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Fossil fuels

This Month

Queensland’s renewed lack of ambition on emissions reduction could put Australia’s international climate targets at risk.

‘No hope’: Shock coal plant extensions to drag on 2030 climate targets

The Crisafulli government’s plans to wind back the state’s climate goals are likely to put Australia’s Paris targets further out of reach.

March

The scene after the North Sea shipping collision.

Blazing tanker spills jet fuel after cargo ship crashes into it off UK

The incident, in which the vessel was holding about 140,000 barrels, is one of the most significant maritime disasters near Britain for many years.

The oil price trickles lower and strategists reckon Donald Trump will do what he can to keep it going that way.

The Trump slump that could be good for Australia’s war on rising costs

While the RBA is worried global tariffs could hit Australia’s economy, commodities strategists say the oil price will keep sinking. That’s important.

February

How to fly green without the carbon offset ‘accounting trick’

Does ticking the carbon offset box and paying loose change to plant a few trees really make a difference?

BP will

BP puts its $600m Perth clean fuel refinery plans on ice

The British petroleum giant had expected to decide on the development later this year, but said on Monday that it would delay work on the project.

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January

Andrew Forrest and the CEO of ExxonMobil Darren Wood.

Exxon accuses Forrest-linked charity of helping billionaire’s interests

The oil and gas giant has described philanthropic organisations connected to the businessman as “corrupting influence of foreign money”. They deny those claims.

August 2024

Ampol chief executive Matt Halliday with electric vehicle chargers at the company’s petrol and EV charging station in Alexandria, Sydney.  Photo Louie Douvis .

Power grid foils Ampol’s big EV charger plans

One of the country’s largest petrol retailers says it has become more difficult to connect to the power grid, at the same time as sales of EVs are sluggish.

July 2024

Glencore is rehabilitating the Liddell coal mine in NSW after extracting the last coal in 2023.

Big Glencore shareholders want to keep coal

An influential group of Glencore shareholders want the company to abandon a plan to spin-off its coal division, and allocate those earnings to new avenues of growth.

The Boggabri coal mine in NSW is owned by three Japanese companies.

Japan’s Chugoku puts its share of $1.1b Boggabri coal mine up for sale

The electricity retailer owns 10 per cent of the NSW operation, and it is the latest Japanese coal industry cornerstone firm to exit.

June 2024

Maules Creek in NSW is operated by Whitehaven Coal and part-owned by Itochu.

Japan’s Itochu delays plans to exit Australian thermal coal

The conglomerate joins Glencore in reassessing its decision to exit the fossil fuel with energy security prioritised amid rising geopolitical tensions.

May 2024

While all countries will need to cut greenhouse gas emissions if the world is to limit global warming, many of the poorest are struggling with ever-stretched budgets.

The $13.6 trillion question: how do we pay for the green transition?

The private sector will have to provide about 70 per cent of climate finance globally, and the heat is building on governments to deliver policies that do that.

April 2024

Qantas is already sourcing sustainable aviation fuel, but wants more action taken to produce it locally.

Sustainable aviation fuel has been a talkfest for far too long

For a government that has flagged its commitment, there is surprisingly little policy. Australia still produces no SAF – and has no fully funded projects.

“Government is going to need to play a role,” said Greg Combet.

Bet ‘significant’ public money on renewables stakes: Combet

The incoming chair of the nation’s sprawling $212 billion Future Fund says it’s time to return to public investment in green energy.

March 2024

Why Formula 1’s fuel is going green

Pat Symonds wrote the rules that will compel Formula 1 cars to run on carbon-neutral fuel from 2026. Big oil companies are now racing to find solutions.

February 2024

Ampol has benefited from soaring margins, but that could change with more competition.

Ampol shares surge to record high

Australia’s largest fuel supplier surged following a strong full-year result featuring a higher than expected special dividend to investors.

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 Cleanaway truck

This low-emissions truck runs on recycled cooking oil

Biofuels are emerging as stopgap fuel for hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy transport, aviation and industrial processing.

Transport Minister Catherine King and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen on Sunday.

Labor puts carbon cap on new cars, industry revives ute fears

New utes and four-wheel drives could be phased or priced out of the market before there are genuine electric alternatives under Labor’s new rules, motoring groups warn.

December 2023

Australia will adopt a new fuel standard.

Australia will adopt ‘Euro 6’ fuel standard by late 2025

Labor says the move will increase the price of petrol by a modest 1¢ per litre, but allow importers to sell more efficient vehicles already common in Europe and elsewhere.

COP28 president Sultan Al-Jaber and US climate envoy John Kerry at COP28 in Dubai.

COP28 puts the heat on energy transition

The conference’s proposed measures could put the world back on course in its climate change response. What we need to see now is action from leaders in politics and business.

Alan Barnard, a cane farmer from Queensland, said biofuel projects would help provide diversified income streams for the sector.

Qantas calls on Canberra to back sustainable aviation fuel industry

The airline says federal support for a local sustainable aviation fuel could help airlines decarbonise and unlock new revenue streams for Queensland cane farmers.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/fossil-fuels-6g6g