Porti & ambiente — le notizie raccolte

Malaysia’s state-owned oil and gas heavyweight Petronas has shaken hands with Eneos Explora, a subsidiary of Japan’s Eneos Group, on a deal that will enable the latter to rejoin a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project that receives gas from offshore fields in Malaysian waters. The two companies have reaffirmed their long-standing partnership, first established in 1995, through the signing of definitive agreements formalizing Eneos’ re-entry intoMalaysia LNG Tiga (MLNG Tiga), a joint venture involving Petronas and other partners, to liquefy natural gas produced from fields, including theSK-10 Blockoperated by Eneos Xplora, located off the coast of Sarawak, Malaysia. Subject to the fulfillment of certain closing conditions, Eneos will hold a 10% equity stake in MLNG Tiga for the next decade, following the expiry of the previous joint venture agreement in 2023. The new deals were signed byDatuk Adif Zulkifli, Petronas’ Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer of Gas & Maritime Business, andYasuhiko Oshida, Eneos Xplora’s Representative Director and President. Oshida emphasized:“MLNG Tiga has been a project that has steadily supplied LNG to Japanese buyers since commencing operations in 2003, under the cooperation between our group and Petronas, and we are very pleased to be participating once again. “While further strengthening our partnership with Petronas, we will also work closely with our fellow shareholders – the Sarawak State Government and Mitsubishi Corporation, to pursue new value creation during the energy transition.” This content is available after accepting the cookies. Petronas hand-picks FPSO for Asian hydrocarbon redevelopment project The signing ceremony was witnessed byMarina Md Taib, Petronas’ Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy, andJotaro Tomoeda, Executive Officer and Senior Vice President and Head of Business Division 1 at Eneos Xplora. The agreement is said to reflect the companies’ shared commitment to strengthening long-term energy security and supporting reliable LNG supply to international markets, particularly Japan, amid an increasingly complex and volatile global energy landscape. Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik, Petronas’ President and Group Chief Executive Officer, commented:“LNG continues to play an indispensable role in the global energy mix, bridging the demands of today’s economies while supporting a credible transition toward lower-carbon futures. “With Asia at the centre of global LNG demand growth, stable supply and long-term partnerships remain fundamental to economic resilience across the region. The collaboration with Eneos which now spans three decades reflects that long-term conviction, one that continues to serve the energy interests of both nations well into the decades ahead.” This content is available after accepting the cookies. Malaysia ups its energy investment ante with new oil & gas bid round As of April 1, 2026, the Eneos Group has consolidated its natural gas and LNG supply chain by transferring Eneos Corporation’s natural gas liquefaction and domestic sales businesses to Eneos Xplora. Aside from the re-entry into MLNG Tiga, the firm continues to expand its presence in Malaysia through the SK-10 Block gas fields development and production project and its participation in the LNG liquefaction plant operated by Petronas LNG 9 Sdn. Bhd. (PL9SB). “Eneos’ re-entry into MLNG Tiga reflects shared confidence in the asset’s resilience and long-term role within Asia’s LNG landscape. It also reinforces Petronas’ focus on building a reliable LNG system that continues to deliver value to customers and partners, particularly in important markets such as Japan,”said Zulkifli. The new agreement is perceived to reinforce continued foreign investor confidence in Malaysia’s investment climate and long-term growth prospects. Take the spotlight and anchor your brand in the heart of the offshore world! Join us for a bigger impact and amplify your presence at the core hub of the offshore energy community!

France’s Nexans has completed the first cable pull-in on the French side of the first interconnector between Ireland and France, following the initial campaign in Ireland. Developed by French and Irish transmission system operators (TSOs) Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (RTE) and EirGrid, theCeltic Interconnectorwill be the first direct electricity interconnection between the European continent and Ireland, spanning approximately 575 kilometers between La Martyre in Brittany, France, and East Cork, Ireland. With a transmission capacity of 700 MW, the project will be able to supply power equivalent to the needs of approximately 450,000 homes. It is based on 320 kV HVDC technology and includes approximately 500 kilometers of offshore high-voltage cable, around 40 kilometers of underground cable in France, 35 kilometers in Ireland, and a 10-kilometer 400 kV HVAC connection to the Irish grid. Marine cable laying operations for the project began in the summer of 2025 offshore Ireland, near Claycastle beach. Nexans is responsible for theengineering, manufacturing and installation of the full cable system, with the high-voltage cables manufactured in Halden, Norway, using advanced extruded XLPE insulation technology, land cables produced in Charleroi, Belgium, and accessories manufactured in Cortaillod, Switzerland. The pull-in operation was performed with support from the cable-laying vessel (CLV) Calypso. “With the start of this construction phase on the French side, Réseau de transport d’électricité (RTE) is reaching a decisive milestone in the Celtic Interconnector project—the first electricity interconnection between continental Europe and Ireland—supported by the European Union and its agency CINEA,”saidRégis Boigegrain, Managing Director of the Infrastructure Management Division and member of the Executive Board at RTE. “This direct link strengthens security of supply, electrical solidarity and the integration of renewable energies at the heart of the energy transition. Through this project, RTE, together with its partner EirGrid, reaffirms its role as a builder of tomorrow’s power grid and as a partner of a more sovereign Europe.” Furthermore,Siemens Energyand NGE have completed the construction of the Ar Merzher converter station in France, which will convert direct current transmitted via the submarine cable into alternating current for injection into the French electricity grid, and vice versa. Main works are scheduled for completion in May, with energization planned from June and full commissioning expected by 2028. “At Siemens Energy, we are proud to have completed the construction of the Ar Merzher converter station infrastructure with local partners on behalf of our client RTE. Throughout the construction phase, we met high quality standards to ensure the durability of the structure and enable the operation of all process equipment. We are now entering the final phase of the project, the commissioning of the equipment,”saidAlexandre Pinson, Project Manager at Siemens Energy. Take the spotlight and anchor your brand in the heart of the offshore world! Join us for a bigger impact and amplify your presence at the core hub of the offshore energy community!

Expand Energy, a U.S. independent natural gas producer formed from the merger of Chesapeake Energy and Southwestern Energy in 2024, has signed on the dotted line for a multi-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) offtake with Delfin FLNG 1 in relation tothe first floating LNG (FLNG) unit destined to be deployed at an American LNG project under developmentin Louisiana, United States. Expand Energy inked a 20-year sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with Delfin FLNG 1 for around 1.15 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG offtake on April 22, 2026, subject to a final investment decision (FID) being made for theDelfin LNGproject, which Delfin Midstream, a U.S.-based LNG export infrastructure development company, is developing in Louisiana. The SPA enables approximately 1.15 million tonnes of LNG per annum to be bought from Delfin FLNG 1 at a Henry Hub price with a targeted start date in 2031. As a result, the gas producer’spreviousSPAs, which were signed with Delfin and Gunvor Group in 2024, have been terminated. This was for the purchase of 0.5 million tonnes of LNG per year at a Henry Hub price with a contract targeted start date in 2028 to be then delivered to Gunvor on a free-on-board (FOB) basis with the sales price linked to the Japan Korea Marker (JKM) for a period of 20 years, representing 0.5 mtpa of Delfin’s up to 2 mtpa HOA with Gunvor. Delfin LNG is a brownfield deepwater port requiring minimal additional infrastructure investment to support up to three FLNG vessels producing up to 13.2 mtpa of LNG. The developer acquired the UTOS pipeline, the largest natural gas pipeline in the Gulf of America (U.S. Gulf of Mexico). The project has receiveda deepwater port licensefrom the Maritime Administration (MARAD) andapprovalfrom the Department of Energy for long-term LNG exports to countries that do not have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States. The latest LNG offtake agreement comes months after Delfinmade arrangementsto extend a letter of award (LOA) with South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for the project’s first FLNG unit, following another20-year dealfor 1 million tonnes per annum of LNG from the project. Take the spotlight and anchor your brand in the heart of the offshore world! Join us for a bigger impact and amplify your presence at the core hub of the offshore energy community!

VENEZIA - Un intero fine settimana dedicato alla tutela dell’ambiente costiero, con centinaia di volontari impegnati lungo tutto il litorale veneto per rimuovere plastica e rifiuti dalle spiagge. È questo lo spirito del “Weekend del Mare 2026”, l’iniziativa promossa da Plastic Free Onlus, realtà di volontariato attiva dal 2019 nella lotta all’inquinamento da plastica, che sabato 2 e domenica 3 maggio porterà avanti una vasta azione coordinata di pulizia ambientale. Il progetto arriva dopo il successo della prima edizione del 2025, che aveva coinvolto 9 appuntamenti, 530 volontari e consentito la rimozione di oltre 6.400 chilogrammi di rifiuti. Un risultato che l’associazione ha deciso di rilanciare con un format ancora più strutturato e ambizioso. Per il 2026 sono infatti previsti nove eventi distribuiti nei Comuni di San Michele al Tagliamento, Veneto, Italy (Bibione), Caorle, Veneto, Italy, Eraclea, Jesolo, Venezia, Lido, Chioggia, Veneto, Rosolina, Porto Viro, e Porto Tolle, con l’obiettivo dichiarato di superare i 500 partecipanti e raggiungere almeno 10.000 chilogrammi di plastica e rifiuti raccolti. L’iniziativa è stata selezionata nell’ambito del bando per iniziative ambientali e sostenuta con i fondi dell’Otto per Mille della Chiesa Valdese, un contributo che ha permesso di ampliare la portata del progetto e di introdurre nuove modalità di monitoraggio ambientale. “Il Weekend del Mare rappresenta un’evoluzione naturale del nostro impegno sui territori”, ha dichiarato Luca De Gaetano, fondatore e presidente di Plastic Free Onlus. “Attraverso la rimozione dei rifiuti dall’ambiente contribuiamo a costruire una consapevolezza diffusa sull’importanza di tutelare il mare e le nostre coste. Il coinvolgimento di centinaia di volontari in contemporanea lungo tutto il litorale veneto è un segnale forte, concreto, che dimostra quanto i cittadini siano pronti a fare la loro parte”. Gli appuntamenti, aperti a tutti, prevedono circa due ore di attività di raccolta di plastica e rifiuti non pericolosi su tratti di spiaggia individuati in collaborazione con i Comuni e con le aziende locali che gestiscono il servizio rifiuti. La partecipazione è gratuita, ma subordinata a registrazione obbligatoria sul sito ufficiale dell’associazione anche ai fini della copertura assicurativa. I minori di 16 anni potranno partecipare solo se accompagnati. Il programma entrerà nel vivo sabato 2 maggio con i cleanup previsti a Porto Tolle, Veneto, Italy nella Sacca degli Scardovari alle ore 9:00, a Porto Viro, Veneto, Italy allo Scanno Cavallari alle 8:30, a Chioggia, in Isola Verde alle 9:30, a Jesolo pineta alle 9:30 e a Caorle al Lido Altanea alle 10:00. Domenica 3 maggio le attività proseguiranno a Rosolina presso la spiaggia Casoni foce Adige alle 14:30, al Venezia Lido nella zona Murazzi alle 10:00, a Eraclea Mare alle 9:00 e a San Michele al Tagliamento -Bibione alle 9:30. Le iniziative saranno coordinate dai referenti locali dell’associazione con il coinvolgimento diretto di cittadini e volontari, in un’azione condivisa di tutela e valorizzazione della costa veneta. Tra le principali novità dell’edizione 2026 figura inoltre l’introduzione della catalogazione scientifica dei rifiuti raccolti: i partecipanti saranno dotati di schede tecniche per classificare tipologie e materiali secondo le linee guida del progetto europeo “Beach Litter”, con i dati che verranno trasmessi alla banca dati europea per contribuire al monitoraggio del fenomeno del marine litter. “Abbiamo voluto fare un passo in più”, ha aggiunto De Gaetano, “ogni attività di raccolta diventa anche un momento utile alla ricerca. Condividere i dati a livello europeo significa contribuire in modo concreto alla conoscenza del problema e alla definizione di soluzioni più efficaci”. Il “Weekend del Mare 2026” si svolge con il patrocinio della Regione Veneto, della Conferenza dei Sindaci del Litorale e dei nove Comuni coinvolti. Accanto alla rimozione dei rifiuti, il progetto punta anche a rafforzare la consapevolezza ambientale e a promuovere la partecipazione attiva dei cittadini nella tutela del territorio, valorizzando uno dei patrimoni naturali più importanti del Paese.

Il Mit nomina i due ex presidenti per garantire continuità gestionale ai due scali. Al vertice dello scalo adriatico avviata la procedura per la nomina di Mirko Carloni Roma – Il Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti ha disposto la nomina di due commissari straordinari per assicurare la piena operatività e la continuità amministrativa delle Adsp del Mare Adriatico Centrale e del Mare di Sicilia Orientale. Per un periodo di 60 giorni, gli incarichi saranno affidati ai presidenti uscenti Vincenzo Garofalo (nella foto) e Francesco Di Sarcina. In particolare, Garofalo assumerà il ruolo di commissario dell’Adsp del Mare Adriatico Centrale, mentre Di Sarcina guiderà in qualità di commissario l’Adsp del Mare di Sicilia Orientale. La decisione del Mit punta a garantire una gestione ordinata e senza interruzioni delle attività in corso, valorizzando il lavoro già avviato e mantenendo un presidio stabile sui principali dossier strategici legati allo sviluppo dei porti e dei territori coinvolti. Parallelamente, il ministero ha avviato l’iter per la nomina del nuovo presidente dell’Adsp del Mare Adriatico Centrale, chiedendo l’intesa ai presidenti delle Regioni Marche e Abruzzo sul nome di Mirko Carloni. L’operazione si inserisce nel quadro del riassetto delle governance portuali, con l’obiettivo di assicurare continuità gestionale e stabilità decisionale nei principali scali nazionali.

Accordo pluriennale per la logistica del team elettrico e rafforzamento della strategia sostenibile Dubai – Nel contesto della crescente attenzione verso la mobilità elettrica e la sostenibilità, anche le partnership tra logistica e motorsport stanno assumendo un ruolo strategico. In questo scenario si inserisce l’accordo tra DP World e Porsche, che unisce competenze industriali e innovazione tecnologica. Dp World è stata nominata partner logistico ufficiale del Porsche Formula E Team nel ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, con una collaborazione pluriennale avviata durante l’E-Prix di Madrid. L’intesa valorizza l’esperienza dell’azienda nella logistica automobilistica, dalla gestione di componenti e batterie per veicoli elettrici fino alla distribuzione dei veicoli finiti, offrendo soluzioni integrate e resilienti lungo la catena di approvvigionamento. Il management di Dp World ha sottolineato indirettamente come la partnership rifletta valori comuni di precisione, innovazione e alte prestazioni, oltre a rafforzare una collaborazione già esistente con Porsche, includendo il supporto logistico allo stabilimento di Lipsia. Anche da parte di Porsche è stato evidenziato come l’esperienza globale e le competenze logistiche del partner rappresentino un elemento chiave per garantire efficienza e affidabilità nelle competizioni internazionali. Il prossimo appuntamento sarà il Berlin E-Prix del 2 e 3 maggio, una tappa significativa sia per Porsche, che corre in casa, sia per Dp World, attiva in un mercato strategico come quello tedesco. La collaborazione rafforza inoltre la presenza di Dp World nel mondo dello sport globale, già estesa a realtà come McLaren F1 Team e ad altre competizioni internazionali, contribuendo alla visibilità del marchio e allo sviluppo di relazioni con i clienti. Nel complesso, l’accordo evidenzia come logistica avanzata e motorsport possano convergere nel promuovere innovazione e sostenibilità, elementi sempre più centrali nelle strategie industriali globali.

By Brittney Melton Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter.Subscribehere to get it delivered to your inbox, andlistento the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. The Pentagon estimates the war in Iran has already cost $25 billion, according to Pentagon Comptroller Jay Hurst. Hurst testified before the House Armed Services Committee yesterday alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who offered no indication of when the war might endduring his combative testimony. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies about the Iran war before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday. Hegseth described the military operation as a major success and criticized 'defeatist' Democrats who pushed back against his assessment of the war.Rod Lamkey Jr./APhide caption The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Louisiana's 2024 election mapwas an "unconstitutional racial gerrymander." The map established a second majority-Black congressional district. Thejustices' 6-3 decisionfell along partisan lines. While the court technically kept Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act intact, the ruling contributes to a series of decisions undermining the landmark 1965 law that protected racial minorities' collective voting power. Experts expect the ruling toreduce minority representationacross all levels of government. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell plans to remain on the central bank's governing boardfor a period of time after his term as chairman ends next month. Powell's announcement highlights the economic and political pressure the Fed has faced in recent years. The war in Iran has nearly doubled jet fuel prices in the U.S., driving up the cost for wildfire-fightingaircraft operations this summer.Taxpayers will be the onesto fork over tens of millions of dollars this year to cover the cost of fighting those fires. Last year, the nearly 500 or so aircraft the U.S. government used to fight most large wildfires burned through about $50 million worth of jet fuel. If this year is similar to last season, the fuel bill could double to nearly $100 million. Federal survey data suggests that the amount of math homework assigned to fourth and eighth grade students, in particular, has been declining.Stanislaw Pytel/Getty Imageshide caption Educators and researchers have noticed a trend for years now: More teachers are moving away from homework. Some educators and parents say this is a good thing, and students shouldn't spend six or more hours a day at school and have more schoolwork to complete at home. But the research on homework is complex. Some studies show that students who spend more time on homework perform better than their peers. A 2021 longitudinal study of more than 6,000 students in Germany, Uruguay and the Netherlands found that lower-performing students who increased their time on math homework improved in the subject, even one year later. But other studies also show minimal effects of homework on academic performance. A 1998 study of more than 700 U.S. students found that assigning more homework in the elementary grades had no significant effect on standardized test scores. Here's what else we know aboutthe debate over homework: When author Bruce Handy's son Isaac was young, he loved — and lost — an orange balloon. Isaac was upset by what happened and promised that one day, if he ever got a pet, he would name it Balloon in honor of the one he lost. He kept his promise when he and his sister received kittens six months later. Handy was so moved by his son's loyalty to the balloon that he decided to write a children's book about it. Losing a balloon as a child is one of the most universal experiences, which is why it is easy to relate to the little boy's story in the book, Handy says. Illustrator Julie Kwon used pen and ink to tell the story and carefully uses the right shade of orange to show how the young boy sees the world after losing his prized possession. Check out some of her illustrations and read more about achild's singular devotion here. This newsletter was edited bySuzanne Nuyen.

At first glance, it seems the clean energy front isn’t going as well as we’d like. The Trump administration has used every tool in its power — and then some — to extinguish clean energy innovation and installations. Yet hope springs eternal, to the point that, in March, the US generated more of its electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind than it did from natural gas (methane). It’s the first time clean energy has surpassed the planet-heating fossil fuel for a full month nationally, according to data from Ember. This important milestone follows a record 2025 for renewable energy. New energy sources this year continue to favor clean energy sources, too, with 93% of all electricity capacity added in 2026 set to come from solar, wind, and batteries — they are simply less expensive and faster to construct than gas and coal plants. What about fossil fuels? They are projected to account for only 7% of the new power portfolio at a time when they are recklessly overheating the Earth. Yes, Trump’s wrath-filled political environment works to fill the courts with stop orders, which halt otherwise speedy completion and increased energy affordability for everyday citizens. So the clean energy front is experiencing some delayed goal achievement. What would global carbon dioxide emissions have been like last year if Trump embraced a vision of clean energy and climate action? We can only guess, but we do know that emissions reached a record high last year, rising 0.4% from 2024 levels. Let’s trace some of the news and determine how much damage Trump has done to a promising, healthy, sustainable energy future for us all. And there is also good news on the clean energy front, which is so important — hope is the greatest resistance of all. Clean energy must play a central role in the energy mix, and technologies like solar, wind, and batteries are ready. They have evolved tremendously due to “better materials, smarter systems, and safer designs,” says Bill Frist writing inForbes. Today, they deliver more reliable and cost-effective energy than ever before, Frist reminds us. It’s clear: renewable energy brings in far more than it costs. Wind and solar account for less than 5% of the increase in electricity bills over the past decade. They help drive down wholesale energy prices, exerting a moderating effect on long-term costs. The real question is how to electrify our heating, mobility, and industry to move away from fossil fuels. Meaningful clean energy progress has taken place across red, blue, and purple states, and often innovations occurred across the political aisle. When cooperation works to scale “what’s already working, innovating where needed, and making sure clean energy solutions are fast, fair and grounded in local priorities,” Frist continues, results multiply and benefit everyday citizens and the companies that initiate the projects. This year, state lawmakers are working overtime to steer clean energy projects to “places that work best for nature and people—and to keep building an energy future that is reliable, durable, and affordable for all.” Investments in renewables in countries around the worldmeanmuch more than boastful policy: clean energy proactive countries are seeing before them how decarbonization results in energy security and economic stability. But we must be prudent in our enthusiasm. Let us not forget that US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former fracking executive, was accused in March of manipulating global markets. The brouhaha occurred after he posted on the social media platform X that the US Navy had “successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure oil remains flowing.” Was it enough that Wright deleted the post minutes later? Not according to the marketplace, as oil prices slid at their steepest pace in years. The Trump administration typically throws its members under the proverbial bus, and Wright’s blunder was no exception. The White House press secretary acknowledged publicly that Wright’s claim was false. The Energy Department backpedaled, too, suggesting an incorrect caption on the post led to misunderstandings. Was it only last October when a French court ruled oil and gas giant TotalEnergies had engaged in “misleading commercial practices” by overstating its climate pledges? Activists noted it was the first such ruling worldwide against a major oil company for climate misinformation. The case set a legal precedent for the kind of environmental claims corporations may now make in their own court cases. Greenwashing be gone! Think about the decision of world leaders in March to release 400 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves in reaction to the surge in oil prices in response to the war in Iran. The ripple effects of the near total shipping standstill in the Strait of Hormuzhad been keenly feltin the region and around the world. Increasing energy, fuel, and fertilizer costs had intensified hunger in and beyond the Middle East. It was the largest coordinated release of stockpiled oil on record by the members of the International Energy Agency. Meanwhile, discontent mounts as fossil fuel prices rise exponentially and fossil fuel companies are raking in astronomical profits per minute. An analysis by the nonprofit Oxfam International found the six biggest fossil fuel companies — Chevron, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, Exxon, and TotalEnergies — are earning nearly $3,000 a second in 2026, around $37 million a day more than their earnings last year. Oxfam projected the six companies’ total profit for the year to be $94 billion. Did the announcement settle the oil market pricing structure? Nope. Attacks on ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, which in peace times carries as much as one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, continued to roil the energy prediction market. Then again, the 400 million barrels of oil were little more than enough to meet about four days worth of global demand. Now the UAE has said it will leaveOPEC— the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The organization’s cartel mission to exert market influence to control oil output and influence prices has left the UAE feeling flat and unempowered.CleanTechnica’sMichael Barnarddescribesthe move as “an early signal of what happens when a producer with low-cost barrels, spare capacity ambitions, and a long view of electrification decides that flexibility may be worth more than cartel discipline.” With the rules-based international order today under threat, distant conflicts now affect local economies and daily life. As the world continues to try to make sense of the energy-related ripple effects of the US/Israel war against Iran, more experts than ever are proclaiming that now is the time to decarbonize — not only as a way to decentralize energy but also to reduce the number of wars across the world in the future. A confluence of geopolitics, climate policy, and energy security is on the minds of many government leaders, indicating how global conflicts are accelerating the shift toward renewable energy. Resources CleanTechnica's Comment Policy

With a recent court ruling spurring new environmental assessments for energy projects, Canada-headquartered oil and gas exploration company Africa Energy has confirmed an extension for the submission of a new environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for a block off the coast of the Republic of South Africa. Previously,an extensionwas obtained for the submission of a new environmental and social impact assessment, with the deadline moved to May 4, 2026, forBlock 11B/12Boffshore South Africa, which will be fully owned by Africa Energy’s affiliate,Main Street 1549, as its partners –CNR International,TotalEnergies, andQatarEnergy– aredeterminedto pull out. However, Africa Energy has now revealed that its affiliate obtained a further extension for the submission of the ESIA to November 4, 2026, in light of the decision by the Western Cape High Court in South Africa toset asidean environmental authorization for offshore exploration operations in Block 5/6/7, held by TotalEnergies and Shell. This court ruling enables additional, new, and amended environmental assessments to be conducted and placed before the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources for reconsideration. An application forleave to appealthis decision to the Supreme Court of Appeal has been launched by the duo. This content is available after accepting the cookies. Shell and African country push back after court halts offshore drilling plans Africa Energy has engaged with its advisors, including legal counsel, to determine the appropriate way forward with respect to its ESIA as a result of the High Court decision, since the grant of the environmental authorization is a prerequisite to the grant of the production right for Block 11B/12B. Currently, Main Street holds a 10% participating interest in Block 11B/12B, offshore South Africa. Subject to all relevant regulatory approvals by South African authorities in respect to the withdrawal of the joint venture partners and completion of its restructuring, the company expects to hold a 75% direct interest in the block. TotalEnergies used Odfjell Drilling’s Deepsea Stavanger semi-submersible rig to make two gas discoveries, Brulpadda and Luiperd, at the block in 2023, but these were not turned into commercial developments since economically developing and monetizing them for the South African market was too challenging. “Both the assignment of the withdrawing parties’ interest in Block 11B/12B to Main Street and the completion of the Main Street restructuring require grant of the production right in relation to Block 11B/12B,”emphasized Africa Energy. Take the spotlight and anchor your brand in the heart of the offshore world! Join us for a bigger impact and amplify your presence at the core hub of the offshore energy community!

After completing installation on the first vessel in January, Spanish automated wind-assisted propulsion system specialist bound4blue has installed four 24-meter eSAIL suction sails on the second of the planned five tankers owned by Danish Maersk Tankers. Maersk’s 29,445 gwt medium-range (MR) tanker Maersk Tahiti was fitted with the ‘plug and play’ eSAILs at Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China, which will help it to slash emissions, achieve double-digit fuel savings, and enable simpler regulatory compliance, bound4blue reported. In total, 20 units will be installed on five Maersk MR tankers, markingbound4blue’s largest ever single agreement. The first installation, on board the Maersk Trieste,was completed in January. “The agreement with Maersk Tankers reflects the wider scaling up of wind power adoption across the industry. Wind, and particularly suction sail technology, delivers massive advantage in both environmental and commercial contexts, and appreciation of this reality is blossoming,”said bound4blue CEO and Co-FounderJosé Miguel Bermúdez. “It marks an opportunity for us, of course, but more than that it demonstrates a chance for forward thinking owners to simplify an increasingly complex regulatory and operating environment with proven technology and a free – and freely available – power source.” The Spanish firm explains that the autonomous eSAILs work by drawing air across an aerodynamically optimized surface to generate lift up to seven times greater than conventional rigid sails of a comparable size. The system reduces engine load, delivering compelling fuel and CO₂ savings while improving Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings. Take the spotlight and anchor your brand in the heart of the offshore world! Join us for a bigger impact and amplify your presence at the core hub of the offshore energy community!