renewables-based) are entering commercialisation and are only just becoming established in energy commodity markets, market analyst Fitch Solutions notes in its latest industry report on the commodities of the future.

As medieval philosopher Maimonides said, “the risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision”. Energy research and consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie, in its latest report, argues that it appears the mining industry disagrees and is erring on the side of indecision. At an industry level, WoodMac author Julian Kettle writes, there seems to be a reticence around investing sufficient capital to develop future supply at the pace and scale demanded by the energy transition.

Mitsubishi Motors will reduce production by 30,000 vehicles in total in June at five plants in Thailand, Japan and Indonesia, a spokeswoman said, as a global semiconductor shortage continues to trouble the automotive industry.

In Missouri, Emerson has been selected to support Neste’s digital transformation of its expanded refinery in Tuas, Singapore. Emerson’s automation systems and software will help Neste deliver high-performance, efficient operations, supporting Neste’s plans to increase production by up to 1.3 million tons per annum by 2023.

Indonesia’s exports racked up their strongest rise in 11 years in April, boosted by surging prices of key commodities such as palm oil and coal, data from the statistics bureau showed on recently as they beat analysts’ expectations.

Indonesia’s state oil company PT Pertamina expects to invest US$92 billion in the period from last year to 2024, its chief executive said, as the country seeks to rely less on energy imports and rein in its current account deficit.

Malaysia’s Sime Darby Plantation reported a higher first-quarter net profit due to improved production of palm fruit bunches and better palm oil prices, although it expects prices to ease in the second half of 2021.

HANOI: Vietnam’s government has urged two provinces that are home to production facilities of companies such as Samsung Electronics and Foxconn to boost efforts to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak disrupting industrial production. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam told leaders of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh …

BASF and Shanshan, a leading lithium-ion battery materials supplier serving both the e-mobility and the consumer electronics (CE) market, have agreed to form a BASF majority-owned joint venture (BASF: 51%; Shanshan: 49%) to produce cathode active materials (CAM) and precursors (PCAM) in China.

A new report by Adamas Intelligence reveals that Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) deployed 13.3 GWh of battery capacity onto roads in newly sold passenger EVs globally, a figure that is 12% more than the 11.9 GWh deployed by its closest competitor, LG Energy Solution.

MINING.com

China, the country leading global sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs), not only will maintain its market position accounting for half of all expected global NEV during the next decade, but it may also do a grand entrance into western markets.

NST Online

Malaysia is ready to offer a handsome tax incentive to accelerate the electric vehicle (EV) development in the country in its soon-to-be announced accelerated EV policy under the National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2020.

Rigzone.com

China is set to extend its dominance in the global oil market.

WardsAuto

Construction at Volkswagen Anhui, on the site of a former JAC plant, includes brownfield repurposing and increased capacity from the establishment of a new body shop area.