Mozambique's Maputo port has stopped accepting cargoes after the main entry point for trucking South African coal to the port was temporarily shut today because of rioting in the area.

Authorities issued advisories to close the Lebombo port of entry, the main trucking route that links South Africa to Maputo, after media reports surfaced of trucks being torched in Mozambique.

"[Maputo Port Development Co], in co-ordination with customs and other relevant Mozambican border authorities, has taken the decision to stop reception of cargo at the Port of Maputo," the operator told customers on Wednesday.

Unrest in the country began after national elections on 9 October when the ruling party declared victory with a disputed 71pc of votes and extended its 49-year rule. Opposition to the election results in Mozambique has led to country-wide protests, now escalating to violence and rioting.

Mozambique Ports and Railways Authority (CFM) issued a communique on 6 November informing customers about suspension of rail operations to ensure safety of staff and operators.

On Monday, truck drivers were instructed to park on the side of the road and leave their vehicles. Customs officials also did not allow truckers to leave Mozambique for South Africa with any processed goods.

Sources told Argus that traders were desperately looking for truckers to move coal bound for Maputo to Richards Bay instead "to make up for lost volumes". Trucking rates in South Africa are shooting up as a result.

This will "lead to consolidation at non-RBCT ports or higher sales prices", a South Africa based trader said. "[The] implied demurrage has gone up at Richards Bay's Multipurpose and Dry Bulk terminals because of port queues," he added.

Maputo serves as an increasingly important export port for South African coal producers who have taken to trucking or railing coal across the border owing to the transit problems South Africa's state-owned rail operator Transnet Freight Rail is experiencing.

About 2.7mn t of South African thermal coal was exported from Maputo between January to October this year, according to Kpler data. The coal export figure stood at 5.48mn t for 2023.

The dry bulk terminals at Maputo are privately owned by infrastructure operator Grindrod. It has 7.5mn t of export capacity for managing coal and magnetite.

By Ashima Sharma

Updates throughout with latest election results, market reaction

Former president Donald Trump appears to be closing in on victory in the US election, after winning several key swing states.

Trump, the Republican nominee, was declared the victor in Georgia and North Carolina shortly after midnight ET on election night, according to the Associated Press. Trump has also won the key state of Pennsylvania, several US networks said.

Trump was leading vice president Kamala Harris in all four other key swing states — Wisconsin and Arizona, Michigan and Nevada — based on partial results as of 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT) on 6 November.

The seven swing states will decide which candidate reaches the threshold of 270 electoral votes needed to win the election. Trump had secured 248 electoral votes as 02:00 ET, with Harris at 214. Victory in Pennsylvania, if confirmed, would give Trump 267 votes and all-but end Harris' chances of victory.

The prospect of Trump's re-election sent Brent crude futures down by as much as 2.5pc to a low of $73.64/bl, largely reflecting gains in the US dollar. A strong dollar tends to weigh on prices of commodities by making purchases more expensive for buyers using other currencies.

Trump has promised to pursue a radical shift for the US on policies related to energy, taxes, trade and foreign affairs — reversing many of the policies and legislation that Democrats have put in place under President Joe Biden.

On energy policy, Trump said he wants oil and gas producers to "drill, baby, drill" to bring down domestic energy prices and to dismantle many of the regulations and climate policies put in place by Biden, which Trump dubbed the "Green New Scam". Trump said he would immediately lift a "pause" on licensing new LNG export terminals and restart oil development in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Trump wants to impose a 20pc tariff on all foreign imports and even higher tariffs on China.

The next president faces decisions on the future of US support for Ukraine and related restrictions on Russian energy exports, enforcing US sanctions against Iran and Venezuela and how to contain the growing threat of an Israel-Iran war and its potential impacts on oil flows from the Middle East.

Republicans also took control of the US Senate for the first time in four years. In the US House of Representatives, too many races are undecided for major networks to project control.

In 2025, the US Congress is poised for a major fight on tax policy because of the year-end expiration of an estimated $4 trillion in tax cuts.

By Chris Knight, Haik Gugarats and Kevin Foster

LITTLETON, Colorado, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Brazil is set to import nearly 900,000 metric tons of thermal coal this month, the highest monthly tally on record and three times the monthly average for 2024 so far, according to data from ship-tracking firm Kpler.

The coal buying binge comes as an enduring drought has slashed hydropower output to three-year lows, leaving power producers low on power-generating fuels heading into the hottest months of the year when electricity demand peaks.

Power firms have also lifted imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to their highest since late 2021, indicating that a steep rise in fossil fuel-fired generation is looming in South America's largest economy.

Higher use of fossil fuels will in turn lift Brazil's power sector emissions, which are already at their highest since 2021.

HYDRO LETDOWN

Hydro power typically accounts for around 65% of Brazil's utility-scale electricity production, with hydro-electricity generation averaging just under 40 terawatt hours (TWh) a month throughout the first half of 2024, Ember data shows.

However, in September hydro output fell to just 28.7 TWh as a drop in precipitation from the year before hit dam output.

Cumulative rainfall in Brazil's southeast - home to many of the country's biggest dam systems - was just 584mm (23 inches) over the first 10 months of the year, according to LSEG.

That was 10% less than the average from 2019 through 2023, and marks the second straight year of less than 600mm of rain over the opening 10 months of the year.

The drop in actual hydro output also cut hydro's share of Brazil's generation mix to just 50% in September, forcing power suppliers to boost output from alternate sources in order to meet system demands.

CLEAN CUT

While Brazil has one of the world's cleanest power systems, utilities will likely rely on fossil fuels to generate much of the lost hydropower as output from gas and coal-fired power plants can be quickly adjusted to balance system needs.

So far this year, hydro dams have generated around 63% of total electricity supplies, wind farms have accounted for around 15%, while solar farms have generated around 10%.

Nuclear plants have accounted for an additional 2.5% share, while bioenergy plants - which mainly burn sugar cane pulp - have generated an additional 1.5%.

The cumulative share of power generation from clean sources so far in 2024 is 92%, which remains one of the highest globally.

However, the remaining 8% share of generation has come from fossil fuels, which look primed to be used in even greater volumes over the coming months if hydro output remains hindered.

Natural gas has generated around 6% of Brazil's electricity so far in 2024, while coal and oil-fired plants produced an additional 2.2%.

PEAK DEMAND

A steep climb in overall power consumption is also placing Brazil's power firms under pressure to lift output.

KONTAN.CO.ID - PT SUCOFINDO berkomitmen mendukung program pemerintah dalam percepatan transisi energi melalui Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). ETM adalah sebuah program peningkatan pembangunan infrastruktur energi dan percepatan transisi energi menuju Net Zero Emission (NZE) dengan prinsip adil dan terjangkau.

Program ini bertujuan untuk mengurangi emisi karbon secara signifikan dengan menghentikan atau mengurangi penggunaan pembangkit listrik tenaga batu bara dan menggantinya dengan sumber energi bersih. Inisiatif ini menjadi langkah strategis dalam mencapai target emisi nol bersih pada 2060, serta memperkuat daya saing investasi di sektor energi berkelanjutan.

Kepala Pusat Kebijakan Sektor Keuangan, Badan Kebijakan Fiskal, Kementerian Keuangan, Adi Budiarso menyatakan pentingnya roadmap transisi energi yang inklusif dalam mempercepat target transisi energi. “Indonesia memerlukan langkah konkret yang tidak hanya menurunkan emisi karbon, tetapi juga memastikan semua pihak yang terlibat dalam industri dapat beralih ke alternatif yang lebih bersih dan efisien,” kata Adi Budiarso.

Sejalan dengan hal tersebut, PT SUCOFINDO menyelenggarakan Seminar “Transitioning Towards a Sustainable Future of Indonesia” yang bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi langkah strategis dalam mengurangi penggunaan bahan bakar fosil dan percepatan transisi menuju energi bersih di Indonesia.

“PT SUCOFINDO sebagai perusahaan TIC (di bidang jasa pengujian, inspeksi, dan sertifikasi) berkomitmen membantu pelaku usaha memastikan kredibilitas dan transparansi klaim energi bersih, sehingga dapat meningkatkan kepercayaan konsumen serta mendukung perdagangan karbon di Indonesia,” kata Adi Budiarso pada pembukaan seminar tersebut.

Seminar yang berlangsung di Gedung IDX Jakarta ini menghadirkan narasumber serta peserta workshop mulai dari investor dalam dan luar negeri, pelaku industri di sektor energi, hingga Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

CEO dan Co-founder Sustainability Economics, Kasu Venkata Reddy, yang menjadi salah satu narasumber, mengenalkan skema Clean Energy Mechanism (CLEM). Mekanisme ini bertujuan untuk membantu negara-negara mengurangi ketergantungan pada bahan bakar fosil dengan menyediakan pembiayaan, teknologi, dan dukungan kebijakan yang diperlukan.

“Mekanisme ini akan mendukung pencapaian target pengurangan emisi sambil menarik investasi hijau, serta membuka peluang bagi sektor energi terbarukan di tingkat nasional dan internasional. Mekanisme energi transisi ini bukan sesuatu yang menakutkan jika dilakukan dengan hati-hati dan perhitungan yang baik akan memberikan benefit bahkan profitability bagi perusahaan” ujar Kasu Venkata Reddy. Hal ini juga menegaskan bahwa CLEM membuat transisi energi tidak hanya praktis, tetapi juga memungkinkan adanya proses transisi yang menguntungkan yang mampu menjamin perekonomian dapat terus tumbuh dengan energi yang lebih bersih.

Dalam seminar tersebut, Kepala Unit Pengembangan Carbon Trading IDX Carbon, Edwin Hartanto, juga menyampaikan bahwa pentingnya mengembangkan mekanisme Carbon Trading sebagai salah satu mekanisme untuk mencapai target NDC Indonesia. Bursa Efek Indonesia melalui IDX Carbon berkomitmen untuk mengembangkan carbon trading di Indonesia yang transparan, tertib, dan mengacu pada best practice global.

Kepala Bagian PMU Climate Solution and Sustainable Energy, Strategic Business Unit Sertifikasi dan Eco Framework PT SUCOFINDO, Dikman Purnama mengatakan PT SUCOFINDO siap mendukung implementasi ETM dengan berbagai layanan yang dimiliki. Dimulai dari jasa kajian kesiapan transisi energi, penilaian teknis terhadap potensi penurunan emisi untuk early retirement PLTU, hingga konsultansi rencana strategi pengelolaan aset.

Selain itu, Sucofindo juga dapat bekerjasama dalam membuat kajian potensi alternatif fuel switching dan retrofit, studi kelayakan pembangkit dan infrastruktur berkelanjutan, serta inspeksi teknis dan commissioning fasilitas operasional guna memastikan bahwa sumber energi bersih yang digunakan memenuhi standar keberlanjutan global dan nasional.

“Kami siap memberikan layanan optimal dalam mendukung ETM dan meningkatkan daya tarik investasi energi bersih di Indonesia. Kami juga memiliki jasa validasi dan verifikasi emisi gas rumah kaca termasuk untuk transition credit yang sedang mulai berkembang, pengujian teknologi energi terbarukan, dan konsultasi pengelolaan lingkungan. Layanan ini memungkinkan para investor untuk memperoleh jaminan kualitas dan keamanan dari proyek energi yang dijalankan.” tutup Dikman Purnama.

Tentang SUCOFINDO

PT SUCOFINDO adalah perusahaan inspeksi pertama di Indonesia dan didirikan pada tanggal 22 Oktober 1956. PT SUCOFINDO saat ini tergabung menjadi bagian holding BUMN Jasa Survei atau ID Survey bersama PT Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (Persero) sebagai induk, serta PT Surveyor Indonesia.

Bisnis SUCOFINDO bermula dari jasa pemeriksaan dan pengawasan di bidang perdagangan membantu pemerintah dalam menjamin kelancaran arus barang dan pengamanan devisa negara. Kemudian SUCOFINDO melakukan diversifikasi jasa di bidang, laboratorium analitis, keteknikan, audit, sertifikasi, assessment, konsultansi, pelatihan, dan berbagai kegiatan penunjang terkait, di antaranya di bidang pertanian, kehutanan, migas, pertambangan, konstruksi, industri pengolahan, kelautan, perikanan, transportasi, energi baru dan  terbarukan, dan teknologi informasi.

SUCOFINDO memiliki 66 titik layanan yang tersebar di seluruh Indonesia, dikelola secara terpadu dan didukung oleh para ahli di berbagai bidang. Jaringan 75 laboratorium yang luas menyediakan layanan dekat dengan pelanggan di seluruh Indonesia.

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA — Emiten batu bara Grup Sinar Mas, PT Golden Energy Mines Tbk. (GEMS) mencetak produksi batu bara sebesar 38,4 juta ton hingga akhir September 2024.  Corporate Secretary Golden Energy Mines Sudin menjelaskan produksi batu bara GEMS hingga akhir September 2024 adalah sebesar 38,4 juta ton. Menurutnya, capaian ini masih sesuai dengan rencana perseroan di awal tahun.  "Pencapaian produksi dan penjualan masih sesuai dengan rencana," kata Sudin, Rabu (6/11/2024).  Sementara itu, capaian penjualan batu bara GEMS sampai akhir September 2024 adalah sebesar 38,2 juta ton. 

Sebagai informasi, tahun ini GEMS menargetkan produksi batu bara sebesar 50 juta ton. Produksi batu bara ini meningkat dari target produksi 2023 yang sebesar 40 juta ton.

GEMS juga menganggarkan belanja modal sebesar US$60 juta atau setara Rp942,3 miliar (kurs Jisdor Rp15.705 per dolar AS) untuk tahun ini. Belanja modal ini rencananya akan digunakan GEMS untuk mendukung kinerja operasional selama 2024.  Rencananya, belanja modal tersebut digunakan GEMS untuk fasilitas pelabuhan, hauling road, serta fasilitas pendukung kinerja operasional lainnya.  Adapun hingga saat ini, GEMS tercatat belum menyampaikan laporan keuangan kuartal III/2024. GEMS menjelaskan perseroan berencana untuk melakukan penelaahan terbatas atau limited review atas laporan konsolidasian perseroan yang berakhir pada September 2024. Sementara itu, sampai semester I/2024, GEMS mencatatkan pendapatan usaha sebesar US$1,36 miliar pada semester I/2024. Pendapatan usaha ini turun 5,28% dibandingkan periode yang sama tahun lalu sebesar US$1,44 miliar.

Pendapatan usaha GEMS ini dikontribusikan dari penjualan batu bara ke luar negeri sebesar US$917,3 juta dan penjualan dalam negeri sebesar US$449,8 juta.   Berdasarkan pelanggannya, GEMS menjual batu bara ke pihak berelasi sebesar US$114,9 juta dan pihak ketiga sebesar US$1,25 miliar.  Sepanjang 6 bulan pertama 2024, GEMS membukukan beban pokok penjualan sebesar US$733,4 juta. Beban pokok penjualan ini turun 8,8% dibandingkan dengan periode yang sama tahun lalu sebesar US$804,2 juta.  

Meski demikian, penurunan beban pokok penjualan ini tak serta merta membuat laba kotor GEMS meningkat. Laba kotor GEMS tercatat turun 0,85% menjadi US$633,7 juta, dari sebelumnya sebesar US$639,15 juta.  GEMS mencatatkan laba bersih sebesar US$316,9 juta atau setara Rp5,19 triliun sepanjang semester I/2024. Laba bersih ini turun 4,97% dibandingkan dengan periode yang sama tahun lalu sebesar US$333,4 juta.