India Set to Import Record LNG Volumes
India is set to import record volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) this month, data shows, taking advantage of the super-chilled fuel's price hitting all-time lows due to the coronavirus outbreak dampening demand in China. The South Asian nation is estimated to import about 2.36 million tonnes in February, shiptracking data from Refinitiv Eikon showed. That would exceed India's LNG imports in October of about 2.3 million tonnes, the previous highest monthly total. The country's annual LNG imports is expected to rise by 10%-15% this year, said Poorna Rajendran of consultancy firm FGE.
Global LNG Demand to Double by 2040: Shell
Global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG), rose by 12.5% to hit 359 million tons last year, according to Royal Dutch Shell’s annual LNG Outlook report.According to the forecast by Shell, LNG demand was expected to double by 2040 to 700 million tons, with natural gas set to play “a growing role in shaping a lower-carbon energy system.”Asia is expected to remain the dominant region in the decades to come, with South and South-east Asia generating more than half of the increased demand.Natural gas emits between 45 and…
Nakilat Posts Record Net Profit of $270M
Doha-listed LNG and LPG carrier owner Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd (Nakilat) reported a consolidated net profit of QR1,003m (USD $270 million) in 2019, an increase of 12.4 percent, as compared to QR892m posted for the same period in 2018.The 2019 net profit is Nakilat’s highest profit recorded since its inception, said the Qatari shipping and maritime company.Nakilat's robust financial performance is primarily attributed to operational excellence in the management of its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessels…
Shell, Qatargas Sign LNG Deal for Kuwait
The world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer Qatargas has signed a new, long-term LNG sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Shell to deliver 1 million tons per annum of LNG to Kuwait, commencing this year.Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs said, “We are pleased to announce this new long term agreement between Qatargas and Shell for the supply of LNG to the State of Kuwait, following the recent agreement signed between Qatar Petroleum and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. These agreements demonstrate our commitment to the State of Kuwait…
Total in 10-Year LNG Bunkering Pact with Pavilion
Temasek-owned Pavilion Energy has signed a 10-year fully-termed agreement to jointly develop an LNG bunker supply chain in the port of Singapore with Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS), a subsidiary of French energy conglomerate Total SA.Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised on signing the contract.The agreement includes the shared long-term use of 12,000 cu m LNG bunker vessel (LNGBV). In February this year Pavilion chartered an LNGBV newbuilding from Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) which is currently being…
Australia Becomes World's Largest LNG Exporter
Australia has become the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in the world. The record figure knocked Qatar out of the top spot."Australia is set to become the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter this year, overtaking Qatar, with its supplies expected to reach 81 million tonnes (MT) as Ichthys LNG and Prelude FLNG increase production," Rystad Energy said.Meanwhile, Qatari exports will remain at current levels, around 77 MT. The US will increase LNG exports from about 36 MT in 2019 to 56 MT in 2020, dominating new LNG supply contributions.
Total Rejects Force Majeure Notice From Chinese LNG Buyer
French oil major Total has rejected a force majeure notice from a buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in China, a Total executive said during the company's full-year results presentation on Thursday."Some Chinese customers, at least one, are trying to use the coronavirus to say I have force majeure," said Philippe Sauquet, head of Total's gas, renewables and power segment."We have received one force majeure that we have rejected."A Chinese international trade promotion agency said last week it would offer force majeure…
Coronavirus Paralyzes Oil, Gas Sales into China
Short-term sales of crude oil and liquefied natural gas into China almost ground to a halt this week as the coronavirus slows economic activity and cuts demand and buyers ponder legal action to avoid having to honor purchase agreements, trade sources said.Typically, trade would have revived after the Lunar New Year holiday at the end of January, but China has extended the break into February to try to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus, which has claimed nearly 500 lives.As a result, commodity supply chains have been disrupted with shipments cancelled or delayed and stocks piling up…
LNG Tanker Diverted from China in Sign of Weaker Demand
A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker that had been heading to China has been diverted, data intelligence firm Kpler and two industry sources said on Tuesday, probably due to lower demand for the fuel as businesses are hit by the coronavirus outbreak.The Tangguh Foja tanker loaded a cargo at the Tangguh LNG plant in Indonesia last month and had been heading to China's Rudong terminal in Jiangsu province, Refinitiv shipping data shows.It was diverted towards the South China Sea on Jan. 30 and is now between Vietnam and Borneo…
Partners to Expand Pakistan LNG Inport Terminal
Excelerate Energy announced it has agreed with partner Engro Elengy Terminal Ltd. (EETL) to expand the EETL liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Port Qasim, Pakistan.Under the heads of agreement (HOA), Excelerate will exchange its existing floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Exquisite with a newbuild FSRU, Hull 2477, which is currently under construction at South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard and due to be delivered in April 2020. The newbuild will increase EETL’s…
Cheniere Drops Lawsuit Against Tellurian Board Members
Tellurian Inc on Thursday said Cheniere Energy Inc has dismissed all claims against its Chairman Charif Souki and Vice Chairman Martin Houston.Cheniere Energy, the largest U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, had sued its former chairman and chief executive, Souki, in February 2019, alleging he conspired to help finance a joint venture that led to the formation of rival Tellurian.Tellurian is developing an LNG export plant in Louisiana called Driftwood, which is one of about a dozen of LNG export projects under development in North America.(Reporting by Eileen Soreng in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
LNG and Shipping Decarbonisation Target
Though liquefied natural gas (LNG) could help the shipping industry to reach its decarbonization target, it could wreck the climate, finds a study.According to a research by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), switching vessels to the LNG fuel would only serve to worsen shipping’s climate impact due to previously underestimated leakage of the climate super-pollutant methane.More and more ships, including container ships and cruise ships, are being built to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), which…
Cheniere Energy Ships 1,000th LNG Cargo
US-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) firm Cheniere Energy has produced and exported its 1,000th cargo of LNG.The Houston-based LNG exporter said in a press note that the 1000th cargo was exported within a four-year time period after startup, setting an industry record and making Cheniere the fastest producer in the world to reach this milestone.Cheniere has produced these 1,000 cargoes from both the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project (SPL Project) and the Corpus Christi Liquefaction Project (CCL Project).“Reaching 1,000 cargoes of LNG faster than any producer in history is a testament to the performance of our people and the culture of our company.
PGNiG: Polish LNG Import Jumps Up
LNG imports to Poland via the Świnoujście LNG Terminal keep rising and stood at 3.4 billion cubic metres in 2019 after regasification, up from 2.7 bcm the year before."The first quarter of 2020 will see peak activity in terms of LNG deliveries. By the end of March this year alone we are to receive ten cargoes coming in from different directions,” said Jerzy Kwieciński, President of the PGNIG S.A. Management Board.The long-term take-or-pay contract with Gazprom via the Yamal pipeline means Russia is still Poland’s dominant supplier.
Annova LNG Sign Deal with Enbridge
Houston liquefied natural gas company Annova LNG has signed a 20-year supply deal with Enbridge, a Canadian pipeline company that owns a 10.5 percent stake in Annova's proposed export terminal.The precedent agreement with Enbridge Inc.’s Valley Crossing Pipeline LLC (VCP) would provide transportation for the still unsanctioned 6.5 million metric tons/year (mmty) facility, which was approved by federal regulators in November.Under the deal, the existing 2.6 Bcf/d VCP from Agua Dulce to Brownsville would be expanded, and…
Aramco Sells LNG Cargo to S-Oil
Aramco Trading Co, the trading arm of oil giant Saudi Aramco, has sold a liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to South Korea's S-Oil Corp, as the company looks to ramp up its LNG business, four industry sources said on Wednesday.The cargo is for delivery in early March and was traded on a delivered ex-ship (DES) basis, the sources said.The cargo was sold at around $4.40 to $4.60 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), two of the sources said, though this could not immediately be confirmed.Companies typically do not comment on spot deals.Aramco Overseas Company, a unit of Saudi Aramco, is a major shareholder in S-Oil, which is South Korea's third-l
Osaka Gas Looks to Sell Spare LNG in Europe
Japan's Osaka Gas has offered two liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from the newly-commissioned Freeport LNG project in the United States for delivery into Europe, industry sources said.Mild weather in Japan and a weaker Chinese economy have helped to drag the global LNG market to multi-year lows and forced Asian sellers to seek alternative markets.Osaka Gas has offered the cargoes for delivery into Europe between July 5 and 13 and Nov. 9 and 17, said three of the sources, who asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak to the press.Bids, which are linked to Dutch TTF prices, are due by Jan.
Asia LNG Spot Prices Drop to Multi-year Low
Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG) spot prices dropped to multi-year lows on Tuesday with at least one cargo being sold into Northeast Asia below the psychological barrier of $4 per million British thermal units (mmBtu).Gas prices are tumbling globally as new projects sanctioned when prices were higher ramp up output just as economic growth slows. A milder than usual winter in North Asia is also curbing demand.Low spot prices will particularly hit companies which purchase LNG through long-term contracts, selling on to end-users at market prices, traders said.
Malaysia in Shanghai LNG Supply Pact
Malaysian state-run giant Petroliam Nasional (Petronas) subsidiary Petronas LNG (PLL) has signed a 12-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply deal with China’s Shenergy Group. Under the terms of the 12-year heads of agreement (HOA), Petronas LNG will supply approximately 1.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG to Shenergy’s Wuhaogou receiving terminal.Additionally, the LNG supply agreement involves a shipping collaboration to construct and charter new mid-sized LNG vessels. The deal is effective from 2022.Through this new long-term agreement…
Freeport LNG Kicks Off Train 2
US-based Freeport LNG has started commercial operations at its second of three planned liquefaction trains.Freeport LNG Train 3 remains on track to meet its previously announced schedule, with initial production of LNG scheduled for Q1 of 2020, said McDermott International, Inc. with its partners, Chiyoda International Corporation and Zachry Group."We continue to advance the Freeport LNG Project with another significant accomplishment, the commercial operation of Train 2," said Mark Coscio, McDermott's Senior Vice President for North…
Qatargas Delivers 1st Cargo to Summit LNG
The world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer Qatargas Operating Company Limited (Qatargas) has delivered the first Q-Flex cargo of the chilled fuel to the Summit LNG floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) located offshore Bangladesh.The cargo, aboard Qatargas-chartered 'Al Safliya', was loaded at Ras Laffan Port on 27 December 2019 and delivered to the FSRU on 14 January 2020.This is the first commercial open water ship-to-ship transfer involving a Q-Flex vessel delivering to Petrobangla (LNG buyers) at their Summit LNG Terminal (SLNG).SLNG is a project jointly developed by Excelerate Energy and the Bangladesh Oil…
Gassco Urges to Boost Barents Sea Gas Export
Norwegian state-owned natural gas pipelines operator Gassco published a study saying that it could be profitable to increase the transport capacity for gas.According to the study regarding the transport of gas from the southern Barents Sea several gas transport options from the Barents Sea, including a new pipeline, could prove profitable with today’s known resources.The report, "Assessment of gas transport alternatives in the southern Barents Sea", was presented to Minister of Petroleum and Energy Sylvi Listhaug on Monday.The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) contributed in the preparation of the report.
NOAA: Oregon LNG Pipeline Will Have Minimal Impact
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said its analysis found that the construction and operation of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Coos Bay, Ore. and its associated pipeline will have minimal impact on protected species and their habitats.NOAA Fisheries issued a final biological opinion on construction and operation of the Jordan Cove terminal and the associated 229-mile long Pacific Connector LNG pipeline. After conducting a thorough review, NOAA scientists determined that the…
Sempra LNG, Aramco Sign Deal
North American energy infrastructure company Sempra Energy and Saudi Aramco's Aramco Services Company, signed an Interim Project Participation Agreement for the Port Arthur LNG export project under development in Jefferson County, Texas.According to a press release, the IPPA represents another milestone for both companies after having signed a heads of agreement in May last year for the purchase of 5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a 25% equity investment in the Port Arthur LNG project.Jeffrey W.
Kuwait Signs 15-yr LNG Gas Deal with Qatar
State-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corp signed a 15-year agreement with Qatar Petroleum to import three million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) each year starting from 2022.The agreement was signed by Dr. Khaled A. Al-Fadhel, the Minister of Oil and the Minister of Electricity & Water, the Chairman of the Board of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and His Excellency Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, during a special ceremony held in Kuwait City.Under the 15-year agreement…
Europe Dominates LNG Import Story in 2019
Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) production jumped in 2019, triggering oversupply and low prices that are expected to persist in 2020. Initial full-year data from LNG Edge shows exports at 355 million tonnes in 2019, up from 314.9 million tonnes in 2018.This represents the largest ever increase in production.While East Asian, especially Chinese, demand increased in 2017 and 2018 to absorb additional production, there was little change this year. Instead, supply pushed into Europe reached a record high, having a major…
Asian LNG Prices Little Changed in Quiet Trade
Asian spot prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG) were little changed this week amid quiet trade and low liquidity.The average LNG price for February delivery into northeast Asia was estimated at around $5.10-$5.20 per million British thermal units (mmBtu)."Demand is still weak following the Christmas and New Year holidays and there is plenty of supply," an LNG trader said.A new gas transit deal struck between Russia and Ukraine last month, which will see Moscow supply Europe for at least another five years, has eased market…
KN Bags $148Mn Loan for its LNG Terminal
The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and Lithuanian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil terminal operator AB 'Klaipedos Nafta' (KN) have signed a EUR 134.1 million (USD 148 million) loan agreement to optimize costs of LNG terminal.The 25-year maturity loan will be directed to finance the rent payable for the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU).“Through this loan agreement we are continuing to support Lithuania´s security of energy supply, a strategically important objective for our member country”, said Henrik Normann…
NLNG Okays Train 7
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shell, Total, and ENI on Friday signed the final investment decision (FID) to give the go-ahead for the construction of Train 7 of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project.The new train is expected to boost output by 35% to 30 million tonnes per year, NLNG said in a statement, and will arrest a decline in Nigeria’s LNG output. NLNG operates six LNG processing units, known as trains, on Bonny Island. Nigeria LNG said it would boost its liquefied natural gas output by more than 30%.According to reports…
Yamal LNG Starts Using New Storage Tank
Novatek, the largest independent natural gas producer in Russia, started using a dedicated LNG transshipment tank at the Zeebrugge LNG terminal in Belgium.Novatek booked the tank’s capacity as part of a 20-year transshipment agreement between Yamal LNG’s unit Yamal Trade and Fluxys LNG.The dedicated LNG tank was built specifically for the transshipment needs of Yamal LNG with a capacity of 180,000 cubic meters, allowing the Project to transship up to 8 million tons of LNG per annum.“The LNG tank construction for Yamal LNG began in Zeebrugge in 2015 and its commissioning is a key milestone for the Project…
Nigeria LNG Inks FID for Train 7
Nigeria LNG (NLNG) signed a long-awaited final investment decision on its Train 7 processing unit in Abuja on Friday, taking a step forward in increasing its liquefied natural gas production.NNPC and partners Eni, Total and Shell attended the signing ceremony for Train 7, which is expected to boost Nigeria's LNG output by 35% to 30 million tonnes per year.The agreement is a bright spot for Nigeria, a nation rich in oil and gas that has been working for years, with limited success, to boost its output of both resources.It also marks a moment of amity with international oil majors…
Louisiana LNG Unit Starts Production
Train 2 of the Cameron LNG project in Hackberry, Louisiana, has begun producing liquefied natural gas (LNG), announced McDermott International and its joint venture partner, Chiyoda International Corporation, a U.S.-based wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiyoda Corporation, Japan.While production is in the initial phases, this significant project accomplishment is a precursor to substantial completion of Train 2."This accomplishment is attributable to the entire team's unwavering commitment to project delivery and steadfast focus on safety and quality performance as we work toward completion of Train 2…
Woodside Finalizes Gas Deal with Uniper
Oil and gas producer Woodside Petroleum Ltd said on Tuesday it has signed an agreement to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to German utility Uniper SE for 13 years starting 2021.Under the agreement, Woodside said it would initially supply up to 0.5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of LNG, which could increase to 1 Mtpa from 2025.However, supply from 2025 remains conditional upon a final investment decision related to the company's Scarborough project off northwestern Australia.Woodside is looking to develop Scarborough to feed a new 5 Mtpa production unit, called a train, at its Pluto LNG plant in Western Australia.The finalization of the deal fo
Planned $2 Bln LNG Project Shelved in the Philippines
Plans for the $2 billion Tanglawan LNG hub venture in the Philippines have been put on hold by backers CNOOC Gas and Power of China and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc.The facility was supposed to have a capacity of 2.2 million tonnes per year, with a targeted start-up by 2023. To support it, Phoenix also planned to build a 2,000-megawatt power plant.The two firms jointly requested the Department of Energy (DOE) put the project on hold after Phoenix parent Udenna Corp acquired a 45% stake in the Malampaya natural gas consortium, Phoenix said.(Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; editing by Jason Neely)
LNG Suited for Select VLCC Routes
SEA\LNG has released the results of its third investment study, which underlines liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a compelling investment solution for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) on the Arabian Gulf to China trade route.Conducted by Opsiana, the study demonstrates benefits of LNG as a marine fuel for a newbuild 300K DWT VLCC on the Arabian Gulf to China trade route, in comparison with other alternatives currently available and scalable to the shipping industry across three fuel pricing scenarios.The business case compares…
Yamal LNG Gets All 15 Arc7 Ice-Class Tankers
Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer Yamal LNG announced the operational start of the new Arc7 ice-class LNG tanker “Yakov Gakkel”, the fifteenth and final Arc7 ice-class tanker built specifically for the Project.The Yakov Gakkel has loaded the 354th LNG cargo in the port of Sabetta bound to China, said a press note.The vessel was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) and is owned and operated by a 50-50 joint venture by Teekay LNG and China LNG Shipping. It is one of six vessel owned and…
Wison Begins Arctic LNG 2 Project
Wison Offshore & Marine (WOM), the upstream oil and gas division of Chinese conglomerate Wison Group Holding, announced the fabrication of Arctic LNG 2 Project (ALNG2 Project) commenced in Zhoushan Yard.The module fabrication contract was awarded by Technip France S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of TechnipFMC.Novatek, client of ALNG2 project, is the largest independent natural gas producer in Russia. ALNG2 project comprises three LNG trains at 6.6 million tons per annum each. WOM’s work scope is engineering, procurement…
Malaysian State Open to Buying Petronas Stake
Malaysia's Terengganu state said on Wednesday it was open to buying a stake in national energy giant Petronas, after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he was considering such a sale to raise funds for his heavily-indebted federal government.Petronas, the world's third-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, is one of the biggest sources of revenue for the federal government that has a debt pile of more than 1 trillion ringgit ($239 billion).Mahathir told Reuters on Tuesday that the government could sell Petronas shares privately to states such as Sarawak…
Ocean LNG Leads in Contracted Capacity
Ocean LNG has dominated in terms of long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) import volumes for contracts signed by key purchasing companies for the year 2019, with almost 47% of the global contracted capacity.According to a report by GlobalData, Ocean LNG signed the biggest long-term LNG contract for 2019 with Golden Pass Products. According to the contract, Golden Pass Products will supply Ocean LNG with 15.6 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG for a period of 20 years, from 2024 to 2044.The gas will be supplied from the Golden Pass II LNG liquefaction terminal in Texas…
Milorad Doljanin New CEO of Avenir LNG
UK-based small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplier Avenir LNG announced that Milorad Doljanin will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer with effect December 13th, 2019.According to a press release from the shipping venture backed by Stolt-Nielsen, Golar LNG and Höegh LNG, Doljanin joined in August 2019 as COO.He brings 15 years of LNG trading and commercial experience with PetroChina, Gazprom, EON and BP.Commenting on his appointment, Milorad said “This is an exciting time for Avenir LNG, a company which is…
Cheniere Seeks U.S. OK to Return Louisiana Sabine LNG Tank
Cheniere Energy Inc asked U.S. energy and safety regulators to approve a process that would allow the company to return to service a storage tank that leaked at its Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant in Louisiana:* Cheniere, the biggest U.S. LNG exporter, said in a filing earlier this week that its proposed process would prioritize work on one tank, known as S-101, and allow that tank to return to service in the near term.* The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) ordered Cheniere to shut two tanks at Sabine on Feb. 8, 2018, after plant workers on Jan.
Petronas in Game for a Third FLNG Unit
Malaysian oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) would build a third floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG)unit if there’s a demand.Petronas is the only company to own and operate two FLNGs, namely PFLNG Satu and PFLNG Dua.Bernama reported, quoting the gas and new energy business executive vice-president and chief executive officer Adnan Zainal Abidin, that if there is a reservoir with a sizeable amount of reserves and with the right gas composition that it is economically viable, it opens up a case for another floater.According to the Bernama report…
Yamal LNG Exceeds Nameplate Capacity
Yamal LNG, a liquefied natural gas plant located in Sabetta at the north-east of the Yamal Peninsula, Russia, announced that since the beginning of 2019, the LNG plant produced more than 16.5 million tons of LNG.The Project exceeded its annual nameplate production capacity during the first eleven months of the year, when all three LNG trains were in operation, as the third LNG train was launched at the end of 2018.Yamal LNG has reached 25 million tons of LNG shipped since the start-up of Train 1 in December 2017, and has…
K Line, FueLNG Team-up on LNG Bunker
Japanese shipping firm Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has announced that it has concluded a ship management agreement with FueLNG Pte Ltd for a 7500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel (LBV).FueLNG will own and operate the vessel, as well as carry out all commercial operations, said K Line press statement.The partnership will combine K Line’s extensive ship management and LNG transportation experience with FueLNG’s LNG bunkering expertise, which includes more than 160 truck-to-ship LNG bunkering operations conducted to-date. This will provide a reliable…
Petronas Names Second FLNG in S. Korea
Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas named its second floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, the PFLNG Dua, in a ceremony in Geoje, South Korea.The floating LNG facility is designed to extract gas from deepwater gas reservoirs in depths up to 1,500 meters.With PFLNG Dua, the national oil and gas company of Malaysia owns and operates two floating LNG facilities, following the success of PFLNG Satu which has been in operation since 2017. This achievement demonstrates Petronas’ strong position in the LNG industry…
Cheap LNG from Qatar Imperils N.American Projects
Proposed projects to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from North America face an uphill battle against Qatar, which announced plans to further ramp up production to hold onto its position as the world's leading LNG exporter.The United States is on track to overtake Qatar and Australia as the top LNG exporter by 2024, but now will only hold that title for a few years as Qatar announced this week it will boost production by 64% by 2027.Qatar's plans add another headwind for dozens of long-in-development projects already…
Qatar Ups LNG Production by 64% to 126 MTPA by 2027
Qatar Petroleum has announced that it will raise Qatar’s LNG production capacity to 126 million tons per annum (mtpa) by 2027, representing an increase of 64% from the current 77 mtpa.The announcement was made by Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, at a press conference held in Doha, during which he also announced that new studies have revealed that the North Field’s productive layers extend well into Qatari land in Ras Laffan, paving the way for a new LNG production project in the north of Qatar.Al-Kaabi said: “During the past two years…
NYK, Pertamina Ink Energy Transport MOU
As demand for energy transportation, especially liquefied natural gas (LNG), is expected to increase in Indonesia, NYK and PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS), a wholly owned subsidiary of PT Pertamina (Persero) agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for energy transportation.The framework of the deal sees Pertamina, the largest oil and natural gas corporation in the state, and NYK in a strategic partners in energy transportation and covers ownership and management. The companies have already started discussions concerning a detailed joint business…
Fed Okays Rio Grande LNG Project
NextDecade Corporation announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued an order authorizing the siting, construction and operation of its proposed Rio Grande LNG export facility in Brownsville, Texas.“Issuance of the FERC order marks an extremely important milestone for our project,” said Matt Schatzman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Texas-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) development company.“We appreciate the comprehensive and rigorous review of our project conducted by the FERC and numerous other federal…
US Signs Highest LNG Export Contract
US signed highest volume of global long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) export contracts in 2019, accounting for around a 67% of global share. Abundant shale gas production in the US has enabled the country to export natural gas as LNG. to global markets. According to GlobalData, the US has signed five long-term contracts in 2019 for the export of 22.3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG. Of these, the contract signed between Golden Pass Products and Ocean LNG Limited had the highest export volumes with 15.6mtpa.LNG will be supplied from the Golden Pass II LNG liquefaction terminal in Texas for 20 years from 2024 to 2044.Sunrita Dutta…
Avenir LNG in Brazilian Pact with Golar Power
Small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplier Avenir LNG announced that it will collaborate with the Bermuda-registered Golar Power in developing the small-scale LNG market in Brazil.Avenir’s second 7,500 cbm LNG Carrier will be used to deliver LNG to various ports across Brazil upon delivery. The vessel will also offer ship-to-ship bunkering capability as part of Avenir’s global multi-nodal bunkering solution; adding to the Colombian, Mediterranean and Malaysian nodes which the company currently offers.Commenting on the collaboration with Golar Power…
Woodside Sees Reserve Base Tripling
Australia's Woodside Petroleum on Tuesday laid out plans to triple its gas and oil reserve base as it pursues projects worth over $36 billion in Australia, Senegal and Myanmar.Success in those projects would result in its reserve base reaching 3.7 billion barrels over the next seven years and help Woodside expand production by 6% a year over the next decade, it said."We believe we now have a compelling growth story," Woodside Chief Executive Peter Coleman told an analysts briefing in Sydney.Coleman's comments highlight Woodside's bullish view as crunch time approaches on major projects.
AG&P Invests in Kanfer Shipping, Eyes LNG
Global downstream gas and LNG logistics company Atlantic Gulf & Pacific (AG&P) has made a strategic equity investment in Norway-based Kanfer Shipping.Kanfer is a developer of small-scale LNG sea transportation, maritime break-bulk solutions, floating storage facilities as well as LNG bunkering. Together, Kanfer and AG&P will make LNG more accessible and commercially viable for downstream customers in new and growing natural gas markets."Kanfer has captured the attention of the global LNG maritime infrastructure industry with its patented…
Poland Ends Major Russian LNG Contract
Poland's state gas company PGNiG says it had notified Russia's Gazprom that it will not renew their long-term deal on liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies when the agreement expires after 2022.In accordance with the provisions of the Yamal Contract, three years prior to its original termination date, i.e. by December 31st, 2019, the parties are required to submit a declaration whether or not they intend to continue their contractual relationship beyond 2022.Gazprom Export, the gas-exporting arm of state-controlled Gazprom…
Exceptional Growth in LNG Trade, Says Awilco
The exceptional growth in LNG trade recorded in the first half of the 2019 continued in Q3, says Awilco LNG Group, the Norwegian based fully integrated pure play LNG transportation provider.According to Fearnleys LNG total LNG trade is up about 13 % in the first nine months of the year vs last year. In line with normal seasonal patterns gas prices inched upwards in Q3 but remained historically low due to increased production and muted demand in the Far East.Due to a relatively mild winter reducing gas demand for power generation and higher nuclear power generation in Japan and South Korea…
LNG Imports Jump in Poland
Polish state-controlled oil and gas company Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo (PGNiG) has reported a jump in liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports for the first three quarters of the year.The volume of LNG imported in the nine months to September 30th 2019 was 27% higher than in the same period of 2018, amounting to 2.48 bcm after regasification, said the gas firm.LNG supplies’ share in total gas imports was about 23%, compared with about 18% a year earlier.The Group received 22 LNG deliveries from the beginning of this year to the end of September…
BP, Total Pact for Adnoc LNG Supply
The state oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed agreements with BP and Total to book the majority of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) production up to the first quarter of 2022.With the transactions, ADNOC LNG has continued to expand its footprint into new regions and markets, said a press release.“With these new supply agreements, ADNOC LNG has shown that it can react quickly and decisively to changing market conditions while ensuring the security and quality of delivery,’’ said ADNOC LNG CEO, Fatema Al Nuaimi.
China Expects Balanced Energy Supply/Demand
China's state planner expects this winter's energy supply and demand to be generally balanced amid increasing natural gas output and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, state news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday.Citing unidentified officials from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Xinhua reported natural gas demand from residential users will grow by more than 3.8 billion cubic meters (bcm) this winter as China enters a third year of a drive to replace coal with gas for use in winter heating.But the NDRC expects natural gas output to reach more than 170 bcm in 2019, up 11 bcm from last year.
Saipem Inks Deal with Daewoo for Onshore Projects
Italy's Saipem said on Monday it signed a strategic agreement with Daewoo E&C Co. for cooperation in the onshore oil and gas industry, with a specific focus on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector."LNG is strategic for us and we are definitively focusing on it to consolidate our onshore E&C activities and results," said Maurizio Coratella, COO of the Saipem Onshore E&C division, in a statement.The deal will combine both companies' assets and expertise in engineering, procurement and construction of onshore facilities, the statement added.(Reporting by Giancarlo Navach, editing by Giulia Segreti)
50 years of LNG imports in Japan
Japanese gas buyers marked the 50th anniversary since the first cargo of liquefied natural gas arrived in Japan, now the world’s biggest importer of the fuel.On November 4th, 1969, LNG was first imported to Japan. Tokyo Electric Power Company (now JERA Co., Inc.) and Tokyo Gas, through Mitsubishi Corporation acting as a buyer’s agent, started receiving LNG in 1969 from the Alaska LNG Project with Phillips Petroleum (now ConocoPhillips) as a seller.Demand for LNG and natural gas is expected to further increase globally, especially in the emerging countries.
MOL Conducts LNG Bunkering at Nagoya Port
Japanese utility Toho Gas and shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) carried out a demonstration test to supply liquified natural gas (LNG) to the to the tugboat Ishin at the Japanese port of Nagoya.This marked the first LNG bunkering in the Port of Nagoya, and the test confirmed that LNG can be safely supplied to vessels at the port.LNG was transported via truck from the Toho Gas Chita-Midorihama LNG Terminal (Chita-shi, Aichi Prefecture), and supplied with a truck-to-ship system to Ishin, berthed at the Port of Nagoya's Garden Pier.Also cooperating in the demonstration test were…
First Commercial Cargo Loaded from Tango FLNG
Argentine oil company YPF SA has loaded its first commercial liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo for export from a new floating facility, trade sources said on Friday.Argentina's export joins a wave of new supply flooding the spot market which has depressed Asian spot prices to their lowest in a decade for this time of the year.The state-owned firm issued a tender which closed on Nov. 6 to sell 2.1 trillion British thermal unit (Tbtu) of LNG for loading from FLNG Tango, the liquefaction vessel off Bahia Blanca, the sources said.YPF exported its first test LNG shipment in June…
Rebooting What’s Possible in India’s Gas Market
‘To lose patience is to lose the battle’ -Mahatma GandhiIndia is something of a conundrum for global LNG players. I recently returned from a week in Delhi, just as the capital was making headlines for one of the worst episodes of air pollution, while the country’s energy mix remains dominated by cheap domestic coal. At the same time, gas price sensitivity continues to stymie investment and contracting negotiations. Progress has been made with LNG import terminals but delays to pipeline infrastructure and convoluted gas allocation policies frustrate demand growth.
RWE Delivers its First LNG to Britain
German utility RWE has delivered its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to Great Britain.The cargo, comprised of approximately 150 000 m3 of LNG, was regasified through a Milford Haven LNG Terminal, located close to RWE’s 2000 MW Pembroke B gas-fired combined cycle gas power plant (CCGT).The cargo has been sourced from the portfolio of RWE Supply & Trading, the subsidiary of RWE which is responsible for gas and LNG trading.The cargo was loaded from Sabine Pass Liquefaction Terminal in the Gulf of Mexico, USA and transported by RWE Supply & Trading to Great Britain on the Gaslog Savannah LNG carrier.Once regasified…
GasLog Sees Tighter LNG Shipping Market
GasLog, an international owner, operator and manager of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, is predicting a tighter LNG shipping market, as increasing United States LNG output combines with a seasonal uptick in demand for gas, resulting in rising demand for shipping and higher utilization of the global fleet.These underlying trends in the LNG commodity and shipping markets point towards a structurally tighter market through 2020 and into 2021.As of October 28, 2019, the LNG fleet and orderbook (excluding floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) and vessels with capacity below 100…
Containership to Convert to Synthetic Fuel
ROTTERDAM – Today in Rotterdam Wessels Marine and MAN Energy Systems announced an innovative project to convert the containership Wes Amelie to run on Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG).While SNG today is far to sparse and expensive to make it a near term commercial reality, this step forward is significant in that a ship outfitted with an MAN propulsion unit to run on LNG would need no modification to have it run on SNG, effectively making it ‘future proof’ while helping to dispel the notion that LNG is merely a bridge step to strict new emission regulations which seek to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector 50% by 2050.Wes Amelie…
Japan Marks 50 years of LNG Imports
Japanese gas buyers on Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary since the first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) arrived in Japan, now the world's biggest importer of the fuel.The arrival of the cargo on Nov. 4, 1969 helped transform Japan's energy system, which had relied on oil, coal and gas from coal in an era of high growth, before nuclear power was developed.But Japan's energy situation is undergoing huge changes in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, which pushed LNG imports to record highs as reactors…
Asia's Oil Demand to Rebound in 2020 -FGE
Asia's oil demand growth is expected to more than double to 815,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2020 from 380,000 bpd this year led by China and India, the head of energy consulting firm FGE said on Tuesday.The region will be key in driving a rebound in global demand growth which is expected to drop to 730,000 bpd in 2019 from 1.3-1.5 million bpd in the past two years, FGE Chairman Fereidun Fesharaki said at the Condensate and Naphtha Forum.Still, Brent crude prices are expected to remain in a range of $55-$65 per barrel in the next few years on ample supply as non-OPEC production grows, he said.Reporting by Shu Zhang
U.S. Ingenuity Will Solve Climate Challenge: US DOE
The United States can tackle threats to the climate through technological advances as fossil fuels will remain a priority for the U.S. government and business, the assistant secretary for fossil energy said on Tuesday.The world should look to the United States' ability to reduce its emissions, the Department of Energy's Steven Winberg said at an oil conference in South Africa a day after the Trump administration formally moved to exit the Paris Agreement."We can solve any climate issue with technology development, one thing you see back in U.S.
Denmark OKs Nord Stream 2 Project
Denmark has granted permission for the Russian Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline to be constructed across Danish seabed in the Baltic Sea, leading to Germany.The Danish decision puts greater pressure on U.S. Congress to quickly pass a sanctions bill to halt the project before it is completed.The pipeline being constructed under the Baltic Sea by Russia's Gazprom energy giant is nearly complete, but had not previously been granted permission to cross Denmark's exclusive economic zone.DEA is in charge of the application…
U.S. NatGas Prices Near 25-year Low as Glut Weighs
In the shale field that helped launch the U.S. natural gas boom a decade ago, Chesapeake Energy Corp this month set aside its last drilling rig. The problem for the once No. 2 U.S. gas producer was not a lack of gas, but too much of it.A long, steady increase in U.S. gas production – much of it a byproduct of the shale oil boom – has prices for the fuel heading toward a 25-year low, with output outpacing U.S. consumption and expected to hit 91.6 billion cubic feet, up 10% over last year, according to government and industry estimates.Producers have sought to turn much of the U.S. surplus to liquefied natural gas (LNG) and export it.
Delfin Delays Final Louisiana FLNG Project
Delfin Midstream Inc has delayed its plan to make a final investment decision on its proposed Delfin Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) export terminal in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana to 2020 from 2019.Delfin said in a release on Tuesday it entered into new agreements for front-end design and engineering work on a newbuild FLNG vessel with units of Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd and Black & Veatch. The company said it was on track to complete an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract in mid-2020.With the 2020 target for a final investment decision, the company said it was looking at first LNG production in mid 2024.
Singapore Sticking with Natural Gas
Natural gas will continue to play a dominant role in generating electricity in Singapore while the state plans to accelerate the use of renewable energy, primarily solar power, in the next decade to battle climate change, a senior government official said.The cost of installing solar power has become more competitive with the use of fossil fuels, making it more attractive as an energy source to reduce pollution and meet emission targets."We are now faced with new and urgent challenges in climate change," Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said at Singapore International Energy Week on Tuesday.Singapore…
Mitsui, Sempra Energy Sign LNG Deal
North American energy infrastructure company Sempra Energy and Japanese trader Mitsui & Co. have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under which the latter would take part in the Cameron LNG Phase 2 project in Louisiana.The MoU also encompasses a future expansion of the Energía Costa Azul (ECA) LNG project in Baja California, Mexico."This agreement signals continued momentum in the growing U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export market, while reinforcing the unique competitive advantage that Sempra offers customers seeking LNG export capabilities from the Gulf Coast…
B.C. Backs LNG Bunkering
The British Columbia Government has joined Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and FortisBC to establish the first ship-to-ship LNG marine refueling – or bunkering – facility on the west coast of North America.The use of LNG to power the world’s ocean-going vessels is forecast to expand and B.C. is well positioned to benefit from this growth.According to industry standards, replacing diesel fuel with LNG has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 20%. Because FortisBC’s Tilbury facility runs on clean B.C.
Qilak LNG, ExxonMobil Pact on Gas Supply
Alaska-based Qilak LNG announced that a Heads of Agreement (HOA) has been entered into with ExxonMobil Alaska Production regarding the potential supply of natural gas from the Point Thomson field to Qilak LNG's proposed Alaska North Slope liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project (Qilak LNG 1 Project).According to the Lloyds Energy company, which was formed to identify and develop Arctic LNG projects in North America, the he HOA foresees ExxonMobil providing at least 560 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of natural gas to Phase 1 of the Qilak LNG 1 Project…
Zhanjiang Refinery Launches Mainstream Gas Pipeline
Sinopec's Zhanjiang integrated refinery complex in Guangdong has launched its main gas transmission pipeline, the Chinese company said in a statement on Thursday.The refinery, which was set up jointly by Sinopec and Kuwait Petroleum Corp in 2011, is designed to include a 300,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) refinery and a 1 million tonnes-per-year ethylene complex.The 53.5-kilometers main pipeline at Sinopec Zhanjiang refinery has annual transmission capacity of 1.8 billion cubic meters, sending gas from Zhanjiang Beimen LNG terminal to the plant."The company will orderly push forward the construction progress and get ready for the operation of the refin
China Aims to Boost Natural Gas Production
Following several years of natural gas consumption outpacing local production growth, China is introducing incentives to spur several forms of domestic production in hopes of reducing its reliance on imports.China’s natural gas imports, both by pipeline and as liquefied natural gas (LNG), accounted for nearly half (45%) of China’s natural gas supply in 2018, an increase from 15% in 2010, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).Recently, Chinese natural gas production has grown largely because of increased development in low-permeability formations in the form of tight gas, shale gas, and to a lesser extent, coalbed methane.
India to Drive LNG Capacity Growth in Asia
India is expected to drive capacity growth in Asia and Oceania’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification industry from planned and announced (new-build) projects between 2019 and 2023, contributing around 35% of the total growth.According to a Reportlinker research report on LNG regasification industry outlook in Asia and Oceania to 2023, India’s new-build regasification capacity is expected to grow from 730.5 billion cubic feet (bcf) in 2019 to 3,209 bcf in 2023.The planned terminals, which have received relevant approvals in India…
Teekay Resolves China LNG JV Issues
Teekay LNG’s 50/50 joint venture with China LNG, which owns four on-the-water ARC7 LNG carriers and two ARC7 LNG carrier newbuildings, is also no longer classified as a “blocked person” under Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) rules.According to a press release from the owners and operators of LNG carriers, providing LNG and LPG marine transportation services firm, Teekay Corporation and Teekay LNG Partners announced that COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation, a COSCO group firm, has completed an ownership restructuring on arms-length terms which has resulted in Teekay LNG’s joint venture partner…
