Friday, May 16, 2025

Congress News

Brazil corn production forecast at 125 million metric tons by association president

Paulo Bertolini said that Brazil's corn production is expected to reach around 125 millions metric tons for the 2024/25 harvest. He added that corn consumption by the ethanol industry could soon double. Bertolini said on the sidelines Abramilho’s third Congress in Brasilia that corn ethanol has already consumed around 20 million tonnes of corn in this year. He added that there is a tendency to consume more than twice as much in a short time. Citibank analysts expect corn ethanol production to reach 16 billion liters in 2032. This is up from the 9.5 billion expected for 2024/25. Bertolini stated that the demand for renewable fuels is encouraging further research.

Last-ditch lobbying campaign aims to save Biden’s clean-energy tax credit

Trade groups in the U.S. Energy Industry have launched a last minute lobbying campaign to urge Congress to spare former President Joe Biden’s clean energy tax credit from being cut out of the Republican budget plan. The House Ways and Means Committee proposed on Monday that several lucrative subsidies in Biden's signature climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, be phased out or cancelled. Several subsidies related to solar and wind power, hydrogen and other technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions are on the table. Over the next few days, lawmakers will amend and pass the tax package.

What is in the Republican tax plan and spending plan?

Republicans in Congress have proposed a sweeping package of budget cuts and spending reductions that would meet President Donald Trump's demands. However, details are still to be worked out. The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) and Congressional Budget Office have estimated the major components of the package as well as the impact on budgets over the next ten years. The list excludes smaller elements from each section. (Cost: $2.2 trillion) Makes permanent lower income tax rates that were set to expire in Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Increase the standard deduction by $1,000, to $1.500, until 2029. Increases the alternative minimum tax exemption.

What is in the Republican health and tax plan and what's not?

Republicans in Congress released the first drafts of a sweeping package to reduce taxes and spend less, which would satisfy President Donald Trump’s call to do so. However, many details need to be worked out. Here's a summary on what they've proposed so far and what has been left out. Budget estimates for the next 10 year period are provided by both the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) and the Congressional Budget Office. What's in the Taxes? Permanently extends the lower tax rates that Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 will expire in 2025. Increases the standard deduction from $1,000 to $1500 by 2029.

Republican US lawmakers support IRA energy tax credit

Republican U.S. legislators sent a letter on Thursday to the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee expressing their support for the tax credits that were boosted by former president Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. This legislation was not voted for by Republicans. The letter was signed by a dozen Republican U.S. The letter from a dozen Republican U.S. Representatives highlights the importance of incentives known as Investment Tax Credits, or ITC, as well as Production Tax Credits, or PTC for Republican states that have large clean electricity projects such as wind, nuclear, and solar power and battery storage.

House committee makes changes to increase US oil and coal production on federal land

This week, a House of Representatives committee will examine sweeping changes in the nation's drilling programs for oil and gas, including the requirement of dozens of leases sales in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska and other areas. These changes could be included in upcoming budget bills. The proposal is intended to support President Donald Trump's desire to increase U.S. production of fossil fuels by making it cheaper and easier to drill for oil, gas and coal on federally owned lands and water. What's Next? The House Natural Resources Committee is holding a markup on the energy provisions of the budget reconciliation bill. This will take place on Tuesday.

Oil industry sources claim that Central Africa's new FX Initiative falls short of its target.

Two oil industry sources said that six Central African nations who were expecting to receive billions in foreign exchange from funds set aside for environmental restoration by oil companies may actually see less than 500 million dollars by the April 30 deadline. Bank of Central African States, the central bank of Cameroon and Gabon, Equatorial Guinea Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Chad, Gabon and Chad, introduced rules in 2018 governing these funds that are mostly held by foreign banks. The funds in the BEAC-controlled accounts will be used to replenish the hard currency reserves of the six countries and to address their economic vulnerability.

Brazil prepares a new oil auction amid trade war threats to budget, sources claim

Four people with knowledge of the situation said that Brazil is planning to auction off stakes in offshore oil fields this year as a way to increase revenue. The plan has gained momentum amid declining oil prices and increasing global trade uncertainty. Two sources who spoke under condition of anonymity said that the auction would involve smaller and uncontracted portions of the Tupi, Mero, and Atapu pre-salt fields. They hoped to raise approximately 20 billion reais (US$3.4 billion) as a worst case scenario. The Brazilian Finance Ministry and Ministry of Mines and Energy have not responded to comments immediately.

Anglo American calls for faster approvals in Chile to reduce copper shortage

Anglo American Chile CEO Patricio Hdalgo stated on Tuesday that Chile must speed up its permit processes in order to expand copper mining ahead of the large supply gap anticipated in the next few years. The Chilean president Gabriel Boric pledged to reduce the time it takes for permits by a third. However, a reform which would streamline the procedure is still being debated in Congress. Many mining companies in Chile - which provides about a quarter the world's supply of copper - have called for a rapid passage of this initiative. Anglo American is one of the largest miners in the world and was targeted by BHP, a bigger competitor, last year.

US Senators ask Energy Secretary to comply with law regarding clean energy grants and loans

U.S. Democratic Senators on Wednesday called for Energy Secretary Chris Wright's department to comply with laws that mandate his funding of clean energy projects, which were included in laws passed prior to Donald Trump becoming president. This includes four hydrogen hubs. Wright's Department is considering funding cuts for four of seven hubs that are part of a $7 billion project to decarbonize America's economy. The program is a part of Joe Biden's efforts to do so. The hubs aim to boost the production of clean hydrogen and infrastructure required to deliver it to steelmakers and cement plants, among other industrial users.

Sources say that the Energy Department may cut funding for US carbon removal hubs.

Three sources familiar with this matter have confirmed that the U.S. Department of Energy has been considering cutting hundreds of millions of dollar in grants for two projects in Texas or Louisiana, which are aimed at demonstrating commercial-scale technology to capture CO2 from the air. Direct Air Capture hubs were developed by the DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations as part of the former president Joe Biden’s efforts to reduce U.S. greenhouse gases emissions. The hubs are expensive and new technology for carbon removal. The two hubs, when fully operational, could remove over 2 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

Alaska Governor briefs Trump on Asia Gas Push as Tariffs Bite

Alaska's Governor said that he would brief U.S. president Donald Trump's Administration after returning from Japan in the next week about progress made to secure Asian support for a project to develop natural gas, which has been part of a larger discussion on tariffs and trade. Governor Mike Dunleavy and the leaders of the state-run Alaska Gasline Development Corporation and Glenfarne Group visited Taiwan, Thailand and Japan to seek investors and long-term purchasers for a Trump-inspired project. The visit of the Alaskan delegation coincided with a renewed pressure on trade from Washington.

Mexican tycoon Slim targets two of Pemex’s key fields to gain clout within the energy sector

Sources familiar with the matter say that the Mexican state energy company Pemex has been in contact with Carlos Slim, and the billionaire could be asked to help fund two of the most promising crude oil fields and natural gas deposits in the country. These negotiations, which were not previously reported, show Slim's increasing influence in Mexico's energy sector. His business empire, which includes telecommunications and banking, retail, insurance, and hospitality, is expanding. Slim, who is one of the richest men in the world, has developed close ties with the leftist government…

Sources: Trump wants to refine minerals on Pentagon bases in order to boost US production

U.S. President Donald Trump aims to build metals refining facilities on Pentagon military bases as part of his plan to boost domestic production of critical minerals and offset China's control of the sector, two senior administration officials told . The move is one of several planned for an executive order Trump could sign as soon as Wednesday after he told the U.S. Congress last week he would "take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA." As part of the order, the Pentagon would work with other federal agencies to install processing facilities on its bases…

CERAWEEK - IEA chief sees investment needed in existing oil and gas fields

Fatih Birol said that the International Energy Agency in Paris, which is headed by Fatih Birol himself, has a responsibility to invest in oil and natural gas fields for the sake of global energy security. After years of pressure from fossil-fuel advocates, the pro-drilling campaign was relaunched. He said, "I would like to be clear... that there will be a requirement for investment. This is especially true to combat the decline of the existing fields." At the CERAWeek conference on energy in Houston. He said that there was a "need for upstream oil and gas investments".

Alaska LNG project could begin as early as 2030, says state governor

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced on Friday that exports of liquefied gas from Alaska may begin as early as 2030 or 2031. In his speech to Congress, Donald Trump praised the $44 billion Alaska LNG Project. The project will deliver approximately 3.5 billion cubic foot of gas per day from Alaska's North Slope, a large portion of which is destined for international markets. No final investment decisions have been made yet. The project requires an 800-mile gas pipeline from Alaska's North to Asia. Dunleavy, who spoke at a Houston energy conference, said that Alaska has been in contact with potential buyers from Taiwan, South Korea Japan and Thailand.

Alaska LNG project to start by 2030, says state governor

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced on Friday that exports of liquefied gas from Alaska may begin as early as 2030. In his speech to Congress, Donald Trump praised the $44 billion Alaska LNG Project. The project will deliver approximately 3.5 billion cubic foot of gas each day, a large portion of which is destined for international markets. No final investment decisions have been made yet. The project requires an 800-mile gas pipeline from Alaska's North to Asia. Dunleavy, who spoke at a Houston energy conference, said that Alaska has been in contact with potential buyers from Taiwan, South Korea Japan and Thailand.

Mexico advances energy reform to reinforce dominant roles of state-owned companies

Mexico's Senate passed on Wednesday laws for an energy reform which strengthens the dominance of state-owned companies Pemex CFE, while opening up new opportunities for private investment in order to achieve the country's goals of self-sufficiency. The new laws, which received 85 votes for them, 39 against them and one abstention will be sent now to the lower chamber of Congress. It is expected that they will receive final approval. If the bill is passed, Pemex will be given more freedom to work with private firms in various investment schemes. They would also get better conditions and preferential treatment.

Trump hosts top US oil executives as trade wars threaten

Donald Trump, the U.S. president, will be hosting top oil executives in the White House this Wednesday to discuss plans for boosting domestic energy production amid falling crude prices and trade wars. This will be Trump's first meeting with oil and gas executives since he returned to the White House in January for his second term. According to a source familiar with planning the event, it will include members of American Petroleum Institute (API)'s executive committee. According to public bios, ExxonMobil's CEO Darren Woods is on the executive committee of the trade group, along with Chevron CEO Mike Wirth and ConocoPhillips Chief Executive Ryan Lance.

Trump: Japan and South Korea are interested in partnering with the US on Alaska pipeline

Donald Trump, the U.S. In an address to Congress, Trump stated that this pipeline would be the largest of its kind in the world. He said that Japan, South Korea, and other nations wanted to be his partners, with trillions of dollars in investments each. On Tuesday, Ahn Duk Geun, South Korea’s Minister of Industry said that the United States asked South Korea and some other countries whether they were interested in taking part in the Alaskan project to liquefy natural gas. He claimed that Seoul and Washington agreed. Tariffs, non-tariff and tariff barriers, shipbuilding. Anh made his comments after visiting Washington, D.C.

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