#natural gas News
ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, and Westpac loaned US$2.43 billion to finance fossil fuel projects last year, despite having committed to global climate goals. Most of the loans fall under general-purpose corporate lending and bonds, which are harder to track than direct project loans.
The new decree is seen as the latter of two policy moves needed to jumpstart the country’s clean energy market. New funding is already flowing, but concerns remain as to whether Vietnam’s power grid can handle more renewables.
A new whitepaper funded by the Asia-focused lender proposes retrofitting existing coal assets with viable clean technologies and retaining their transmission infrastructure to improve the bankability of the region’s early phase-out deals.
Energy
Singapore’s draft power market rules seen signalling tighter state control over energy transition
Adopting renewables and electricity imports adds to security concerns posed by global gas market volatility. Investors’ cold shoulder towards fossil energy could also threaten the longevity of Singapore’s gas plants, analysts say.
#natural gas Opinion
Carbon & Climate
Why carbon capture and storage is not the solution
Carbon capture and storage has been hailed as a potential way to reduce emissions, but it is more likely to increase them by boosting oil and gas extraction. The cheaper and more effective solution is to move to cleaner forms of energy.
Bullish gas plans ignore the financial challenges of infrastructure development, renewable energy potential in the region and climate policy restrictions.
Carbon & Climate
What Australia’s new gas strategy gets wrong
Australia’s gas future must involve energy security and climate security. The new government strategy fails to strike this balance.
Carbon & Climate
Could the low-carbon economy bill re-write the Philippines’ future?
House Bill 7705, the low carbon economy bill, could help the climate-vulnerable nation seize the economic opportunities that come with decarbonisation.
#natural gas Podcasts
Energy
Scrutiny, Scope 3 and Asian realities: Petronas sustainability chief on climate action at COP28
The oil and gas sector needs to cut operational emissions faster, Charlotte Wolff-Bye tells the Eco-Business podcast. But slashing fuel output won’t do for the Asian supplier, and it welcomes respectful debate at the climate summit.
The Philippines has ended new coal development as it pursues a low-carbon future. Don Paulino of non-profit Philippine Energy Independence Council and boss of Shell's exploration arm, argues why natural gas should remain in the energy mix.
