We welcome article submissions from experts in the areas of coal, mining,
shipping, etc.
To Submit your article please click here.
|
|
|
Monday, 14 July 14
THE END OF THE ERA OF HEAVY FUEL OIL IN MARITIME SHIPPING - ICCT
 KNOWLEDGE TO ELEVATE
Since the 1960s, heavy fuel oil (HFO) has been the king of marine fuels. Viscous, dirty, yet inexpensive and widely available, HFO propelled a long period of robust growth in international shipping, which carries over 90% of intercontinental trade by volume each year. For many, it is the lifeblood of the maritime shipping industry.
But HFO’s low price does not reflect its impacts on the environment and human health. The sulfur content of HFO can be up to 35,000 parts per million. It is the reason that maritime shipping accounts for 8% of global emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), making the industry an important source for acid rain as well as respiratory diseases. In some populous port cities, such as Hong Kong, shipping is the largest single source of SO2 emissions as well as emissions of particulate matter (PM), which are directly tied to the sulfur content of fuel. By one estimate, PM emissions from maritime shipping led to 87,000 premature deaths worldwide in 2012.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the governing body of international shipping, has made a decisive effort to diversify the industry away from HFO into cleaner fuels with less harmful effects on the environment and human health. Effective in 2015, ships operated within the Emission Control Areas (ECAs) covering the Economic Exclusive Zone of North America, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and the English Channel will begin to use Marine Gas Oil (MGO) with allowable sulfur content up to 1,000 ppm. Starting from 2020, ships sailing outside ECAs will switch to Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) with permitted sulfur content up to 5,000 ppm.*
That tectonic shift also creates openings for a variety of new fuels. Liquefied nature gas (LNG), newly abundant and relatively affordable, is attracting the attention of many shipping companies. Although the lack of infrastructure and the uncertainty of future prices have slowed the “dash to gas,” many expect LNG to establish itself as one of major alternatives to HFO in the future. Lloyds Registry, a shipping classification society, expects LNG to take 11% of the market share in 2030.
Meanwhile, Stena Teknik, a Swedish company, is testing methanol, another natural gas product, but one that requires less storage space in a ship and is relatively easier to handle. While natural gas-based fuels may sometimes offer questionable climate benefits, due to methane leakage concerns, the IMO’s low-sulfur regulation may create needed openings for other zero-sulfur, low-carbon marine fuels. Tests using fuel cells on the Viking Lady, an offshore supply ship, demonstrated promising results.
Wind kites and solar panels have already been installed on numerous ships to supplement marine diesel engines. Even HFO will not completely disappear from the menu of marine fuels. Combined with scrubbers that capture more than 99% of the sulfur from the exhaust gas, HFO will continue to play an important role. Lloyds Registry reckons that HFO will represent about 40% of fuel use by 2030.
The shift to cleaner but pricier low-sulfur fuels is likely to heighten interest in the “fifth fuel”: energy efficiency. Historically, the maritime shipping industry, where energy often accounts for over half of operating costs, has responded to escalating fuel prices with innovative energy-saving strategies. To cite a recent example: in 2008, as fuel prices went through the roof, shipping lines cut their operating speeds by as much as 50%, helping many companies stay afloat amid one of the worst downturns in history. In an analysis of satellite data on ship operations, we’ve estimated that the industry can further slash 100 million ton of fuel use by 2030 through wider implementation of energy-saving measures that were adopted by industry leaders in 2011.
This is in addition to savings of 90 million tons of fuel because of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), a mandatory program that will require new ships to achieve certain efficiency targets beginning in 2015.
The continued diversification of marine fuels and improvements in energy efficiency have important implications. First and foremost, they may alleviate concerns about the availability of low-sulfur fuels. Figure 1 illustrates one possible scenario, using our forecast on future marine fuel consumption and energy efficiency improvements as well as Lloyds Registry’s estimate of market shares for HFO and LNG. The efficiency improvement of the legacy fleet is the greatest force driving down the need for low-sulfur fuels, equivalent to adding about 110 “negatons” of fuel, or almost 24% of projected demand. HFO combined with scrubbers, EEDI, and distillates (MGO plus MDO) are almost neck and neck, each representing about 20% of fuel use in the chart. LNG is coming of age, with its share doubling between 2020 and 2030. Other fuels, such as renewables, fuel cells, and biofuels, are expected to hold only small market shares in 2030.
Second, the new fuels are on a collision course with IMO safety regulations concerning flashpoint, the temperature at which a fuel can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air.
The IMO currently requires marine fuels to have a minimum flashpoint of 60°C. But low-sulfur fuels have a lower flashpoint (50° to 55°C), meaning that they are “off-spec” and cannot be used under the IMO rule. The flashpoint requirement, which went into effect in 1976, was meant to provide a large margin of error to ensure the temperature of the engine room (normally below 45°C) does not exceed the flashpoint in any circumstance. But according to industry heavyweights such as Maersk and BIMCO, modern technologies such as advanced ventilation systems provide an adequate safety margin, and they argue that keeping the flashpoint requirement will cause the industry to miss the opportunity represented by the increased availability of low-sulfur, low-flashpoint fuels. Industry and member states such as the U.S. are urging the IMO to accelerate its consideration of an amendment to the flashpoint requirement.
By: Haifeng Wang / The International Council of Clean Transportation
*Implementation of the requirement is subject to a review of fuel availability to be completed by 2016.
If you believe an article violates your rights or the rights of others, please contact us.
|
|
Sunday, 13 July 14
PANAMAX INDEX GAINS SLIGHTLY THIS WEEK; CAPE INDEX FALLS ALMOST 21.40%
COALspot.com: This week the freight market fell again after gaining last week. The cape index was down almost 21.40 pct and closed at 1465 points.
...
Friday, 11 July 14
EUROPE HAS A SUBSTANTIAL SURPLUS IN COAL SUPPLIES; RENEWABLE ENERGIES ARE REDUCING THE FULL-LOAD OPERATING HOURS OF HARD COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS - VDKI
COALspot.com: General conditions for coal-fired power plants must be improved if the energy turnaround is to be a success, said German coal importe ...
Friday, 11 July 14
DR.CIESLIK RE-ELECTED AS CEO OF GERMAN COAL IMPORTER ASSOCIATION (VDKI)
Press Release : Dr Cieslik re-elected as CEO of German Coal Importer Association (VDKi) for the period 2014 – 2018. The German Coal Importer ...
Friday, 11 July 14
PORT OF NEWCASTLE SHIPPED $ 1.031 BILLION WORTH OF 11.744 MILLION TONS OF COAL IN JUNE 2014
COALspot.com: Port of Newcastle has shipped 11,744,396 tons of coal for the month ended 30 June 2014. According to Port’s monthly report, YTD ...
Friday, 11 July 14
UNITED STATE'S MONTHLY COAL OUTPUT FALLS 5.53% IN JUNE
COALspot.com – United States the world's second largest coal producer, produced approximately 18.1 million short tons (mmst) of coal in a ...
|
|
|
Showing 3606 to 3610 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Planning Commission, India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- The University of Queensland
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Australian Coal Association
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
|
| |
| |
|
