Oil shipments at risk from rising sea levels
OIL & GAS

Oil shipments at risk from rising sea levels

A dire warning was issued by researchers, cautioning that rising sea levels pose a grave threat to crude oil shipments and energy security, particularly in import-dependent nations like China, South Korea, and Japan. The China Water Risk (CWR) think tank highlighted the potential for significant disruptions in global oil trade due to the sinking of key oil ports and inundation of coastal refineries and petrochemical facilities, driven by melting ice and swelling seas from escalating temperatures.

According to the CWR report, the maritime infrastructure critical for exporting and importing crude oil faces considerable vulnerability, especially low-lying ports and bunkering facilities. Stress tests conducted by CWR indicated that approximately 12 out of the top 15 tanker terminals worldwide could be impacted by a one-meter rise in sea levels, with five located in Asia. This scenario puts a significant portion of global crude oil exports from major producers like Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates at risk, affecting key importers such as China, the United States, South Korea, and the Netherlands.

With Asian countries expected to bear the brunt of these consequences, the report underscores the urgent need for a transition away from oil dependence and the enhancement of port infrastructure resilience. Debra Tan, Director of CWR and lead author of the report, emphasised the importance of seizing investment opportunities to address infrastructure risks and mitigate the detrimental impacts of oil reliance on future prospects.

Japan and South Korea, both heavily reliant on crude oil imports, face significant vulnerabilities as a large portion of their ports could be affected by a one-meter rise in sea levels. Moreover, the continued growth in oil output, contributing to climate-warming emissions, poses a paradoxical threat to the energy security of multiple Asian countries, particularly Japan and South Korea.

The report further warns that failure to limit temperature rises within the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius could result in even more severe consequences, with sea-level rise potentially reaching three meters and posing an existential threat to port infrastructure across Asia. Ultimately, the report underscores the paradoxical risk posed by oil, traditionally seen as a pillar of energy security, which could ironically jeopardize the energy security of numerous nations. (Source: Economic Times)

A dire warning was issued by researchers, cautioning that rising sea levels pose a grave threat to crude oil shipments and energy security, particularly in import-dependent nations like China, South Korea, and Japan. The China Water Risk (CWR) think tank highlighted the potential for significant disruptions in global oil trade due to the sinking of key oil ports and inundation of coastal refineries and petrochemical facilities, driven by melting ice and swelling seas from escalating temperatures. According to the CWR report, the maritime infrastructure critical for exporting and importing crude oil faces considerable vulnerability, especially low-lying ports and bunkering facilities. Stress tests conducted by CWR indicated that approximately 12 out of the top 15 tanker terminals worldwide could be impacted by a one-meter rise in sea levels, with five located in Asia. This scenario puts a significant portion of global crude oil exports from major producers like Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates at risk, affecting key importers such as China, the United States, South Korea, and the Netherlands. With Asian countries expected to bear the brunt of these consequences, the report underscores the urgent need for a transition away from oil dependence and the enhancement of port infrastructure resilience. Debra Tan, Director of CWR and lead author of the report, emphasised the importance of seizing investment opportunities to address infrastructure risks and mitigate the detrimental impacts of oil reliance on future prospects. Japan and South Korea, both heavily reliant on crude oil imports, face significant vulnerabilities as a large portion of their ports could be affected by a one-meter rise in sea levels. Moreover, the continued growth in oil output, contributing to climate-warming emissions, poses a paradoxical threat to the energy security of multiple Asian countries, particularly Japan and South Korea. The report further warns that failure to limit temperature rises within the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius could result in even more severe consequences, with sea-level rise potentially reaching three meters and posing an existential threat to port infrastructure across Asia. Ultimately, the report underscores the paradoxical risk posed by oil, traditionally seen as a pillar of energy security, which could ironically jeopardize the energy security of numerous nations. (Source: Economic Times)

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

GAIL to Set Up Bengaluru CBG Plant Under New Concession Pact

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a 20-year concession agreement with the Bengaluru City Municipal Corporation (BBMP) to set up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in the city. The project, expected to produce around 10 tonnes of CBG daily, will utilise municipal solid waste as feedstock, contributing to clean energy generation and efficient waste management. The CBG produced will be used in GAIL’s City Gas Distribution network to promote cleaner fuel usage. The initiative aligns with the government’s Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme and GAIL’s broader ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Uttarakhand HC Lifts 31-Year Ban on ONGC’s Contractual Hiring

The Uttarakhand High Court has lifted a 31-year-old ban on the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) from hiring contractual workers, a restriction imposed in 1993. The decision enables ONGC’s Dehradun establishment to employ personnel on a contractual basis to meet operational requirements. The long-standing prohibition had limited ONGC’s ability to fill vacancies in its technical and administrative departments, often leading to project delays and higher dependence on outsourcing. With the court’s directive, the public sector enterprise can now proceed with temporary recruitments whil..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

JSW Energy’s Utkal Unit Bags 400 MW, 25-Year Power Supply Deal

JSW Energy Limited announced that its subsidiary, JSW Energy (Utkal) Limited, has secured a Letter of Award (LoA) from Karnataka’s Power Company of Karnataka Limited (PCKL) for the supply of 400 MW of electricity for 25 years. The agreement is part of a competitive bidding process for long-term procurement of power to meet the state’s growing energy demand. The 400 MW capacity will be supplied from JSW Energy’s upcoming thermal power project in Odisha. This development strengthens JSW Energy’s presence in the southern market and aligns with its strategy to enhance long-term contracte..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?