Cement News tagged under: Energy

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Winter and sanctions lifts coal and gas in Europe – petcoke discounts attractive again as petcoke drops slightly

18 January 2023, Published under Cement News

By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark Inflation remains high and central banks continue to increase interest rates albeit at a slower pace. This has now led to widespread expectations of recession not only in the EU, which is hurt by energy sanctions, but also in the US as its Federal Reserve maintains a very aggressive stance. The oil market has fallen below US$80, but is decoupled from the gas and coal markets, which are disrupted by the energy sanctions on Russia. The inc...

MPA calls for electrification push by UK government

12 January 2023, Published under Cement News

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has welcomed the UK government’s announcement of the new Energy Bill Discount Scheme (EBDS), extending the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. The broad support available through the EBDS encompasses most of the products manufactured by MPA members, including aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete and industrial minerals. However, the MPA says the proposed support may not be sufficient to maintain the competitiveness of UK manufacturing should prices return to th...

Votorantim to invest in energy efficiency at Toral de los Vados plant

11 January 2023, Published under Cement News

In line with Votorantim ’s Sustainability 2030 commitments, the company is investing EUR15m to improve the energy efficiency of the Toral de los Vados factory in Spain. With this investment Votorantim expect to reduce the plant's electricity consumption by seven per cent, equivalent to the average annual consumption of 1600 homes, in addition to reducing the use of fossil fuels, mainly petcoke.

Energy complex under interest rate pressure – coal falls sharply on lower demand while petcoke stable and discount neutral

20 December 2022, Published under Cement News

By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark Leading central banks raised rates again by 0.75 per cent, with promises of more to come as inflation is persistent as sanctions are still keeping energy prices artificially high in Europe. The EU has not agreed on any common measures as these are very hard to introduce in a free market. However, the threat of demand destruction combined with a warm start to the winter has put pressure on the overall energy complex. Gas prices have been ...

Petcoke prices stable with lower discounts

02 December 2022, Published under Cement News

By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark Since ICR’s most recent energy report, coal prices are rising due to supply disruptions and a colder winter in Europe. Russian discounts are still in place but reflect the rising costs of Russian producers. Oil is falling on fears of a new Chinese lockdown and demand destruction in the EU leading to lower growth. Steam coal and petcoke prices FOB Petcoke prices are stable as buyers from China and India are on hold, and discounts ...

Energy complex under interest rate pressure – coal falls sharply on lower demand while petcoke stable and discount neutral

25 November 2022, Published under Cement News

By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark Leading central banks raised rates again by 0.75 per cent, with promises of more to come as inflation is persistent as sanctions are still keeping energy prices artificially high in Europe. The EU has not agreed on any common measures as these are very hard to introduce in a free market. However, the threat of demand destruction combined with a warm start to the winter has put pressure on the overall energy complex. Gas prices have been fal...

Energy complex falls on slower economies and EU stock refill

11 November 2022, Published under Cement News

By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark Since ICR’s most recent energy report, the energy complex is falling as higher yields slow economies and EU purchases have slowed following full stocks. Russia’s continued discounts on coal see prices slip with API4 coal now trading at US$238. Oil is stabilising above US$90 after OPEC+ cut supply by 2mbpd. In Europe gas prices have been slipping as reservoirs are being filled and the weather stays warm. Steam coal and petcoke prices FOB...

Ecocem joins new European Cleantech Scale-up Coalition

28 October 2022, Published under Cement News

Ecocem has joined seven other leading European cleantech companies on 24 October to announce the formation of a new Cleantech Scale-up Coalition to support Europe in becoming climate neutral, energy autonomous and industrially competitive. The coalition is supported by Breakthrough Energy, founded by Bill Gates, and European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson. “Europe is facing an energy crisis and the threat of climate change. The solution must be a clean energy transition. We need ...

Coal and gas lower, while petcoke continues upwards, driven by demand from India and China

25 October 2022, Published under Cement News

By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark The same geopolitical factors as last month are dominating the energy markets. The persistently-high inflation is driving the agendas of the central banks with higher interest rates, stating they will push even harder despite a looming recession. As industry and citizens save energy due to the high prices, demand in many markets is contracting sharply. Politicians are trying to introduce different measures in the EU to curb prices with wind...

No back tracking on Europe's Green Deal

14 October 2022, Published under Cement News

The introduction of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), energy price rises and implementation of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) across Europe have heightened fears that the Green Deal may become harder to see out for EU countries. Discussions may well move some of the pricing for taxes and levies, but the European Commission is clear that there will be no backtracking on its environmental commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 203...