In line with Egypt’s ambition to be a global energy trading hub and its target to reduce 10 percent greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, the seventh edition of the Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES) is set to introduce the CLIMATECH Challenge, an initiative that is a collective response to climate change, featuring start-ups that are creating value and offering innovative solutions to accelerate net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Taking place on Monday 19th February 2024, as part of the EGYPES Future Energy Zone, the CLIMATECH Challenge will serve as a platform for start-ups to showcase their groundbreaking climate technology and business models in front of a panel of influential judging committee members comprising investors, c-level executives, top government officials, thought leaders and an audience of senior energy executives.

The Challenge will bring together energy industry visionaries, investors, and disruptive start-ups, with the aim of highlighting the emerging climate technology that will enable the transition towards a low-carbon energy system. In addition to start-up pitches, attendees can expect a well-curated lineup of keynote speeches, motivational talks, and interactive panel discussions, all tailored to nurture the rise of climate-tech ventures in a collective response to combat climate change.

Commenting on the launch of the event, Salman Abou Hamzeh, senior vice president of DMG Events, stated, “We stand at a critical juncture in the current energy landscape where innovation and climate-centric technologies hold the key to a decarbonised future, and start-ups have a pivotal role in guiding us through this transformation.”

He added, “The EGYPES 2024 CLIMATECH Challenge provides the opportunity for start-ups to present their innovative technological solutions before an influential judging committee, propelling their business growth and positioning them as catalysts in the journey towards net-zero.”

The CLIMATECH Challenge is open to start-ups worldwide that are serving the energy transition with clean energy technologies. Five businesses will be chosen from the initial pool of applicants and invited to pitch to a jury of industry leaders.

Start-ups will be evaluated on the innovation of their climate tech, the potential market size and growth prospects, their scalability and revenue generating avenues, the composition of their team, as well as their investment potential.

The judges will determine the first-place winner of the CLIMATECH Challenge, while the audience will decide the second-place winner, known as the ‘people’s choice’ award. The winning startup will receive a prize to support the growth of their business. Furthermore, the Challenge offers an unparalleled opportunity to provide the shortlisted start-ups with post-event mentorship, unrivalled networking opportunities, and extensive media coverage.

The EGYPES 2024 CLIMATECH Challenge welcomes disruptive startups to propose their inventions and climate technologies for a greener tomorrow. Submit your application to enter the competition here: www.egypes.com/climatechallenge

For sponsorship opportunities related to the EGYPES 2024 CLIMATECH Challenge, contact Sangeeta Dhanak, event manager, EGYPES 2024 at sangeetadhanak@dmgevents.com

For more information visit www.egypes.com

The ADIPEC Awards 2023 has honoured eight pioneering projects, companies and individuals who are driving transformative change across the global energy system. The winners represent companies and individuals from the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Israel, and the United States.

Held under the theme, ‘Leading the Transformation’, the 13th ADIPEC Awards Ceremony recognised outstanding achievements within the wider energy sector and celebrated global innovators in their pursuit of net-zero emissions, decarbonisation and an equitable energy transition through eight award categories.

The awards ceremony, which took place at the Emirates Palace Hotel, in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, was attended by leaders and dignitaries from across energy, technology and government.

His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and ADIPEC Awards 2023 Juror, said: “In this, the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, we are proud the ADIPEC Awards has drawn some of the world’s most innovative and forward-thinking companies and individuals to demonstrate their leadership in advancing the energy transition.

“The world is in need of urgent and tangible solutions to the challenges of climate change and decarbonisation and these awards continue to evolve to showcase the leadership in innovation and collaboration to drive the industry forward.”

Fatema Al Nuaimi, chairperson of ADIPEC Awards 2023 and executive vice president of downstream business management at ADNOC, said: “This year’s ADIPEC Awards honoured companies and individuals who are playing a critical role in leading the global energy transition. The winners will inspire other innovators across the energy sector and encourage them to strengthen their efforts to enable a more sustainable global energy system.”

Leader of Change – Passionate Driver of Progress Award honoree, Professor Ernest J. Moniz, CEO of the US-based Energy Futures Initiative is a leading voice on energy innovation pathways and international security matters. Professor Moniz has worked across academia, research, government, and the non-profit sector to amplify and elevate climate mitigation and clean energy in government and the scientific community.

In his acceptance speech, Professor Moniz said: “I am very pleased to receive this award on behalf of my colleagues who I have worked with in academia, government, and the private sector. It is particularly special to receive this award here in the UAE in its year of COP28, which under the leadership of Dr Sultan [Al Jaber], looks to set a new standard for pragmatism and results, bridging the needs of the developed world and the global south. This has been the dominant theme of what I’ve been doing for decades and what are the objectives of COP28.”

Meanwhile, the Young Changemaker of the Year Award – was given to Lee Kian Seng, product manager, technology digital solutions at PETRONAS, Malaysia. Seng has been driving transformative changes across various roles in PETRONAS, leading big-data analytics projects in the domain of production yield optimisation, energy optimisation and plant start-up execution.

The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland’s Carbon Clean company won the Clean Energy Technology Innovation of the Year Award for its CycloneCC, an innovative technology that reduces the cost and physical footprint of carbon capture by over 50 percent. As a standardised and modular solution, it allows for scalability and rapid adoption, bringing carbon capture within reach of many more hard-to-abate industries.

The American LanzaTech company received the Decarbonisation at Scale Award for its innovative carbon capture process that has been deployed at three commercial sites in China, in partnership with Shougang. The process captures all produced CO2 and transforms it into sustainable fuels and chemicals, reducing emissioins and creating a new circular carbon economy.

Malaysia’s PETRONAS Research was named the ADIPEC Awards Developing Economies Energy Company of the Year for its innovative technology solution to capture and monetise stranded high carbon dioxide fields in developing countries. Stranded natural gas reserves of over 50 trillion cubic feet remain undeveloped due to high CO2 content and contaminants, making them uneconomical to develop. PETRONAS has developed a technology solution using carbon capture, utilisation and storage and separation of liquid CO2 to create a new product.

The Future Energy Workforce Development Programme Award was presented to ADNOC for its Energy Futures Initiative. The initiative is a joint strategic workforce development programme by ADNOC and SLB which utilises innovative methodologies and technologies, including artificial intelligence-powered talent analytics to create a competitive advantage in a fast-paced labour market.

Israel’s H2Pro received the Transformative Hydrogen Project for its E-TAC methodology, which produces green hydrogen at 95 percent energy efficiency, compared to the 60-70 percent efficiency of conventional electrolysis. H2Pro claims its E-TAC electrolysers can deliver the lowest levelised cost of hydrogen.

The Game-Changing Partnership Award was awarded to ADNOC Onshore and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) for their partnership that is enabling ADNOC Onshore to source its grid power from renewable energy, supporting the decarbonisation of its operations.

This year’s ADIPEC Awards attracted a record-breaking 1,072 entries from 78 countries and reflected a wide spectrum of geographies, industries and companies. It featured all new categories, introduced to address key global challenges in universal access to cleaner and more secure energy, and to a faster energy transition.

The ADIPEC Awards are a highlight of ADIPEC, the world’s largest energy conference and exhibition, which is taking place in Abu Dhabi from 2-5 October, uniting industries to accelerate collective, responsible action, decarbonise quicker and future-proof the energy system. Taking place under the theme of ‘Decarbonising. Faster. Together.’, ADIPEC 2023 is focused on bringing together the ideas, ambition, technology and capital needed to accelerate urgent, collective and responsible action to decarbonise quicker and future-proof our energy system.

For more information visit www.adipec.com

Multi award-winning torque specialist EnerQuip has underlined its commitment to the Middle East as part of a £1.5 million investment across its global operations.

The leading provider of innovative torque machine solutions for the energy industry has unveiled plans to expand its existing site at Findon on the outskirts of Aberdeen in a bid to cope with growing demand for its groundbreaking mobile torque unit, both at home and in the Middle East The extended facility will increase indoor floor space dedicated to manufacturing by 60 percent with a new welfare facility and stores also to be added. In addition to this expansion at the company’s headquarters, the business is also reviewing options for a larger facility to support service demands in Houston, TX.

Simultaneously, the eight-year-old company is realising long-held ambitions to establish a permanent presence in the Middle East and has ploughed £750,000 into uplevelling its activities in the region. After being slowed due to the challenges of the pandemic, EnerQuip is poised to capitalise on growth experienced in the last 18 months, thanks to the recent opening of a 1500 sq. ft. facility in Abu Dhabi. As part of the move, global head of sales, Darren Bragg, will relocate to oversee operations having been promoted to the role of regional general manager for the Middle East.

It is anticipated that up to five service-based Middle East positions will be created in the coming year, with projected growth in the UK manufacturing team also on the horizon.

Commenting on plans for EnerQuip’s growth in the Middle East, Darren Bragg said: “Our acquisition of the AMC product line from Forum Energy Technologies last year significantly bolstered our offering in the region and has allowed us to explore new and exciting possibilities in a key market.

“By consolidating our presence in the Middle East, we will be correctly positioned to better serve our growing client base in and around the region and our new facility will be instrumental in fulfilling those ambitions.”

Launched in Aberdeen in June 2015, EnerQuip is a leading specialist in the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of market leading torque machines and associated products, including bucking units and fully rotational makeup and breakout torque machines which can be adapted to suit any application. The highly skilled team delivers 24/7, 365 support and works with a growing client base in an increasing list of locations that includes Africa, North and South America, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

For more information visit www.enerquiptorque.com

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €106 million Greek measure to support the completion of the construction of the Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal in Alexandroupolis. This measure will complement the Greek public support that was approved by the Commission in June 2021 (SA.55526).

The Greek authorities notified the Commission of its plans to grant additional aid to Gastrade SA, the promoter and operator of the new terminal. The measure is aimed at enabling the beneficiary to complete the construction of the terminal as planned by end-2023. The aid will take the form of a direct grant.

The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions, and the 2022 Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy (‘CEEAG’). The Commission found that the measure is necessary and appropriate to enable to beneficiary to continue with the project as planned. When approving the initial public support, the Commission had already considered that the project is needed to secure gas supply for Greece and the South-Eastern Europe region and that it will contribute to the REPowerEU strategic objective to achieve diversification of energy supplies and end dependence on Russian fossil fuels. The Commission concluded that the positive effects of the measure outweigh any possible negative effects on competition and trade in the EU. On this basis, the Commission approved the Greek measure under EU State aid rules.

The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the number SA.105781 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.

For more information visit www.gastrade.gr

The Prax Group has appointed Maarten van Wesemael as managing director – Middle East & Asia.

Maarten will be responsible for the Group’s strategic development in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region and will be based in the company’s Singapore office. As a senior banker with a career spanning over 20 years, Maarten brings with him vast experience in high value transactions, banking products, business development, finance and working capital solutions, with a strong knowledge of the energy sector.

A Dutch national who resides in Singapore, Maarten joins the Prax Group having previously held senior roles at BritNRG, Lloyds Banking Group and BNP Paribas. An experienced leader and skilled relationship manager, Maarten’s significant global experience and wealth of sector-specific knowledge will be invaluable as the Prax Group continues its activities in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific marketplaces, and beyond.

Commenting on Maarten’s appointment, chief executive officer, Sanjeev Kumar Soosaipillai, said: “We are delighted to welcome Maarten to the Prax Group. Our success as a company has been achieved through our entrepreneurial spirit and our reputation for excellence in everything we do, and with his vast industry knowledge and experience, Maarten is the ideal high-calibre candidate to head up our Middle East & Asia teams. He will no doubt prove to be a very valuable asset to the Group as we continue our long-term growth trajectory, with a strategy for executing our vision for the future.”

For more information visit www.prax.com

Baker Hughes, has announced a major contract to provide a modularised liquefied natural gas system and power island for Venture Global LNG. The contract is part of a master equipment supply agreement between the two companies, which has been expanded to cover more than 100 million tonnes per annum of production capacity. This follows previous awards from Venture Global to Baker Hughes for LNG technology solutions in Louisiana.

Mike Sabel, CEO of Venture Global, expressed excitement about the collaboration and the mission to deliver low-cost LNG at a larger scale. He emphasised the importance of secure and sustainable economies and thanked Baker Hughes for their partnership.

Lorenzo Simonelli, chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes, highlighted the company’s expertise in natural gas operations and its commitment to advancing the efficient use of natural gas. He acknowledged the increasing demand for LNG and its role in the energy transition towards achieving net-zero emissions.

This contract further solidifies the partnership between Baker Hughes and Venture Global and reinforces Baker Hughes’ position as a leader in energy technology.

For more information visit www.bakerhughes.com

Cepsa, a leading supplier of energy for maritime transport in Spain, has undertaken the largest supply of second-generation biofuels to date at the Port of Barcelona. This operation, conducted on a 350-metre-long container vessel operated by Hapag-Lloyd in the Mediterranean, marks the energy company’s inaugural venture in Barcelona and positions the Port of Barcelona as a key player in the decarbonisation of maritime transportation.

The supplied biodiesel contains a 24 percent sustainable component, which will prevent the emission of 2,860 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to planting 34,300 trees. This biofuel has been produced from used cooking oils.

With this supply, Cepsa further solidifies its position as a benchmark in the energy transition and a leader in the supply of energy for maritime transportation. With over 90 years of experience and a presence in more than 60 Spanish ports, the company continues to lead the way in this sector. Currently, the energy company can supply these sustainable fuels by barge in the Port of Barcelona and the area of the Strait of Gibraltar, and by tanker in all the ports in which it operates.

According to Samir Fernández, director of Marine Fuel Solutions at Cepsa, “second-generation biofuels can be used in ships without the need for modifications to their engines, and they have a high potential for reducing CO2 emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels, achieving a reduction of up to 90 percent, which makes them an ideal immediate solution. That’s why we want to make them available in all the ports in which we operate and lead their production in this decade to help our customers meet their own decarbonisation challenges.”

The use of biofuels enables shipping companies to stay ahead of the objectives of the European Union and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Specifically, the European Commission’s Fit for 55 package includes the “Fuel EU Maritime” legislative initiative, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity in maritime transport by 2 percent in 2025, 6 percent in 2030 and 80 percent in 2050, compared to 2020 levels, through the use of sustainable fuels. Concurrently, the IMO has recently updated its strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in maritime transportation, establishing ambitious targets that will incrementally rise from 20 percent in 2030 to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, compared to 2008 levels.

This initiative further underscores Cepsa’s unwavering commitment to second-generation biofuels as a catalyst for advancing the decarbonisation of maritime transportation. It complements other recent supply efforts, including this summer’s supplies for 84 ferry voyages by Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea at the Port of Algeciras, as well as the recent supply operation in Algeciras using the hybrid supply vessel “Bahía Levante”. The company had previously conducted successful tests of these sustainable fuels within its own fleet, demonstrating optimal engine performance and efficiency.

Cepsa has a diversified portfolio of solutions to facilitate the decarbonisation of maritime transport. In addition to biofuels, it includes products such as liquefied natural gas. Moreover, Cepsa will be able to supply synthetic marine fuels, such as green ammonia or methanol, in the future. The company will produce them within the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, the largest green hydrogen project in Europe.

Through its 2030 strategy, “Positive Motion,” Cepsa aims to lead sustainable mobility and promote the decarbonisation of heavy transport (air, maritime and land) through the production of green molecules. The company aspires to be the leading biofuel producer in Spain and Portugal by 2030, with a production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes annually, and green hydrogen, with 2 GW of electrolysis capacity.

For more information visit www.cepsa.com/en/

Evos Rotterdam and Prefere Resins are delighted to announce their recent agreement, which will see Prefere Resins take over the exclusive supply of Paraformaldehyde and Hexamethylenetetramine to Evos’ existing customers.

Prefere Resins, a renowned leader in the Paraformaldehyde business, expressed their enthusiasm for the acquisition of Evos’ customer list. Elmar Boeke, CEO of Prefere Resins, stated, “We are very excited about the acquisition of Evos’ Paraformaldehyde & Hexamethylenetetramine customer list and are confident that this opportunity will renew our strong commitment in the Paraformaldehyde business.”

Evos Rotterdam, a leading provider of liquid energy and chemicals storage, emphasised their dedication to focusing on their core competencies. Harry Deans, CEO of Evos, expressed, “Our commitment to being a leader in liquid energy and chemicals storage remains our number one goal. It was imperative that we offer our loyal customer base a smooth supply transition to a highly reputable partner in Prefere Resins.”

This partnership marks an important step forward for both Evos and Prefere Resins. By entrusting Prefere Resins with the exclusive supply of Paraformaldehyde and Hexamethylenetetramine, Evos ensures that its valued customers will continue to receive the highest quality products and services.

Prefere Resins’ expertise and industry reputation make them an ideal partner for this collaboration. Evos customers can look forward to a seamless transition and a continued commitment to excellence in the supply of Paraformaldehyde and Hexamethylenetetramine.

Both Evos Rotterdam and Prefere Resins are excited about the opportunities this partnership brings. Together, they are confident in their ability to provide exceptional service and meet the evolving needs of the industry.

For more information visit www.evos.eu

South Jersey Industries, an energy infrastructure holding company, and OPAL Fuels Inc., a leading vertically integrated producer and distributor of renewable natural gas and renewable energy, announced they have entered into a 50/50 joint venture to develop, construct, own and operate RNG facilities. The first facility (the “Atlantic RNG facility”) will be at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) solid waste landfill in Egg Harbour Township, New Jersey.

“This project is consistent with our comprehensive clean energy plan, Leading the Way,” said Mike Renna, president & CEO, South Jersey Industries. “Its implementation underscores our current progress and renewed vision to achieve Scope 1 and 2 carbon-neutral operations by 2040 and lead our employees, customers, and communities to a better today and tomorrow. This and future projects with OPAL Fuels will permit us to accelerate achieving these goals.”

“The development of the Atlantic RNG facility with SJI marks just the beginning of our relationship, as together we will bring more production and distribution of RNG to New Jersey,” said Jonathan Maurer, Co-CEO of OPAL Fuels. “This joint venture furthers OPAL Fuels’ growth strategy as we look forward to leveraging our operational expertise to work with landfills to maximise the value of their resource and meet their ESG goals faster by displacing diesel fuel with RNG in heavy-duty truck fleets.”

The Atlantic RNG facility will capture naturally occurring biogas, made up in large part by methane from the landfill, which will be upgraded to meet the required quality standards for distribution and sale. The Atlantic RNG facility is anticipated to have a nameplate capacity of 2,500 SCFM of landfill gas and is expected to produce more than 603,000 MMBtu or nearly 4.8 million gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) per year of RNG.

The new Atlantic RNG facility will replace a previously decommissioned power plant and the RNG will be injected into the South Jersey Gas network, an SJI subsidiary, making this project the first of its kind in the gas company’s natural gas distribution system.

For more information visit www.investors.opalfuels.com

Trafigura Group Pte Ltd. has announced an evolution of its executive team to further strengthen leadership and focus across its global activities during a period of exceptional success and growth. The changes also reflect the forthcoming retirement of Mike Wainwright.

Jeremy Weir, executive chairman and CEO, and Jose Larocca, executive director will lead a newly-formed executive committee. The committee will replace the current management committee. In addition, the executive committee will comprise the following, each of whom will report to Jeremy Weir as CEO.

• Richard Holtum head of gas, power and renewables
• Ben Luckock head of oil
• Ignacio Moyano chief risk officer (new role)
• Gonzalo De Olazaval head of metals, minerals & bulk commodities
• Christophe Salmon chief financial officer
• Emma Stroud chief operating officer

These changes will take place with immediate effect.

Hadi Hallouche will continue in his role as CEO Puma Energy. Kostas Bintas will continue to be responsible for aluminium and copper. Jesus Fernandez will continue as head of M&A and Julien Rolland will continue to lead strategic projects.

For more information visit www.trafigura.com

HES International, Europe’s largest independent bulk terminal operators, is pleased to announce the addition of two highly accomplished professionals to its team, Søren Skou as the independent chair of HES’ Supervisory Board and Joop de Rooij as chief commercial officer. Søren Skou, with nearly four decades of experience, brings a wealth of leadership expertise. He served as CEO of Maersk between 2016 and 2022, with international experience in Denmark, the United States, and China. Notably, he also chaired APM Terminals, a Maersk subsidiary based in The Hague, Netherlands, from 2016 to 2021. Mr. Skou’s extensive expertise in the ports industry positions him as a valuable asset to the team. Presently, he serves as the chair of the Maersk McKinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, spearheading initiatives aimed at discovering technical and regulatory solutions to drive the green transition within the Maritime industry. Furthermore, Mr. Skou holds the role of vice chairman at the prominent telecommunications equipment provider, Nokia.

Joop de Rooij, the former CEO of Fetim Group, an international trading company founded in 1919, joins HES International as chief commercial officer. With a remarkable track record spanning 30 years, notably as chairman of corporate finance and COO of KPMG Advisory, Mr. de Rooij specialises in operational growth, business development, financing, and mergers & acquisitions. Mr. de Rooij also served as an industry advisor and operating partner at Advent Private Equity, and as CFO of SHV holding. He is passionate about driving sustainable, profitable growth, both organically and through strategic acquisitions. Mr. de Rooij will focus on enhancing sales and business development activities and growing HES’s customer base, as the company expands its green energy offering and solidifies its position in agricultural goods, minerals, iron ore and liquids handling.

Cees van Gent, chairman of the executive board and CEO of HES International, said: “We are excited to welcome these two highly experienced individuals to our team. Their collective knowledge and proven track record will play a pivotal role in realising our growth ambitions, particularly as we navigate the evolving landscape of raw materials and energy transition.”

Søren Skou, said: “I believe HES International has the right vision and an exceptional team to achieve its strategic ambitions. I am delighted to be part of this forward-thinking organisation and contribute to its continued success”.

Joop de Rooij, said: “I am thrilled to join HES International and lead its commercial operations. With HES’s current market position and a clearly defined commercial strategy in place, I am confident that we can not only sustain our leadership but also explore new avenues for growth”.

For more information visit www.hesinternational.eu/en/

Inter Pipeline is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Paul Hawksworth as the new president and chief executive officer effective November 1, 2023. Mr. Hawksworth, who currently serves as IPL’s chief financial officer, will succeed Mr. Brian Baker, the current president and CEO and Brookfield Infrastructure Operating Partner. Mr. Baker will transition to the role of Board Chair at IPL.

Inter Pipeline would like to express their gratitude to Ms. Deborah Close, IPL’s current Chair, for her valuable contributions since joining the Board in 2021. She will continue to serve as an independent board member.

Mr. Hawksworth has played a vital role in Inter Pipeline’s transformation since its acquisition by Brookfield Infrastructure. With his proven leadership, experience, and knowledge, IPL are confident that he will ensure the continued execution of their strategic vision.

In his new position, Mr. Hawksworth will be responsible for the strategic planning and operational performance of IPL’s transportation, facilities, and marketing business units. The Heartland Polymers business will continue to be led by Mr. Todd Karran, CEO Heartland.

Additionally, IPL are excited to welcome Mr. Doug Wright as the new chief financial officer. Mr. Wright joins IPL from Brookfield Infrastructure, where he held the position of vice president. He brings extensive experience in financial oversight and strategic planning for midstream portfolios. Mr. Wright has been closely involved with the IPL team since Brookfield’s acquisition and is well-acquainted with their business.

As chief financial officer, Mr. Wright will oversee the execution of key financial strategies and provide leadership in financial reporting and compliance, corporate finance, tax, treasury, investor relations, enterprise risk management, strategic sourcing, corporate planning & development, and information technology.

Mr. Hawksworth’s impressive background includes his previous role as senior vice president at Brookfield Infrastructure, where he evaluated investment opportunities in the midstream sector. He also has a strong track record in mergers and acquisitions advisory roles with leading investment banks and accounting firms. Mr. Hawksworth is a chartered professional accountant, a chartered business valuator, and holds a bachelor of commerce from the University of British Columbia.

Inter Pipeline are confident that with this new leadership team, they will continue to thrive and succeed in the industry.

For more information visit www.interpipeline.com

enfinium, a leading UK energy from waste operator, today is the first UK-based energy from waste business to join the CCS+ Initiative and will support the group’s development of robust carbon accounting methodologies to underpin the growing voluntary carbon credit market, as well as serve as a foundation for evolving compliance markets.

As the first UK-based energy from waste operator to join CCS+, enfinium is leading the sector globally. Energy from waste will play a significant role meeting growing demand for carbon removals over the coming decades because it will continue to manage the millions of tonnes of unrecyclable biodegradable waste society produces.

The first initiative of its kind, CCS+ is a global, multi-stakeholder alliance, that includes some of the largest Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and technical carbon removal developers in the world. Set up to scale cutting edge climate technologies in carbon capture, utilisation, removal and storage, CCS+ pools the expertise of its membership to develop robust carbon accounting practices to encourage investment in carbon reduction and removal technologies and accelerate their adoption across voluntary and compliance markets.

Both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the UK’s Climate Change Committee say that CCS technology is vital to reach net zero emissions. Annual global demand for long-term carbon removals is estimated to reach between 40 and 200 Mt CO2 by 2030, outstripping the expected supply of 15 to 32 Mt CO2 in the same period.

In the UK, the energy from waste sector has the potential to capture up to 20Mtpa of CO2 by 2050, of which around 10 Mtpa would be durable, high quality carbon removals supported by permanent offshore geological storage.

As a member of CCS+, enfinium joins a group of global leaders in the carbon management space, from large industrial players to innovative start-ups. CCS+ is overseen by a range of independent academics and industry associations including the Global CCS Institute, IETA, ICROA, and IFC, as part of the Advisory Group.

Mike Maudsley, CEO of enfinium, said: “Carbon capture is an essential ingredient of net zero. This will require a mature voluntary carbon credits market, underpinned by robust data and accounting practices. The work of CCS+ is central to developing the framework needed to encourage investment.

The energy from waste sector will play a significant role in meeting global demand for durable, high quality carbon removals. Despite our best efforts, there will always be millions of tonnes of unrecyclable waste that needs to be managed. Energy from waste with carbon capture can maximise the value of this waste by generating carbon negative energy and taking carbon emissions out of the atmosphere.”

Christiaan Gevers Deynoot and Matthias Krey, co-leads of the CCS+ Initiative, said: “We are delighted to welcome enfinium as industry partner in the CCS+ initiative. The initiative, which is a collaborative endeavour between major players in the industrial carbon management space, will greatly benefit from their expertise in the waste to energy sector. We look forward to developing together the carbon accounting ‘infrastructure’ fit for the future carbon management economy.”

For more information visit www.enfinium.co.uk

In the world of industry and engineering, the selection of the right valves is essential for the efficient and safe operation of a wide range of systems and processes. Two types of valves often found in industrial applications are plug valves and ball valves. While both perform the important task of controlling the flow of liquids and gases, they have notable differences in terms of design, operation and benefits.

In this article, we will delve into these differences and explain why, in many situations, ball valves are the preferred choice of professionals in the field.

What is a Plug Valve?

To understand the differences between plug valves and ball valves, it is essential to begin by defining what a plug valve is. Also known as plug valves, these are all-or-nothing devices that use a cone-shaped disc to regulate the opening and closing of fluid flow. They are widely used in various industrial and domestic applications due to their simplicity and reliability.

Operation of a Plug Valve

The operation of a plug valve is based on a relatively simple design. The control element, which is a cone-shaped disc or wedge, moves perpendicular to the fluid flow. When the disc is fully rotated through 90°, maximum flow is allowed, and when rotated, the fluid flow is shut off. This opening and closing mechanism is achieved by means of a stem that connects to the plug and is operated by a handwheel, lever or motorized actuator, depending on the specific application.

Differences between Plug Valves and Ball Valves

Although plug valves and ball valves share the primary function of regulating fluid flow, they have significant differences that influence their performance and ideal applications. Below, we will explain some of these key differences:

Tap Valve Features and Benefits

FEATURES

Material of Construction: Plug valves are typically manufactured in a variety of materials, such as stainless steel, cast iron and PVC, making them suitable for a wide range of applications and environments.
Longevity: These valves are known for their durability and ability to withstand harsh conditions, such as high pressures and extreme temperatures.

BENEFITS

Tightness: Plug valves offer excellent sealing, minimizing fluid leakage when fully closed.

Durability: Their rugged construction allows them to operate reliably for long periods without frequent maintenance.

Precise Control: They are ideal for applications where precise and gradual flow control is required.

Now that we have explored the features and benefits of plug valves, it is time to look at ball valves and why many industries prefer them in various applications.

Features and Benefits of Ball Valves

Ball valves, also known as ball valves, feature a distinct design and operating mechanism that significantly differentiates them from plug valves. Let’s take a closer look at their features and benefits:

FEATURES

Material of Construction: Like plug valves, ball valves are manufactured in a variety of materials, from stainless steel to plastic, making them versatile in terms of applications and chemical resistance.

Longevity: Ball valves are designed to resist wear and corrosion, making them a durable choice even in harsh environments.

Types: Ball valves can be full bore, reduced bore, three-way or four-way, allowing for greater flexibility in their use.

BENEFITS

Fast Opening and Closing: One of the main advantages of ball valves is their ability to open and close quickly, making them ideal for applications requiring instant flow control.

Reliable Sealing: Thanks to their ball design that fits snugly into the seat, ball valves provide a tight seal, minimising leakage and reducing the risk of contamination.

Low Maintenance: Ball valves often require minimal maintenance due to their robust construction and lack of wear-prone moving parts.

Wide Temperature and Pressure Range: Ball valves can handle a wide range of temperatures and pressures, making them suitable for diverse applications.

Versatility: Their versatile design makes them suitable for a variety of applications, from domestic applications to critical industrial processes.

FHT Valves, Manufacturers of Ball Valves

At FHT Valves, we are a leading manufacturer and supplier of high quality ball valves, and we firmly believe that they are the best choice in many applications. Below, we will explain why we prefer ball valves over plug valves and how our products can benefit your industry.

For more information visit www.fhtvalves.com

Enagás has finalised the acquisition of 10 percent of the shares of Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH, a consortium in which it participates as an industrial partner. HEH has projects in Stade (Germany), which is is set to become the location for one of the Floating Storage and Regasification Units chartered by the German government, operated by Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH, and for terminal for liquefied gases on land that will also be prepared to operate with green ammonia.

With its 10 percent stake, Enagás strengthens the consortium formed by the Buss Group (founding shareholder), Partners Group (on behalf of its clients) and industrial partner Dow. Enagás will contribute its experience as one of Europe’s leading Transmission System Operators in the development and running of energy infrastructures, including CO2-neutral LNG terminals, assuming a leading role in the plant operations.

The deal has already been approved by the German regulator (BNetzA) and has received EU Competition Clearance.

In the words of Arturo Gonzalo, CEO of Enagás, “The entry of Enagás in Germany as an industrial partner in HEH fits perfectly with the objectives established in the company’s Strategic Plan of contributing to the security of energy supply and the decarbonisation of Europe”.

Arturo Gonzalo has also highlighted that “Enagás, together with the TSOs of Portugal and France, presented to the call for Projects of Common European Interest (PCI) the first European project for a hydrogen corridor, H2Med, after a historic agreement to which Germany also joined, and is firmly committed to renewable hydrogen for the decarbonisation of its industry”.

Progress of HEH in Stade

Hanseatic Energy Hub commissioned a consortium led by international EPC specialist Técnicas Reunidas to develop the onshore terminal, subject to the final investment decision. Other members of the consortium are the FCC Group and Entrade GmbH.

HEH has already contracted 10 bcm/y of long-term LNG capacity with EnBW and SEFE.

The aim of the project is to develop a flexible modular system for the transition to green energy in the Stade industrial park, where Dow already is the largest European producer of electrolysis hydrogen. This location also offers the possibility of creating synergies with the chemical, logistics and energy sectors.

Project progress as planned

In an initial phase, from end of 2023 until the commissioning of the onshore terminal, HEH will also be the site of one of the five Floating Storage and Regasification Units chartered by the German Government.

The works on the onshore superstructure –formed by the discharge arms and a gas pipeline– of the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit being developed by HEH, are progressing according to planning, and are expected to be completed in December, with the aim of getting the infrastructure up and running this winter.

In the second phase, from 2027, LNG and renewable energy sources such as bio-LNG and synthetic natural gas will be able to be imported from the onshore terminal. The planned regasification capacity is 13.3 bcm per year. The terminal, the port, the industrial park and the connecting infrastructure are designed for the future use of ammonia.

HEH’s planned investment volume for the terminal is around 1 billion euros.

For more information visit www.enagas.es/es/

Avanti Helium Corp. are pleased to provide an operational update on its Sweetgrass Project within its Greater Knappen asset.

Avanti is pleased to announce it has secured 40 acres of land in Liberty County, Montana which is expected to be the site of the Company’s Helium Recovery Unit (HRU) that will process raw gas from the WNG 10-21, and WNG 11-22 wells. The site is located ~3-4 miles from the Company’s Sweetgrass pool and is adjacent to an all-season public road. Avanti has signed a 25-year lease with an option to renew and has also secured all pipeline easements from the wells to the site. The lease agreement is subject to customary closing conditions.

Helium Recovery Plant

In addition to securing the land, the Company has completed the review of proposals from several midstream and Helium Recovery Unit manufacturers. The Company expects to move forward and enter into a definitive agreement with respect to development of the HRU in the coming weeks. The Company is targeting to have the HRU in place and on stream in Q4 2023.

Liquefaction Tolling Agreement

The Company is also pleased to announce it has signed a Helium liquefaction tolling agreement with Paradox Midstream LLC for 150 Mcf/d of helium gas to be liquefied at Paradox’s Lisbon gas plant located in Southern Utah. The liquefaction tolling agreement will commence upon completion of the Helium Recovery Unit, expected in Q4 2023.

“Having drilled one of the most significant helium wells in North America in decades, Avanti’s focus has shifted to extracting best-in-class returns from production and commercial arrangements,” commented Chris Bakker, Avanti CEO. “The announced agreements progress our plan to market 99.999 percent pure liquid Helium. Negotiations on the remaining agreements are progressing well and we expect to have additional information available to shareholders in the coming weeks.”

For more information visit www.avantihelium.com

Vopak celebrates the repurposing of 22 tanks at Vopak’s Los Angeles terminal in California, USA. With a combined capacity of 148,000 cubic metres (39 million gallons), this is a clear example of how storage capacity used for traditional products can be repurposed to store the products of the future like Sustainable Aviation Fuel and renewable diesel.

Vopak Los Angeles has a long-term agreement for this storage infrastructure with Neste, the world’s leading producer of SAF, renewable diesel, and renewable feedstock solutions for various polymers and chemicals industry uses.

The Vopak Los Angeles Terminal is strategically located in the Port of Los Angeles and is well-connected for logistics via various modes of transportation, including vessels, barges, trucks, pipeline, and trains. The storage capacity at the Vopak terminal significantly increases the availability and accessibility of Neste’s renewable fuels at critical hubs in the Los Angeles area, such as SAF for airlines at the Los Angeles International Airport and surrounding airports, and renewable diesel for fuelling stations serving road transportation.

“Neste is fully committed to supporting the energy transition in the US as well as globally via working closely together with partners to increase the availability of our renewable fuels. Our cooperation with Vopak shows how repurposing existing fuel distribution infrastructure can accelerate the much needed transition to renewable energy,” says Annika Tibbe, acting president for Neste US. “California has been at the forefront of adopting and endorsing climate-friendly policies and solutions. We are glad to enable more cities, businesses and individual travelers in the state to take advantage of Neste’s renewable solutions to reduce their emissions and help fight against climate change.”

“The Port of Los Angeles congratulates Vopak for its work here at the Port converting nearly two dozen of its tanks to sustainable aviation fuel and renewable low-carbon fuel sources,” said Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka. “The Port of Los Angeles supports the use of lower carbon intense fuel options in the local transportation industry as we progress towards our own zero emission goals beginning in 2030. We appreciate Vopak’s efforts and partnership in this transition.”

Maria Ciliberti, Vopak president United States and Canada: “We are proud to serve Neste! Repurposing Vopak’s assets from oil and traditional fossil fuel products to low carbon energy solutions is right on target with our strategy. We are happy that our services and infrastructure have been selected and are committed to be a part of the Los Angeles energy transition”.

Neste products supporting the energy transition

Neste’s renewable fuels offer a more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to 75 percent compared to fossil diesel over its life cycle. Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ reduces GHG emissions by up to 80 percent over the fuel’s life cycle compared to using fossil jet fuel. Both fuels are fully compatible with current diesel and aircraft engines and fuelling infrastructure, making them ideal solutions to reduce emissions in hard to abate sectors like aviation, heavy duty transport, and freight.

Vopak is investing in infrastructure for the energy transition

Vopak has invested approximately EUR 30 million into repurposing existing conventional oil storage capacity over the last months into biofuels storage. As previously announced, Vopak will accelerate its portfolio investments towards new energies and sustainable feedstocks by allocating EUR 1 billion in growth capital to these activities by 2030. This is half of Vopak’s growth capital allocation till 2030. Vopak’s focus is on infrastructure solutions for low-carbon and renewable hydrogen, ammonia, CO2, long duration energy storage and sustainable feedstocks. This strategy will help shape the future of Vopak, but also contribute positively to the transition within key industrial clusters and the shaping of energy hubs of the future.

For more information visit www.vopak.com

VARO Energy Group have announced the appointment of Swetlana Iodko Schoordijk as vice president of investor relations and communications. In the newly created role, Swetlana will oversee VARO’s financial and investor communications as well as communications to external and internal stakeholders. She will take up the position from the 1 October 2023.

In July this year VARO raised US$3.3 billion from a syndicate of 15 lending banks, including US$831 million in new finance. In addition to managing VARO’s relationships with its lenders, Swetlana will play an important role in identifying additional pools of capital to support VARO’s US$3.5 billion investment programme between 2022-26.

Swetlana joins VARO from Holcim, the world’s largest cement company, where she was most recently the head of investor relations. Previously she served in a number of senior positions at Holcim in Investor Relations and Strategy. Swetlana started her career at E&Y.

Dev Sanyal, CEO of VARO, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Swetlana to VARO in the newly created position of VP investor relations and communications. Swetlana brings a wealth of experience and understanding of the capital markets to VARO that will be invaluable as we look to raise fresh capital to invest into delivering the ONE VARO Transformation strategy and move to the next phase of our growth.”

For more information visit www.varoenergy.com/en/home/

APM Terminals is already sourcing ~40 percent of all the electricity it consumes globally from renewable sources – a nearly four-fold increase from 11 percent in 2020.

Decarbonised ports, as well as ships are proof that the supply chain transformation is happening here and now, says APM Terminals’ CEO Keith Svendsen.

One of the company’s three breakthrough objectives, decarbonisation will be achieved by 2040 through electrification, energy optimisation, and sourcing of 100 percent renewable electricity such as solar energy, he confirmed.

First call

Svendsen was speaking at an event to mark the first call of the world’s first methanol-powered container ship at APM Terminals’ Maasvlakte II in Rotterdam. Compared with conventionally powered container ships, Laura reduces emissions by 65 percent.

The arrival of the ‘Laura Maersk’ was “another good example of purpose in action” said Svendsen. The vessel is “a game changer” in the decarbonisation efforts of the shipping and port logistics industry, he said.

The 172-meter-long vessel was named last week by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a ceremony in Copenhagen, attended by Svendsen, and APM Terminals’ Head of Decarbonisation, Sahar Rashidbeigi.

Partners in energy transition

Applauding the speed at which the Laura Maersk was developed – at around seven years ahead of estimations made as recently as five years ago – Svendsen said the key to her fast delivery lay in partnership.

As such, he called on APM Terminals’ partners – the governments, regulators, customers, vendors, and suppliers – to “act now – fast and together” to accelerate and scale decarbonisation and the energy transition to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions holistically in the transport chain.”

APM Terminals has committed to fully decarbonising its terminal operations by 2040, the advancement on its initial finishing line by 10 years.

Fast first step

Speaking on the quay alongside the Laura, he said the ship marks a crucial first step for the shipping sector and supply chains. Capable of carrying 2,136 twenty-foot containers (TEU) the Laura is a relatively small – yet symbolic – ship, said Svendsen.

More than 100 vessels of all types with methanol engines are in global orderbooks, however. Svendsen said: “We expect to see methanol fuelled ships from Maersk and other shipping lines here in Rotterdam. The faster we create a big market for green fuels, the better and cheaper availability will be.

“We are in times in which we will create an ecosystem that will collectively reduce emissions from shipping and logistics much faster than we could have hoped,” he said.

For more information visit www.apmterminals.com

Prostar Capital has sold its bulk liquid storage terminal facility, GTI Fujairah, located in the Port of Fujairah, to Mercantile & Maritime Group. GTI Fujairah is a high-performing facility with 14 tanks and 2.2 million barrels of storage capacity for black and white refined petroleum products. It has been consistently ranked as one of the leading operators in the port. The Port of Fujairah is a strategic energy trading port and one of the largest bunkering hubs in the world.

M&M, the buyer, is an independent commodity trading business that offers various services including trading, shipping, advisory, infrastructure asset management, field services, and storage and bunkering services. They are excited about acquiring this innovative terminal asset, which also champions best-practice environmental standards in oil storage. This acquisition will enhance their presence in the Middle East and provide them with increased access to both growing and established markets.

Prostar Capital did not disclose the financial terms of the sale, but they have expressed their satisfaction with the investment experience. They initially acquired the asset at a favorable EBITDA multiple and have seen a significant improvement in its exit EBITDA multiple. Prostar’s growth objectives for the terminal included recontracting it and securing high-quality, long-term customers. They focused on reducing operational expenses and making the terminal more automated and efficient.

Even though they have sold GTI Fujairah, Prostar Capital will still have a 40 percent ownership stake in the neighbouring bulk liquid storage facility, Fujairah Oil Terminal. FOT is the first terminal in the port to store ultra-low sulfur fuel oil and has significant growth potential. With its connection to the VLCC Jetty, which is used by large crude carriers, FOT is expected to experience significant growth in storage rates and demand for capacity.

Overall, this sale represents a successful investment for Prostar Capital, and they are confident that Mercantile & Maritime Group will continue the terminal’s growth. Prostar will also continue to focus on the growth and development of Fujairah Oil Terminal.

For more information visit www.prostarcapital.com

The Port of Rotterdam Authority and Yokogawa Electric Corporation have recently announced their collaboration on a feasibility study to explore opportunities for cross-industry integration in the Rotterdam industrial cluster. This study aims to identify ways to efficiently utilise energy and utilities within the cluster, in order to contribute to the region’s decarbonisation goals.

The initial scan conducted by the two organisations has already revealed potential cost savings of up to 5 percent through the optimisation of electricity and utilities usage across companies. While individual companies in the petrochemical industry have already achieved significant optimisation within their own operations, concerns about sharing confidential information have hindered collaboration beyond their own boundaries. By facilitating the confidential sharing of data and promoting deeper integration within the cluster, the Port of Rotterdam and Yokogawa seek to unlock the substantial efficiency gains that can be achieved through optimising production across the entire industrial cluster.

One of the key approaches to achieving this integration is through the integration of multiple utilities, such as heat, electricity, and hydrogen. This can enhance industrial flexibility and lead to new efficiencies. For instance, optimising electricity consumption between adjacent companies can help manage peak demand and alleviate electrical grid congestion in the port area. Similarly, by coordinating the use of other utilities, such as steam, companies can prevent wastage by supplying excess steam to neighbouring companies when needed. This multi-utility approach has the potential to significantly contribute to energy savings and emissions reduction.

As Europe’s largest port and home to over 200 industrial companies, the Port of Rotterdam is uniquely positioned to drive and implement this project in support of the energy transition. Yokogawa, with its simulation technology, optimal production planning solutions, and expertise in regional energy management, will play a crucial role in uncovering opportunities for efficiencies across multiple industrial systems.

The pre-feasibility study has already demonstrated improvements of up to 5 percent in efficiency through better alignment of electricity, heat, steam, and feedstock usage. This not only results in lower costs but also reduces the carbon footprint. In the long run, deeper integration and optimisation within the industrial cluster could potentially yield savings as high as 10 percent. This vision aligns with the goal of developing an “industrial sharing economy” in the Rotterdam area, where intensive sharing of resources and infrastructure leads to highly efficient operations for all companies in the region.

Building on these promising findings, the Port of Rotterdam and Yokogawa have now commenced a feasibility study involving several petrochemical and energy companies within the cluster. This study aims to define concrete use cases based on existing operations. The first results of the feasibility study are expected to be available by the end of 2023. If the findings are sufficiently positive, the next step will be to develop plans for field trials involving cooperating companies in the port, starting from 2024.

For more information visit www.portofrotterdam.com/en

QatarEnergy has announced the signing of a long-term naphtha supply agreement with Japan-based Marubeni Corporation, a leading integrated trading and investment business conglomerate.

The agreement was signed by QatarEnergy, for and on behalf of Qatar Petroleum for the Sale of Petroleum Products Company Ltd. (QPSPP), and Marubeni Petroleum Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Marubeni Corporation.

The 10-year sale agreement stipulates the supply of up to 1.2 million tonnes per annum of Naphtha to Marubeni starting from October 2023.

This agreement is based on the successful and long-term relationship enjoyed between both entities and builds on the 5-year Naphtha sales agreement signed in 2018, which expires in September 2023.

In remarks marking this occasion, His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the president and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: “This agreement further enhances the long-standing, strategic, and fruitful relationship between QatarEnergy and Marubeni Corporation, spanning several decades. We are proud of the continued cooperation with our Japanese partners such as Marubeni Corporation, which reinforces Japan’s trust in Qatar as a reliable energy provider while further fostering cooperation between the two countries.”

QatarEnergy and Marubeni Corporation have a long-standing strategic partnership through several shared investments in the energy industry in Qatar, including investment in Al-Kharsaah solar power plant and Mesaieed power plant.

Marubeni Corporation is the largest petrochemical feedstock trading entity and aggregator in Asia. It has received continuous and stable supplies of various grades of Naphtha from Qatar since 1986, which has enabled Marubeni Corporation to reliably supply a variety of end users in Japan.

For more information visit www.qatarenergy.qa/en/

EET Hydrogen is delighted to announce that its HPP2 production project has commenced Front End Engineering & Design. At up to 1,000MW capacity the plant is expected to be the largest in the UK and one of the largest in the world and will produce some 230,000 tonnes of low carbon hydrogen every year for local industrial and power generation customers.

This follows from HPP1 (350MW capacity plant) that completed FEED in September 2021 and was selected by the government in March 2023 as one of two initial large low carbon hydrogen plants in the UK. HPP2 is the catalyst for investment across the UK North-West for infrastructure that will transport and store hydrogen and for industrial and power generation customers who will ‘fuel switch’ to this low carbon fuel. This will deliver the first low carbon refining, glass and chemicals manufacturing sites in the world. HPP2 will be adjacent to the HPP1 plant, benefiting from the synergies and helping to deliver value for money.

Many of the leading names in UK manufacturing as well as new emerging businesses are supporting the project – a number are quoted below:

Martin Ashcroft, managing director of Tata Chemicals Europe, commented: “We have been supporters of EET Hydrogen and the low carbon hydrogen segment as a real opportunity to further reduce emissions at our world class CHP facility.”

Deepak Maheshwari, CEO of EOUK, added: “We are delighted to be an anchor customer for the EET Hydrogen business as we develop and implement a number of sector leading hydrogen use cases and decarbonise our operations and manufacturing processes.”

Adrian Curry, managing director of Encirc, said: “This partnership with EET Hydrogen will help us to change the face of glass as we aim to produce Net Zero bottles from 2030. Glass is an incredible material and sustainable in so many ways. It has been around since 3500 BC, and by using hydrogen to decarbonise it, we believe it will be the packaging choice for centuries to come.”

Mo El-Moussaoui, carbon reduction manager, Carrington Power, ESB, said: “In line with our Net Zero to 2040 strategy, we are decarbonising the carbon intensity of our generation fleet. We are delighted to work with EET Hydrogen as we work towards decarbonising our Carrington plant, and the many benefits that will bring.”

Neil Syder, managing director of Pilkington United Kingdom Limited said: “We are fully committed to our NSG Group target of achieving carbon neutral by 2050. Firing the float glass furnace using hydrogen instead of natural gas is a key part of our strategy to reduce carbon emissions.”

Paul Shelley, site manager at Warrington Ingevity: “Ingevity is proud to partner with HyNet Northwest and EET Hydrogen as we work towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacture of our Caprolactone range of specialty chemicals at our site in Warrington.”

Jeff Ovens, managing director of Fulcrum BioEnergy said: “As a leading pioneer in the commercialisation of waste based sustainable aviation fuels, we are working closely with EET Hydrogen to supply low carbon hydrogen for our Fulcrum NorthPoint SAF facility at the Essar Manufacturing Facility, Ellesmere Port. SAF is the only realistic solution to decarbonise aviation, particularly long haul flight and using low carbon hydrogen as part of our SAF production process, will further improve the overall net CO2 emission reduction benefits of Fulcrum’s fuel.”

Dr Angela Needle, director of Strategy at Cadent said: “We warmly welcome the announcement that EET Hydrogen has started FEED for its HPP2 plant, a major step in decarbonising industry in the North West. At Cadent we remain focussed on developing the pipeline infrastructure in readiness to connect and transport hydrogen to industry whilst protecting the planet for our customers and the communities we serve.”

For more information visit www.vertexhydrogen.com

ITC Rubis has initiated piling works for its newest expansion, Tankpit 7.

This expansion will bring about significant growth in storage capacity, adding almost 40,000 cbm of carbon and stainless steel storage to their terminal.

Additionally, the new tankpit will feature a liquid loading station designed for rail and truck transportation. It is exciting to witness ITC Rubis’ commitment to innovation and expansion in the industry.

For more information visit www.itcrubis.com

Advario, a leading provider of storage and logistics solutions for the energy and chemical industry, recently observed its Global Safety Day. The event brought together employees and contractor partners from all Advario terminals, offices, and major project sites across the globe, including China, the US, Singapore, and northern Europe. The primary focus of the day was to emphasise the importance of safe and reliable operations while ensuring the well-being of all individuals involved.

Given the nature of Advario’s business, safety is always a top priority. Dealing with toxic, flammable, and pressurised substances requires constant attention and strict adherence to safety protocols. With large and bustling sites that involve ongoing maintenance and construction work, even small errors can have severe consequences.

Advario places a strong emphasis on creating a safety culture that prioritizes its people. The company believes in fostering a safe environment through promoting the right behaviors, raising awareness, and encouraging open communication. Since initiating the Global Safety Day in 2017, Advario has seen continuous improvement in its safety performance.

This year’s theme, #BecauseIcare, highlighted the personal reflection of each individual’s commitment to safety and the actions they take to ensure the well-being of themselves and their colleagues. Locally, each Advario location added a personal touch to the programme, organising workshops, team-building activities, and celebrations that resonated with their unique work culture.

Advario takes great pride in the dedication of its employees and the progress made in enhancing safety across the organisation. By putting people first and empowering them to contribute to a culture of safety, Advario aims to create an environment where everyone can work confidently and return home safely at the end of their shift.

The success of the Global Safety Day reaffirms Advario’s ongoing commitment to prioritise safety and well-being in all aspects of its operations.

For more information visit www.advario.com

Shaping the future through digitalisation: Implico, the solution provider for digitalising business processes in the energy and raw materials industry, is repositioning itself to support companies on their path towards a sustainable future. The digital pioneer is laying the foundations for a successful global energy transition through efficient software solutions, SCU – the industry platform for the supply chain – and practical consulting services.

The rebranding is reinforcing Implico’s position as a trailblazer of digital solutions for the energy and raw materials supply chain. Through its global presence, 40 years of experience and ample expertise, Implico is paving the way for the transformation of the entire supply chain. The core of the company’s new corporate identity consists of a novel, transparent product architecture, based on which Implico will provide new services and upgrades in the form of triedand- tested software solutions relating to terminal management, secondary distribution and fuels retailing. This includes UnitedDAT for data management, UnitedBPA for process automation, and various AddOns offering additional features. Partnership, consulting and Supply Chain United are three further elements that will serve as cornerstones of the new corporate strategy.

“For the past 40 years, Implico has been known for providing quality digital solutions in the energy and raw materials industry. We want to do our bit to usher in the digital transformation for companies and actively help the energy sector unleash the full potential of its data,” states Rolf Adam, CEO of Implico GmbH. “Principles such as cocreation and partnership have always played a central role at Implico, which is one reason why our international partner network includes well-known names such as SAP, Microsoft and AWS. As part of our rebranding, we are working to develop a global network of experts and an industry platform along the entire supply chain.”

SCU: a host of key innovations for the sector

The aim is for all key logistics and economic processes in the supply chain of energy and natural resources to be resolved via Supply Chain United (SCU), developed by Implico. This global industry platform paves the way for the seamless integration of individual IT systems and enables them to be linked to each other quickly and easily. Taking the SaaS principle as its basis, the platform offers a host of key innovations for all participants, including a subscription-based, open framework of cloud-based products along with an array of business applications. As the platform’s initiator, Implico offers professional partner management for software producers and system integrators.

Modern data management with AI and machine learning

The market players in the supply chain are connected to each other and consolidated within a network via UnitedDAT. This intelligent data management service helps companies to meet complex legal requirements of the kind encountered when preparing sustainability reports, and enables them to gain maximum value from their data. Companies can use UnitedDAT to automate the exchange of data and integrate various IT systems. Complex tasks – such as managing, integrating and analysing huge volumes of data, the transparent preparation of company and business data, and reporting end-to-end processes – are made simple through the targeted use of cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning and AI. The corresponding data can then be used for business process automation within UnitedBPA, a new addition to Implico’s portfolio. Based on the motto “The automated route to automatic efficiency”, this service is designed to help improve efficiency, not least because the automation of business processes is a key factor for success in an industry that is often characterized by the transportation of hazardous goods. Through UnitedBPA, customers can deploy efficient IT solutions such as RPA (robot process automation) tools to carry out manual activities in a quick, cost effective manner.

Intelligent consulting services as a future cornerstone of the business

Going forward, Implico’s new focus will incorporate strategic consulting for logistics companies. This means identifying swift and effective ways and means – across the entire value and supply chain – for companies to increase their profitability, establish competitive advantages in a dynamic industry, and meet the substantial challenges involved in the energy transition. Implico will help its customers to meet the increasingly complex (legal) requirements relating to environment, health and safety. The digital pioneer’s consulting services will also open the door to new energy sources such as LNG, ammonia and hydrogen. Automated processes and the real-time exchange of large volumes of data can help to further improve logistics processes as well as communication between producers, suppliers, distributors and customers and enable them to reach all-new heights.

New logo visualises the core elements of the Implico brand

The Implico portfolio likewise contains established products, such as the terminal management solution OpenTAS for tank farms – in future, this product will be amalgamated along with various AddOns under the name UnitedTMS. Meanwhile, SAP S/4HANA SDM and SAP S/4HANA RFNO, two SAP standard solutions developed and maintained exclusively by Implico, will be integrated into the categories of UnitedSDM for secondary distribution and UnitedRFO for fuels retailing.

The company’s new brand identity reflects the consolidation of its profile and corporate strategy, while the logo visualises the brand’s core elements while emphasising its main features. The two graphic elements – the location pin (signifying locations within the supply chain) and the droplet (signifying Implico’s core business) are connected like links in a chain. They stand for more than 40 years of experience and expertise in the global supply chain – and for the connection between all forms of data.

For more information visit www.implico.com

Neste and SQUAKE, a leading technology provider for powering carbon calculations and providing tangible compensation for all travel and logistics emissions, are announcing a strategic partnership that enables businesses to purchase Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ through flight booking systems using SQUAKE’s technology.

Travel companies using SQUAKE’s technology infrastructure can now provide their business customers an opportunity to opt for sustainable aviation fuel, for instance during their booking process or by including SAF automatically in all bookings by the company.

Goodwings, a climate-focused travel management platform that helps businesses reduce their emissions, is the first travel management company to incorporate the option to purchase SAF in their booking platform. Goodwings enables their global client network to mitigate their emissions and fly more sustainably using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. With SQUAKE’s technology embedded in Goodwings’ travel platform, all processes from SAF order creation and invoicing to document management are fully automated.

Neste, Goodwings and SQUAKE are proud to empower businesses and travelers towards building a more sustainable travel industry by accelerating use of SAF to significantly reduce air travel-related emissions.

“SAF has been around since 2008, and yet it only accounted for 0.1 percent of the world’s total jet fuel consumption in 2022. At Goodwings, we’re on a mission to change that. This strategic partnership brings together three businesses that share a deep commitment to changing the status quo of the travel industry. With Neste’s world class SAF, SQUAKE’s sustainable travel and logistics, and Goodwings’ innovative B2B business model, we’re primed and ready to accelerate the green transition,” said Christian Møller-Holst, CEO and founder of Goodwings.

“Neste is working closely together with innovative and industry-leading partners such as SQUAKE and Goodwings to leverage the full potential of sustainable aviation fuel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from air travel. We are proud that this partnership broadens the opportunities for business travelers to voluntarily reduce the carbon footprint of their air travel by purchasing our SAF and credibly reporting the emission reductions achieved,” said Susanne Bouma, head of partnerships and programmes from the renewable aviation business unit at Neste.

“This partnership realises the core purpose of our solution: Connecting change and decision makers at scale to maximize and accelerate the sustainable transformation of the travel industry. Being trusted by such forward-thinking market leaders is yet another proof of the scalability and relevance of our solution,” stated Philipp von Lamezan, CEO and Co-founder of SQUAKE.

Sustainable aviation fuel

SAF is a renewable aviation fuel providing a more sustainable alternative to conventional, fossil based jet fuel and widely recognised as a key solution to reduce aviation related emissions. Using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent over the fuel’s life cycle compared to using fossil jet fuel. Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced from used cooking oil and animal fat waste, 100 percent renewable raw materials which are sustainably sourced. SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel before use and it works seamlessly with existing aircraft engines and fueling infrastructure.

For more information visit www.neste.com

Shell and LBC Tank Terminals are delighted to announce their partnership in advancing sustainability through the storage and handling of pyrolysis oil derived from plastic waste in the Port of Rotterdam. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in their shared commitment to a sustainable future.

Situated strategically in the key European logistical hub, LBC’s Rotterdam terminal plays a vital role in supporting the chemical industry and promoting sustainable innovation by providing the necessary infrastructure and expertise for efficient storage and handling of liquid bulk products. Pyrolysis oil, a promising alternative chemical feedstock sourced from waste materials, is at the forefront of efforts to promote resource efficiency and contribute to a circular economy.

Liz Allen, general manager of Shell Chemicals Business Management Northwest Europe, expresses her excitement about the collaboration, stating, “Shell is thrilled to embark on this partnership with LBC. This five-year agreement aligns with our strategy to supply customers with circular chemicals and contribute to the development of a viable plastic circular economy in Europe. The dedicated storage will drive the growth of the pyrolysis oil market by providing much-needed capacity, allowing Shell to aggregate and process pyrolysis oil from multiple suppliers and enhance value chain flexibility.”

Frank Erkelens, CEO of LBC Tank Terminals, shares his enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying, “This partnership reaffirms LBC’s commitment to making a positive impact and driving change within the industry. Storage solutions play a critical role in advancing and supporting long-term growth in the circular chemicals value chain, and we are excited to join forces with Shell to make significant progress towards achieving a carbon-neutral future.”

By combining their expertise and resources, Shell Chemicals and LBC Tank Terminals are at the forefront of nurturing innovative solutions and driving sustainable growth in the development of the pyrolysis oil market and supply chain. This collaboration sets a valuable precedent for industry leaders to come together in pursuit of a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

For more information visit www.lbctt.com

As global uncertainty continues to disrupt day to day life and energy costs surge to unprecedented levels, the need for accurate measurement of gas, steam and other fluids vital to industry has never been more important.

Gas, steam, compressed air and industrial gases are expensive commodities and now, more than ever, it’s essential that we only use what we really need, and that we minimise any wastage.

Contrec flow computers are the ideal choice for factory managers, process engineers and business owners to keep a keen eye on their energy usage, not just as part of the drive towards being carbon neutral, but in being able to keep their usage as low as possible.

Modern day flow computers can accurately compute the volume, mass, energy, temperature and pressure of the fluids, display these values for operators but also log and retransmit all these values back to the DCS or Scada systems where they can then be analysed for potential peaks, troughs, leaks that might not otherwise be found. Examples could be over use of gas when not required, highlighting faulty steam trap leaks, or air compressors being undersized for their duty and consequently costing more to run than they should. Contrec flow computers can help locate and improve all these issues when installed within a suitable metering system.

Contrec Gas and Steam flow computers operate with virtually all flowmeter types, can be installed in control rooms, field mount, or hazardous areas and provide traditional pulse and 4-20mA outputs or Modbus/Ethernet communication outputs for direct connection to third party supervisory systems.

Get in touch with us to see how we can help accurately manage your energy usage.

For more information visit www.contrec.co.uk

Commonwealth LNG have announced that it has entered into a Heads of Agreement with EQT, the largest producer of natural gas in the US, for 1 million tons per annum of LNG under a 15-year tolling agreement, and associated gas supply to Commonwealth LNG’s facility in Cameron, Louisiana.

Commonwealth LNG Founder and executive chairman Paul Varello said, “We are very pleased to add a US producer of EQT’s stature to Commonwealth’s customer portfolio.”

He added, “This agreement will connect EQT’s vast natural gas assets to Commonwealth’s LNG facility, thus creating a robust value chain from wellhead to water. Accessing EQT’s natural gas production, which achieved a 20 percent year-over-year reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions, supports Commonwealth’s goal of achieving best in class environmental standards.”

Commonwealth anticipates a final investment decision on the project in the first quarter of 2024, with first cargo deliveries expected in 2027. An accelerated construction schedule will allow the project to be built in three years using a modular approach with major components being fabricated offsite.

The terms anticipated under the HOA would commence at the start of commercial operation of the facility. Final terms remain subject to negotiation of a definitive agreement between the parties.

For more information visit www.commonwealthlng.com

The 10th anniversary International LNG Congress is going to gather LNG key players in Italy, Milan on March, 11-12, 2024. Among the participants are gas majors, EPCs, local gas companies, LNG shipping, truck and fleet owners, terminals and ports, equipment manufacturers, and service providers.

These days Italy takes the third place among importers of LNG in Europe. Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s new prime minister, declared that “Italy is the natural gateway to energy and supplying Europe” after her official visits to Algeria and Libya in January 2023.

Moreover, major local LNG companies shared their strategies on development and management of LNG infrastructure in Italy. For example, Alessio Torelli, Chairman and chief executive officer of Snam4Mobility, emphasised during his presentation at LNGCON 2023: “Snam, that is working for Italian energy security, is getting ready to receive increasing LNG volumes shifting from 2021 20 percent share on total Italian gas demand to 40 percent share in 2026”.

His speech took place at the 9th International LNG Congress in Dusseldorf, Germany. Alessio added that the company is planning “relevant investments both in small-scale LNG assets and in developing LNG filling stations network throughout Italy”.

To be in contact with other key industry players, delegates from Snam4Mobility are joining the 10th International LNG Congress in Milan as a Regional Partner. The main mission of the company, as Snam4Mobility shared, is to develop and manage Italian infrastructural small scale LNG projects and boost the growth of the distribution network promoting road and maritime transport, and also sustainable off-grid applications.

All of these points could happen in the near future by strategic and effective partnerships with the whole LNG value chain, which LNGCON 2024 assembles.

Moreover, the delegates are going to have a look at current market trends and case studies to develop the sector.

The business programme of LNGCON 2024 highlights the following topics:

● LNG market dynamics towards energy transition;
● overview of bunkering infrastructure and its latest developments;
● LNG as a transportation fuel;
● bio-LNG and synthetic LNG today and their decarbonisation potential;
● case studies on small-scale LNG technologies;
● gas supplies to Europe: pricing and trading strategies.

In 2024 Congress is going to celebrate its 10th anniversary edition. During nine years LNGCON has been fuelling the industry by mutually beneficial networking and successful long-term partnerships. So, Christoph Lütge, CEO of OELTECHNIK, shared impressions about his attendance of LNGCON 2023: “What we are finding at the Congress is any kind of customers or partners within the LNG arena”.

Another delegate Martin Cartwright from DNV added that “LNGCON allows us to speak to those we want to speak. It makes a stand out event because those meetings are vital for us to network properly”.

For more information visit www.lngcongress.com

Vopak has recently announced that it has reached an agreement with Infracapital regarding the sale of its three chemical terminals in Rotterdam. The purchase price, including a conditional deferred payment, amounts to EUR 407 million. After deducting transaction costs and net debt items, Vopak expects to receive around EUR 368 million in cash. This decision follows a strategic review that was announced earlier this year.

Infracapital, the infrastructure equity investment arm of M&G Plc, is an experienced European infrastructure investor with a strong presence in the Netherlands. The transaction is still subject to works council consultation and customary closing conditions, but it is anticipated to be finalised before the end of the year.

Vopak plans to partially reverse the cash generating unit impairment charges recorded in 2022, related to the divested terminal assets. This reversal is expected to amount to approximately EUR 54 million and will be reported as an exceptional item. The EBITDA for the divested entities in 2022, excluding exceptional items, was approximately EUR 45 million.

Patrick van der Voort, the president of Vopak Business Unit Netherlands, expressed his gratitude towards everyone involved in the process and assured that Vopak will work closely with the works council to ensure a smooth transition of ownership to Infracapital. Michiel Gilsing, the CFO of Vopak, highlighted that this divestment aligns with the company’s strategic goals of improving financial performance, expanding in gas and industrial terminals, and advancing towards new energies.

For more information visit www.vopak.com

Asian liquefied natural gas buyers are navigating a near-term market that is so finely balanced that any supply disruptions or demand upsides could cause significant price volatility according to Mangesh Dilip Patankar, vice president, APAC Gas and LNG Consulting at Wood Mackenzie.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Gastech 2023 conference being held in Singapore, Patanker said that the LNG market is at a critical juncture and the uncertain outlook has affected pricing and contract terms significantly and widened the gap between buyer and seller aspirations.

LNG Deliveries into Asia 2023-2030 by country of origin

“Many LNG buyers face the challenge of ensuring LNG supply security, while keeping their procurement costs competitive and contractual terms flexible,” Patanker said.

“Simultaneously, the terms in LNG SPAs [sale and purchase agreements] are also evolving as LNG trading increases.”

According to Wood Mackenzie Lens, Australia and Qatar will be biggest suppliers of LNG to Asia throughout 2023 – 2030 with volumes of over 886 million tonnes and 827 MT respectively. This will account for almost 60 percent of the total volumes of LNG delivered into Asia during this period.

Patanker believes that the LNG market cooling off from last year’s highs means emerging buyers, particularly in Asia, are now keen to reengage sellers. However, he warns that any Asian buyers looking to re-enter the market must understand LNG’s complex fundamentals and track its price volatility.

“As LNG buyers contemplate their options, it becomes crucial for them to evaluate the mix of pricing indices in their portfolio such as oil or Henry Hub and whether they should also take some exposure to spot pricing/spot purchases,” Patanker said.

Patanker added that with the new wave of LNG projects not expected to make a significant impact in terms of increased supply until 2026, the market looks set to remain tight. Wood Mackenzie LENS data shows LNG year-on-year supply growth averaging 40 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) annually from 2026 to 2028, helping the global market to rebalance, which is predicted to bring prices down.

Patanker believes this will improve gas affordability, facilitate LNG availability for Europe and enable a rebound of demand in Asia.

“The outlook for LNG market beyond 2028 is then dependent on the level of liquefaction project final investment decisions (FIDs) within the next 1-2 years as well as the pace of energy transition, in addition to several dynamic supply-demand related factors.”

For more information visit www.woodmac.com

bp has announced that Kate Thomson has been appointed interim chief financial officer. Her appointment follows the appointment last week of Murray Auchincloss as bp’s interim chief executive officer.

Kate is currently bp’s senior vice president, finance for production & operations, responsible for the financial stewardship of and commercial partnering with the business globally. She has been with bp for 19 years, previously holding a number of senior financial roles, including group treasurer and head of group tax.

Murray Auchincloss, bp’s interim chief executive officer said: “Kate’s experience and skills make her ideally suited to take on the role of interim CFO. She brings deep technical knowledge together with a detailed understanding of bp, and has a first-class track record of leadership across our finance function. I look forward to working alongside her as we continue to deliver bp’s strategy”.

Before joining bp in 2004, Kate had worked in professional services firms including with Ernst & Young in M&A tax and as group head of tax for Charter plc. Kate has been a member of the board of Aker BP for the past 7 years and also serves on the boards of a number of bp Group companies. She is a qualified chartered accountant.

For more information visit www.bp.com

Exolum has commissioned a new photovoltaic solar plant for its own energy consumption at the Huelva terminal. The new plant has an installed capacity of 3.88 MW generated by 9,000 solar panels spread out over a plot measuring 59,000 m2.

The company has invested 2.3 million euros in the construction of this infrastructure, which ensures the supply of 100 percent renewable energy equal to 32 percent of the total electricity consumption at this storage terminal. Electricity consumption is the main source of the company’s emissions and the energy supplied by this new renewable solar power plant will prevent the release of approximately 1,332 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere every year.

By commissioning this new photovoltaic plant, Exolum has enhanced its network of solar power plants for self-consumption. The company has three other photovoltaic plants in operation at its terminals in Mora (Toledo), Algeciras and Barcelona, and is building two more at the terminals in Poblete (Ciudad Real) and Arahal (Sevilla). Plans for construction of another photovoltaic plant, in Hallen (UK), are also underway.

In addition, the company continues to implement alternatives to further reduce its emissions, such as incorporating new technological developments, signing renewable PPAs and diversifying its energy supply sources ensuring they are emission-free.

These actions are part of Exolum’s sustainability strategy aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by 68 percent by 2030 and becoming a zero-emissions company by 2040, in line with the Paris Agreement of December 2015 (COP 21) and sustainable development goals (SDG).

Exolum’s sustainability strategy also includes other specific plans and projects to strengthen its commitment to biodiversity protection, an efficient use of natural resources and the fight against climate change.

Along these lines, with a view to enhancing its commitment to renewable energies and the energy transition, reducing emissions and promoting clean and sustainable operations, the company is implementing initiatives for the development of eco-fuels and other energy vectors, such as hydrogen.

For more information visit www.exolum.com