Singapore’s grip on $41 billion oil market challenged by China

SINGAPORE (BLOOMBERG) - Singapore is facing the greatest competition yet to its status as the dominant marine fuel supplier in Asia, with China luring more ships to its shores following a rapid expansion of its port and refining facilities. China's marine fuel sales - known in the industry as bunkering - have almost doubled over the past five years and the nation is banking on attracting ships that travel to nearby ports in major economies such as South Korea and Japan. Singapore still has a commanding position as the top supplier to a sector valued at over US$30 billion (S$41 billion) in Asia, but Chinese growth is accelerating. The epicentre of China's bunkering is Zhoushan, an archipelago to the south of Shanghai on the east coast. Some of the nation's newest and biggest crude oil refineries are being built in the area, while the government has introduced tax incentives that make Chinese fuels more competitive. "Singapore has had an edge over other Asian ports on all parameters," said Mr Jayendu Krishna, director at Drewry Maritime Advisors. "It continues to be so today, however, slowly other ports have been trying to catch up. Zhoushan will certainly capture a share of the vess...

Read More

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding regarding CCS Joint Study for Clean Fuel Ammonia Production in Indonesia

TOKYO, Mar 19, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), a national university in the Republic of Indonesia, and PT Panca Amara Utama (PAU) have agreed to conduct a joint study on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide utilization for clean fuel ammonia production in Central Sulawesi, the Republic of Indonesia. The four parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).Ammonia is being used worldwide as raw material for fertilizers/plastics/chemicals. Expectation for ammonia to become a next generation clean energy source is growing because ammonia does not emit carbon dioxide when burnt; transportation methods have been established with existing infrastructure; and due to its high hydrogen content.Under the MOU, the four parties will jointly conduct a CCS feasibility study near PAU's ammonia plant in Luwuk, Central Sulawesi, and the Donggi-Senoro LNG plant in the same province which is being led by MC as the largest shareholder. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc., which also indirectly invests in PAU together with Mitsubishi Corporation...

Sumitomo to close S’pore crude, fuel oil trading desks in March

SINGAPORE • Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp plans to close its crude and fuel oil trading desks in Singapore at the end of March and will relocate the trading functions to its Tokyo headquarters, a company spokesman said yesterday. The company will also exit its bunker fuel blending business in the city state, the largest global bunkering port, he said, without giving further details. The moves, reported by Reuters on Wednesday, come after stricter emissions standards imposed by the International Maritime Organisation starting last year reduced opportunities to compete through blending to produce bunker fuels. Market competitiveness and company strategy, among other factors, led to the decision to downsize its Singapore operation, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Sumitomo's Singapore unit Summit Energy & Resources, previously known as Petro Summit, will continue its oil trading business until the end of March, and the transition will be completed in April, said the source. Employees were told of the decision on Monday. Sumitomo has two crude and fuel oil traders and six bunkering traders, both Japanese and local. The Japanese employees will likely relocate b...

Read More

Toyota Moves Closer to Production with Next Generation Fuel Cell Electric Technology for Zero-Emissions Heavy Duty Trucks

Texas, Dec 11, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota's next generation fuel cell electric technology is now powering a new set of Class 8 heavy-duty trucks. Using the same fuel cell system as the all-new 2021 Mirai sedan that goes on sale this month, the engineers at Toyota Motor North America Research and Development have developed a set of production-intent prototype trucks that are being prepared to run drayage routes at the ports of L.A. and Long Beach to validate their performance, efficiency and drivability.Designed to be flexible enough to meet the needs of a wide variety of OEM truck makers, the new fuel cell electric system in the latest prototypes has been adapted to a Kenworth T680 chassis. A more compact hydrogen storage cabinet behind the cab houses six hydrogen tanks with the same capacity as previous prototypes while a new, more powerful lithium-ion battery helps smooth out the power flow to the electric motors. In this configuration, the second generation fuel cell system delivers over 300 miles of range at a full load weight of 80,000 lbs., all while demonstrating exceptional drivability, quiet operation, and zero harmful emissions."This is an important step in the transi...

Read More

Toyota Launches the New Mirai

Toyota City, Japan, Dec 9, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation today launched the completely redesigned "Mirai" fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). The all-new Mirai is available from Toyota vehicle dealers starting December 9.FCEVs run on hydrogen, a fuel that can be produced from various energy sources and contributes to preservation of the global environment and reinforcing energy security. They are the ultimate eco-cars, offering long cruising ranges with a short refueling time and generating zero emissions. The first-generation Mirai, launched in 2014, was a revolutionary FCEV and a global forerunner in mass production. During the early stages of the Mirai's introduction, there was limited supply capacity, and customers made various requests including a larger seating capacity and longer cruising range.In response, Toyota set a target for the all-new Mirai to create a "premium car that will make customers think that 'this is a high-quality car that I truly want' immediately upon seeing it, while driving, and after they complete a trip," while maintaining its status as an FCEV.Hydrogen use has progressed in various forms with the aim of creating a low-carbon and dec...

Read More

Toyota and Hino Launch Initiative with Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson to Introduce Light-Duty Fuel Cell Electric Trucks

TOKYO, Dec 8, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation and Hino Motors, Ltd., together with Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd., FamilyMart Co., Ltd., and Lawson, Inc., have agreed to jointly consider introducing light-duty fuel cell electric trucks (light-duty FCETs), and to establish an environment for its widespread use in the future, targeting the realization of a sustainable society that takes into account global warming and energy diversification.The main points of the agreement are as follows:- In 2021, Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson will conduct a trial operation of light-duty FCETs (max. payload: 3 tons) jointly developed by Toyota and Hino, to verify its practicality and convenience as part of considerations for its roll out.- In the evaluation of the trial operations, Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson will verify delivery by light-duty FCETs in logistics between multiple distribution centers and stores, to see whether or not continued trials are viable in 2022 and beyond, from the perspectives of businesses and the society.- Following this, in 2022 and beyond, they will work to identify various issues relating to convenience, such as positioning of hydrogen sta...

Read More

Oil gains nearly 3% on vaccine hopes, even as nations reimpose lockdowns

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Oil ended nearly 3 per cent higher on Tuesday (Nov 10) as hopes that a Covid-19 vaccine is on the horizon outweighed worries about a drop in fuel demand from new lockdowns to contain the virus. Brent crude futures settled up US$1.21, or 2.9 per cent, at US$43.61 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained US$1.07, or 2.7 per cent, to US$41.36. Both contracts jumped 8 per cent on Monday, their biggest daily gains in more than five months, after drugmakers Pfizer and BioNTech said their experimental Covid-19 treatment was more than 90 per cent effective based on initial trial results. Oil bounced again on Tuesday afternoon after the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci, said doses of the vaccine will be available for people at the highest priority in December. "This implies that at some point in next year, people may be able to go on vacation, which means we will see a greater demand for jet fuel," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho. "For the energy complex this is the best thing since sliced bread," he added. Mass rollouts, however, are likely to be months away and subjec...

Read More

Brazil police expand Car Wash probe to Petrobras trades of diesel, jet fuel in Asia and Europe

RIO DE JANEIRO (REUTERS) - Brazilian police expanded a long-running corruption probe at state-controlled oil company Petroleo Brasileiro or Petrobras based in part on secret recordings made by a former executive of Swiss trading firm Vitol, according to court documents released on Tuesday (Oct 20). Police on Tuesday served warrants seeking documents from six people and two companies as part of what is known as the Car Wash investigation into bribery to win contracts to buy and resell Petrobras fuel. Prosecutors have alleged at least 12 million reais (S$2.9 million) were paid between 2005 and 2015 to Petrobras employees working in Houston, London and Singapore. Tuesday's probe expands the reach of authorities' investigations from oil and bunker fuel trades at Petrobras's offices in Houston and Rio de Janeiro to diesel and jet fuel there and in Europe and Asia. Petrobras said in an e-mailed response it only learned of Tuesday's warrants after the police operation was made public. Petrobras said it was a victim of corrupt employees and that it has cooperated with authorities, providing information that led to the search warrants. The search warrants were approved based in part on tape...

Read More

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Receives Approval in Principle for LNG Fuel Gas Supply System from Bureau Veritas

TOKYO, Oct 19, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, was granted Approval in Principle (AIP)(1) from the French Classification Society, Bureau Veritas (BV), for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel gas supply system (FGSS) for marine four-stroke dual fuel engines(2). The certificate of AIP was presented today at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding's headquarters in Yokohama.The FGSS comprises an LNG fuel tank, gas supply unit, control systems and other relevant equipment. The FGSS to which the AIP was granted this time was developed mainly to be installed on coastal ferries and small to mid-sized cargo ships, based on not only experience and knowledge obtained through shipbuilding of LNG carriers for many years but also technologies and know-how accumulated by development of FGSS products for large ships. The small size vacuum-insulated type tanks to be applied for the system have a double shell structure that ensures high heat insulation and also allows the external cylinder of the tank to be at normal temperature, which consequently simplifies the support structure of the tank and reduces the workload for the installation ...