Excelerate, Engro Exploring LNG Regasification in Pakistan
Excelerate Energy said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Engro Eximp FZE, a subsidiary of Engro Corporation, to evaluate the possibility of establishing a regasified liquefied natural gas (LNG) marketing business with maximum participation from Pakistan’s private sector."This collaboration has the potential to increase the private sector’s participation in Pakistan’s LNG sector and enhance Pakistan’s energy security by opening new regasified LNG supply avenues for businesses and consumers," Excelerate said.
US Regulator to Allow Freeport LNG to Resume Partial Operations in October
The second-largest U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter on Wednesday said it reached an agreement with a federal regulator that will allow it to resume some operations at its Quintana, Texas, plant in October.Freeport LNG shut the plant, which supplies about 20% of U.S. LNG exports, following an explosion and fire on June 8. Its closure helped to push up LNG prices in Europe and Asia, and dampening U.S. natural gas prices.The operator reached a consent agreement with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) that included corrective measures the company must take to allow it to resume partial operations…
Price is the Elephant in Australia's LNG, Domestic Gas Conundrum
Australia's threat to curb exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in order to ensure domestic supplies is another unwelcome pressure on a tight global market for the super-chilled fuel.But it's not an immediate threat, and it may also not materialize at all, depending on how the various players in Australia react to the government's planned action.What needs to be addressed effectively is the elephant in the room, namely the price at which natural gas is made available to domestic consumers relative to the price the gas companies can receive for their LNG on the global market.Australia vies with the United States and Qatar as the largest exporter
U.S. LNG Exports to Europe on Track to Surpass Biden Promise
When U.S. President Joe Biden promised European leaders in March that he would help secure new supplies of liquefied natural gas to offset shortages from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, his pledge was greeted with skepticism.After all, the U.S. LNG industry was already hitting its export limits and the global market is dominated by long-term contracts that can dictate where exported gas would go for 20years at a time.It turns out, however, that Biden's promise may have been far too modest.The United States is on track to blow past Biden’s March commitment of an additional 15 billion cubic meters of LNG for Europe this year…
US Becomes Top LNG Exporter in First Half of 2022 -EIA
The United States became the top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in the first half of 2022, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said, citing data from CEDIGAZ, as the country increased supply to Europe amid the Ukraine crisis.U.S. LNG exports rose 12% to average 11.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in the first half of the year compared with the second half of 2021, the EIA said. Increased LNG export capacity, higher prices, and demand, particularly from Europe, helped boost exports.LNG exports have been growing dramatically over the last several years as countries worldwide seek to diversify away from dirtier coal plants.
Cheniere Asks Biden Admin to Drop Pollution Rule
Cheniere Energy Inc has asked the Biden administration to exempt it from limits on emissions of cancer-causing pollutants, arguing they would force the top U.S. exporter of liquefied natural gas to shut for an extended period and endanger the country's efforts to ramp up supplies to Europe, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.The request imposes an uncomfortable dilemma on President Joe Biden’s administration as it tries to balance efforts to slash pollution from the fossil fuel industry against promises to help…
Ineos Inks 20-year LNG Deal with Sempra Infrastructure
Britain's INEOS Energy, part of INEOS Group, has signed an agreement with U.S. firm Sempra Infrastructure for the supply of 1.4 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from North America for 20 years, it said on Wednesday.It marks INEOS's entry into the global LNG market, with the volumes intended both for trading and supplying of INEOS' own industrial needs in Europe.The LNG will be delivered free-on-board, from either the proposed Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project or the Cameron LNG Phase 2 projects in the U.S.
Energy Security: Equinor Inks Deal for Winter Gas Supply with UK’s Centrica
Equinor and Centrica announced an agreement to deliver additional gas supplies to the UK, effectively providing energy security for the UK over the coming three winters. The new supply agreement adds around 1 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year to Equinor’s existing, bilateral contract with Centrica and brings the total volume under the contract above 10 bcm per year.Britain currently imports around a third of its gas requirements from Norway“In a period with a challenging geopolitical and macroeconomic environment with strong demand for natural gas, we at Equinor are doing what we can to export as much gas as possible to the market.
Freeport LNG Targets Year End for Full Operations After Fire
Freeport LNG, one of the largest operators of liquefied natural gas export plants in the United States,on Tuesday said last week's fire damage to its Texas plant would keep it fully offline until September with only partial operation through to the year end.Natural gas prices slumped in the United States and soared in Europe on the lengthier shutdown as the Quintana, Texas, facility produces roughly 20% of U.S. LNG exports and has been a major supplier to Europe, which has sought to move away from Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.The plant was knocked offline by an explosion and fire on June 8 when an overpressurized pipeline ruptured…
Freeport LNG Plant Suffers Explosion
A explosion occurred on Wednesday at the Freeport LNG liquefied natural gas plant on the Texas Gulf Coast, according to police, and prompting an evacuation of nearby residents in Quintana, Texas.The plant can process up to 2.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day into a supercooled liquid for export.Freeport LNG acknowledged an incident occurred around 11:40 a.m. local time with providing further details. There were no injuries and all employees had been accounted for, a company spokesperson said. There currently is no risk to the surrounding community, she added.(Reuters - Reporting by Liz Hampton and Sabrina Valle)
Crowley LNG Bunker Barge to Sport TGE Marine Gas Controls, Tanks
TGE Marine Gas Engineering GmbH (TGE Marine) inked a deal for a 12,000 cu. m. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering barge with Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding for the design and supply of the cargo handling system including two 6,000 cu. m. bilobe Type C tanks designed to transport LNG at -163°C.The barge will be built by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding for Crowley and operate under a long-term charter with Shell NA LNG, LLC. The 12,000 m3 barge will be the largest of its kind built in the United States so far and is expected to start operations along the US East Coast in 2024.
TES Wilhelmshaven Import Terminal Deemed a 'Priority Project'
Tree Energy Solutions’ (TES) import terminal has been included in the list of priority projects supported by the German Government’s LNG Acceleration law. The law was passed by parliament on May 19th, 2022 and was approved by the Federal Council on May 20th, 2022. The aim of this law is to accelerate the implementation of the critical infrastructure needed to secure the energy supply of the country and its short-term gas imports.The new law is designed to reduce permitting and associated approval periods for the construction of onshore import facilities as part of the Wilhelmshaven Green Energy Hub development by TES…
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding to Build LNG Bunkering Vessel
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. signed a contract with KEYS Bunkering West Japan Co., Ltd. for construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel, the first to operate in western Japan. The vessel will be built at the Enoura Plant at MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with completion and handover scheduled for March 2024.KEYS Bunkering West Japan is a joint venture company established in February 2022 to supply LNG fuel for ships in the Kyushu and Setouchi Regions, with investment from Kyushu Electric Power Company…
ADNOC, AG&P Agree FSU Lease for Philippines First LNG Terminal Launch in July
The logistics arm of state oil firm Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) will supply a floating storage unit to LNG logistics company AG&P to launch the Philippines' first LNG import terminal in July, the companies said on Wednesday.Singapore-based Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific International Holdings (AG&P) signed an 11-year charter agreement, extendable by four years, to convert ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S) liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier ISH into a floating storage unit (FSU) for a new terminal at Ilijan in…
ConocoPhillips Beefs Up Stake in Australia Pacific LNG
ConocoPhillips has completed the acquisition of an additional 10% stake in Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) from Origin Energy for $1.645 billion. After customary closing adjustments, cash paid for the additional interest is approximately $1.4 billion (AU$2.0 billion). The transaction resulted from the exercise of ConocoPhillips’ preemption right and is funded from cash on the company’s balance sheet.ConocoPhillips now owns a 47.5% interest in APLNG, with Origin Energy and Sinopec owning 27.5% and 25% interests, respectively.
Europe Remains Top Destination for US LNG
Europe last month remained the top destination for shipments of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG), according to Refinitiv data, outpacing exports to Asia for the second month in a row.About two-thirds of U.S. LNG volumes went to Europe last month, compared to around 61% in December when sky-high European prices and demand drove U.S. LNG exports to a record, Refinitiv data showed.In both months, a lack of supply drove demand and led to cargoes being re-routed from other destinations. The crisis over the Ukraine has highlighted…
Tech File: SHI Develops onboard Carbon Capture System
SHI reports that it has successfully developed an 'Onboard Carbon Capture' system which can be applicable to LNG fueled vessels with PANASIA, an eco-friendly and energy system expert, and received Approval in Principle from KR, Korean classification society, for the first time in Korea.This approved green technology separates and collects carbon dioxide among exhaust gas of LNG, which is burned in a ship engine or generator, using an Amine based liquid absorbent. SHI and PANASIA have jointly developed the technology since 2020…
NYK Signs Multi-Year Deal with GAIL (India) Limited for Charter of LNG Carrier
NYK signed a multi-year time-charter contract with GAIL (India) Limited, India's largest natural gas company, for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier. Grace Emilia, the vessel that will be chartered, is equipped with a WinGD-made dual-fuel slow-speed X-DF diesel engine, a unit that has superior fuel-consumption efficiency and can operate on marine gas oil or boil off gas stored in the cargo tank. The vessel also features a re-liquefaction system that can use re-liquefied excess boil-off gas and return it to the cargo tank.The cargo tank has a 174,000 cu.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Books First Order for LNG FGSS for High-Pressure Marine Engines
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has taken its first order for LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) fuel supply systems (FGSS) for high-pressure dual-fuel marine engines, for installation on six LNG-fueled car carriers to be built by a group company of Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.The core components of the newly ordered FGSS are LNG fuel tanks, LNG fuel gas supply units and a control unit, and the package is designed with space-saving in mind, helping to optimize cargo space…
Cheniere Asks for More Time to Build Texas Corpus LNG Expansion
Top U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter Cheniere Energy Inc asked federal regulators to extend the amount of time it has to build the proposed Stage 3 expansion at its Corpus Christi LNG export plant in Texas due to pandemic delays.When the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved construction of Stage 3 in November 2019, the regulator gave Cheniere five years, or until around November 2024, to complete the project.Cheniere asked FERC in a filing late Tuesday to extend the amount of time it has to…
SHI Demos SENSE IV, Its Own Natural Gas Liquefaction Process
Samsung Heavy Industries announced on November 18 that it successfully held a demonstration ceremony at the Geoje shipyard for "SENSE IV (SAMSUNG Enhanced Nitrogen Split Exapnsion IV)", SHI's in-house natural gas liquefaction system.The demonstration, which began on November 16, was attended by several major LNG producers and classification societies.The natural gas liquefaction system, called "An LNG plant on the sea," is one of the main processes of FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas); a technology that separates oil from gas oil and liquefies natural gas at under minus 162℃…
Japanese Trio Connects on Project to Reduce Methane Slip by 70%
As the global shipping industry is under the microscope to reduce emissions, three Japanese leaders in the maritime space: Hitachi Zosen, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.(MOL) and Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. (YPT), have targeted methane slip as an area of study via its "Development of Methane Slip Reduction Technology from LNG Fueled Vessels by Improving Catalysts and Engines", with Hitachi Zosen serving as the managing company in the "Development of Next Generation Vessels Project" publicly solicited by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under the Green Innovation Fund.
LNG: France Gets Its First LNG Bunker Vessel, Gas Vitality
The first LNG bunker vessel to be based in France has been named Gas Vitality at a ceremony held today at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, China.The 18,600-m³ newbuild bunker vessel is TotalEnergies Marine Fuels’ second collaboration with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd (MOL) and shipbuilder, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding following the signing of a long-term charter contract in November 2019. All three parties first collaborated in 2018 to successfully design and build her sistership, the Gas Agility, which has been operating in the Port of Rotterdam since November 2020.Classed by Bureau Veritas and operated by V.Ships France under the French flag…
Shipbuilding: DSME Delivers another LNG Carrier to Nakilat
Nakilat has taken delivery of a newbuild LNG carrier dubbed Global Sea Spirit, a ship to be commercially and technically managed in-house by Nakilat Shipping Qatar Limited (NSQL). Built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korea, this is the third of four LNG newbuild carriers to be delivered to Global Shipping Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Nakilat (60%) and Maran Ventures Inc. (40%). The first two LNG carriers’ newbuilds (ME-GI type) were delivered in May 2020 and January 2021 respectively and are currently in service.With a cargo carrying capacity of 174,000 cu.
FSRU: Nakilat, Karpowership sign MoU
Nakilat and Karpowership signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the LNG-to-power market and jointly own and operate Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs)."This fits very well with Nakilat’s long-term growth plan to expand and diversify our shipping portfolio and strengthens our position as a global leader in the energy transportation sector,” said Nakilat’s CEO Eng. Abdullah Al-Sulaiti.The MoU outlines an ambitious plan for the immediate future. Nakilat and Karpowership hope to set up a new joint venture and deliver the first FSRU by 2023.
LNG Demand to Rise 25-50% By 2030 - Morgan Stanley
Demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) is expected to rise by 25 to 50% by 2030, making it the fastest growing hydrocarbon over the next decade, analysts from Morgan Stanley Research said in a note on Monday.Morgan Stanley has raised its long-term LNG price outlook to $10 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), expecting spot prices of the super-chilled fuel to average 40% higher over the next decade, versus the past five years.Asian spot LNG prices hit a record above $56 mmBtu earlier this month as surging demand ahead…
South Korea's POSCO Launches Takeover Bid for Australia's Senex Energy
Australian coal seam gas producer Senex Energy Ltd said it had received a $605 million takeover proposal from POSCO International Corp and was opening up its books to the South Korean trader with the aim of gaining a sweeter offer.The A$815 million or A$4.40 per share offer from POSCO International, the trading arm of steel giant POSCO, has already been twice-improved, Senex said."The Senex Board believes it is in the best interests of its shareholders to continue to engage with POSCO International and will assess any proposal received on its merits…
Chinese Firms Seek LNG Cargoes, Demand is Strong
Two Chinese firms are seeking liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes for delivery over August to November as summer demand in the southern region remains strong and as companies prepare to meet winter demand, industry sources said.China's Shenzhen Energy is seeking two cargoes for delivery into Yuedong over Aug. 19 to 27 and Oct. 30 to 31, in a tender that closes on Aug. 5, the sources said.Beijing Gas is also seeking cargoes for delivery over September, October and November in a separate tender that closes on Aug. 4, they added.Last week…
Acteon Inks Deal to Support Philippines LNG Import and Regasification Terminal
Acteon secured an integrated project with Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Company (AG&P) for the development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import and regasification terminal in Batangas Bay, called Philippines LNG (PLNG). The contract was signed and will be managed by the Acteon Integrated Solutions (AIS) team.The project scope for AIS includes the local transportation and installation of jacket structures to form the LNG berth; these structures will vary across the construction site and will include approach trestles, mooring and berthing dolphins, and associated furniture such as walkways, fenders and mooring hooks.
McAllister to Operate ATB for Polaris New Energy LNG Bunkering Ops
McAllister Towing LNG Services, LLC will serve as technical manager for the Polaris New Energy LNG bunkering operation in Florida, operating the Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) Polaris/Clean Canaveral for Polaris New Energy. “We are excited to work with McAllister Towing because, as one of the oldest marine transportation companies in the US, they bring a tradition for providing unsurpassed operational excellence," said Tom Sullivan, COO, Seaside LNG Holdings, the parent company of Polaris New Energy. "We look to strengthen…
Lithuania Seeks Alternative Bids for LNG Import Terminal
Lithuania is seeking alternative bids from providers of floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals to potentially replace its existing import terminal, operator Klaipedos Nafta said on Friday.The Baltic state leases a floating storage and regasification vessel (FSRU) from Norway's Hoegh LNG and has an option to buy it when the lease expires in 2024.The state-controlled Klaipedos Nafta said it had decided to seek alternative bids to make sure that it gets the best terms, and has to make the final decision by the end of 2022.Lithuania has been importing LNG via the current terminal, dubbed Independence, since 2014, thereby ending Russia's Gazpro
From Trash to Fuel: BioLNG Production Project Takes Shape in France
EveRé, Elengy, TotalEnergies and the CMA CGM Group are engaged in a study of a BioLNG production plant project at Marseille’s port, aiming to to turn household waste into clean energy and serving as another plank toward the maritime industry's decarbonization.This will be France’s first production unit for liquefied biomethane (BioLNG), a low-carbon alternative fuel dedicated to energy transition in the shipping industry, and when operational is intended to be used primarily for the CMA CGM Group’s LNG-powered vessels.BioLNG…
Space Tech Meets Maritime: Composites Designed for Space targeted for LNG Tank Tech
The SpaceTech4Sea project sees ABS, OceanFinance and Cimarron Composites joining forces to adapt composite technologies developed for the space industry to shipping. The first target: LNG tank technologyA project to adapt technology developed for use in space to maritime LNG fuel tanks received design approval from ABS.The SpaceTech4Sea project, supported by $1.2m funding from the European Union, explores whether composite technology, which is lighter and potentially more cost-effective, offers a competitive alternative to marine LNG fuel tanks, principally for small, short sea shipping applications where weight is an issue.
Top U.S. LNG Exporter Launches Effort to Measure Emissions
Cheniere Energy Inc, said on Thursday it would quantify carbon emissions from its suppliers and production sites and supply the information to customers.LNG buyers have begun asking suppliers for natural gas sourcing data and greenhouse gas emissions to reduce their own carbon footprints. Several LNG producers are proposing adding carbon capture and storage alongside their LNG projects.Cheniere said it signed agreements with five natural gas producers and several academic institutions to implement quantification, monitoring…
Tellurian to Sell LNG to Gunvor, Delays Louisiana Project Start
U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) developer Tellurian Inc said on Thursday it signed a 10-year agreement with commodity trader Gunvor Group for 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG.Tellurian shares soared around 24% on the news to their highest since February.In addition, Tellurian released a presentation that said its proposed Driftwood export plant in Louisiana was positioned for first quarter 2022 commerciality.Analysts at Cowen & Co said in a note that meant Tellurian pushed back the final investment decision (FID) for Driftwood from 2021 to 2022.Officials at Tellurian were not immediately available for comment.
Shell to Link Directors' Pay to Climate Performance
Royal Dutch Shell has proposed linking its directors' pay more closely to the group's climate performance and severing the link between bonuses and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production volumes, it said on Monday.The weighting of Shell's energy transition performance on its targeted path to net zero emissions by 2050 would double to 20% of the directors' long-term incentive plan calculation if shareholders vote for the plan at a meeting on May 18.This places Shell's efforts to curb its planet-warming emissions on an equal…
Ship Power: MAN Energy Solutions Unveils New LNG Dual-fuel Engine
In a live-stream presentation from its Copenhagen Research Center, MAN Energy Solutions has demonstrated advanced dual-fuel engine technology for low-cost, fuel-efficient operation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and other vessels where low capital outlay is a priority. Tom Mulligan, science &and technology correspondent, reports.MAN Energy Solutions has demonstrated its latest low-speed, dual-fuel engine, the MAN B&W ME-GA type, an Otto-cycle variant of the company’s successful ME-GI engine, at a ceremony live-streamed from its Copenhagen Research Center.
VIDEO: Wärtsilä’s Compact Reliq Aims to Optimize BOG Reliquification
As the maritime industry steams toward decarbonization, the path to zero emissions will include many stepping stones. Wärtsilä’s Compact Reliq is a step change in efficiently reliquefying boil off gas (BOG) on LNG carriers, as Lasse Wichstrøm and Sylvain Fabreguettes discuss with Maritime Reporter TV.LNG carriers have, for years, utilized boil off gas (BOG) to help fuel the ship, even before ‘decarbonization’ and ‘emission reduction’ became lexicon in the maritime sector.“Compact Reliq is not a brand-new product in the sense that reliquefaction plants have been around for some time…
Cheniere Expects Rising LNG Demand with Vaccine Rollout
Cheniere Energy Inc, the top U.S. liquefied natural gas producer, on Wednesday raised its full-year adjusted earnings forecast, predicting higher demand for the fuel as COVID-19 vaccinations boost economic recovery.Lockdown measures implemented to curb the pandemic slashed demand for energy and hurt prices for natural gas in 2020. But with economic recovery in Asia, particularly in China, fuel sales have picked up.Shares rose 1% to $70.37 in midday trading, a more than two-year high."We expect continued LNG demand improvements as COVID vaccines are distributed and global economic activity continues to strengthen…
Valenciaport to the Fore in Spain's LNG Bunkering Ops
Valenciaport is at the forefront in Spain in the supply of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) by the shipping company Baleària. Specifically, in 2020, the Dénia-based company carried out a total of 291 natural gas supply operations, reaching 26,777 cu. m., in the Port of Valencia, which represents 40% of the bunkering operations carried out by the company in Spain. The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) and Baleària have been collaborating for years in the introduction of LNG and the improvement of supply services to ships with this fuel with the implementation of the Multi Truck to Ship System (MTTS).
LNG Shipping Rates from US Surge to Record Highs
The cost of shipping liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to Asia hit a record high on Tuesday as appetite for the fuel from buyers there and delays through the Panama Canal reduced the amount of ships for hire.Freezing temperatures across Asia and Europe have pushed up LNG prices and lifted wider gas prices as buyers grapple with shrinking inventories and the shortage of tankers.Shipping sources said an apparent ban on Australian coal imports into China, which has been reported by Chinese media, had also bolstered demand by Chinese buyers for LNG tankers to carry cargoes to Asia.Average daily tanker rates on the U.S.
Japan Faces LNG Shortage Amid Supply crunch, Cold Weather
JERA, Japan's biggest electricity generator and the world's largest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), is operating gas- power plants at lower rates as it runs down inventories amid rising heating demand as temperatures drop.The company joins other Japanese power generators reducing run rates on their gas plants as they compete with LNG buyers across northern Asia scrambling to secure supplies, sending prices higher.Tight fuel supplies are also highlighting vulnerabilities in Japan's electricity grid that make it harder to swap power supplies between areas a decade after the Fukushima nuclear disaster set off government-led changes to prevent s
CNOOC Leads First LNG Group Purchasing on Shanghai gas exchange
Chinese state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) has led the first group purchasing order for liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the Shanghai Petroleum and Natural Gas Exchange, the bourse said in a statement on Wednesday.The 120,000-tonne LNG cargo will arrive in April 2021 via CNOOC's terminals and other approved hubs in Shenzhen and Guangdong, the exchange said. Buyers will have until the end of September to collect their purchases.The exchange's newly launched group purchasing option for LNG buy tenders allows smaller firms to purchase portions of a larger cargo.
US Axes Environmental Reviews of LNG Marine Transport
The U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday issued a rule to exclude environmental reviews for marine transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG), as the Trump administration unleashes last minute rules supporting the fossil fuel industry.The rule, which the Energy Department issued in a pre-publication notice in the Federal Register, frees LNG transport license applications from including environmental reviews that have been required under a bedrock environmental law, the National Environmental Policy Act.The requirement has only been on LNG shipments to countries with which the Washington does not have a free trade agreement…
MacGregor Inks Deal to Supply LNG Bunker Barge Hose Handling Cranes
MacGregor received an order from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding to supply two fixed boom cranes that will handle the hoses on a new 5,400 cubic meter capacity liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker barge currently under construction and estimated to be delivered by the end of 2021.The MacGregor Rapp HP63-13F cranes will handle the hoses that transfer LNG from the barge to the LNG-powered vessel during bunkering operations. The hoses will be 63 feet long and designed to handle 6,500 pounds at 42 feet and 1,000 pounds at 63 feet.The ABS-classed barge will be 340 feet long overall, with a 66-foot beam and a depth of 32 feet, 10 inches.
LNG to FSU Conversion Completed at Sembcorp
Ship managers Synergy Group converted a 1992-built, 126,000 cubic meters capacity Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carrier into a Floating Storage Unit (FSU). The conversion was performed at Sembcorp Marine’s Admiralty Yard in Singapore.Synergy will manage, maintain and operate the FSU, which has a projected lifespan of 15 years. It will be deployed in Myanmar where it will be manned by a Synergy crew of 25 seafarers.The FSU will be moored permanently and used to receive and store LNG imports for delivery on demand to an onshore…
Sakura Leader: New LNG-fueled Pure Car Carrier Enters Service
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. completed installation of the first unit of an LNG (liquefied natural gas) fuel gas supply system (FGSS) for marine dual fuel engines, delivered in November last year, on the pure car carrier (PCC) built by Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The first LNG-fueled PCC built in Japan was delivered to Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha on October 28, 2020, and has entered service. During the construction period after the delivery of the FGSS, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding maintained close…
Meet the World's First Digital Smart Ship, the Japanese Built LNG-Fueled PCTC Sakura Leader
The run up to 2050 and dramatic reductions in emissions from ships will, by most expert’s thinking, be an evolution of small steps premised on melding new fuels and digitalization technologies. The recent delivery of the LNG-fueled PCTC Sakura Leader to NYK can be considered a sizable leap in this regard, as the ship has been designated as the world’s first digital smart ship.A Big Step Toward CO2 Reduction TargetsOn October 28, NYK took delivery of Sakura Leader, a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) capable of navigating oceans with only LNG as the ship’s main fuel.
Virtual TAT: MAN 32/40R-DF Passes Type Approval Test, New Retrofit Package for Dual-Fuel Ops
MAN Energy Solutions announced the successful conclusion of the Type Approval Test (TAT) for its dual-fuel retrofit kit for its MAN 32/40 engine type. The TAT took place at the company’s Augsburg, Germany works from September 15-18, 2020 with the participation of the three classification societies: DNV GL, American Bureau of Shipping, and Lloyd’s Register.The TAT confirmed the suitability of the retrofit kit for converting the company’s field-proven MAN 32/40 engine into a dual-fuel unit – a so-called MAN 32/40R-DF type – that can now run on fossil and renewable, gaseous fuels, in addition to conventional fuel oil.
Germany Offered to Build LNG Terminals to Avert US Pipeline Sanctions
Berlin offered to spend 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) to build two liquid natural gas terminals in a bid to dissuade the United States from imposing sanctions over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, due to bring gas directly from Russia to Germany, Die Zeit reported on Wednesday.The weekly paper said Finance Minister Olaf Scholz made the proposal in an Aug. 7 letter before Washington imposed sanctions on companies involved in building the Baltic Sea pipeline, effectively freezing its construction.A spokesman for the German finance…
US LNG Loading Delays Expected as Hurricane Slams Gulf Coast
Loadings of liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from the United States likely will be delayed as a powerful storm strikes the heart of the U.S. oil and gas industry on the Gulf Coast, forcing several LNG plants to shut.Hurricane Laura made landfall early on Thursday in southwestern Louisiana as one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the state, with forecasters warning it could push a wall of water 40 miles (64 km) inland from the sea. Landfall came near Louisiana's border with Texas.Trading and shipping sources said they expect the resulting floods to delay LNG loadings from some ports and potentially boost Asian LNG spot prices.
Santos Flags $560 Mln Impairment Charge on Virus-led Oil Slump
Australia's Santos said on Tuesday it will book non-cash impairments of up to $560 million after tax, joining a number of global energy majors forced to write down assets after a coronavirus-induced slump in oil prices.The country's second-largest independent gas producer expects to record non-cash charges of between $490 million and $560 million after tax in its 2020 interim results, it said in a statement.Most of the impairment charges relate to Santos's Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in its Cooper basin fields in Queensland…
Gazprom Neft Sells Its First Arctic Oil Cargo to China
Russia's Gazprom Neft has sold its first ever Arctic oil cargo to China to ChemChina, two sources familiar with the deal told Reuters on Thursday.This week, Gazprom Neft said it had sent 144,000 tonnes of light Novy Port oil grade to the Chinese port of Yantai on the Bohai Sea from Russia's north-western city of Murmansk, using the Northern Sea Route (NSR) through Russia's Arctic waters.The Delta Hellas vessel used part of the NSR, a route requiring icebreakers and ice-class tankers, Refinitiv Eikon data showed, sailing west from Murmansk to reach Suez and then China.Gazprom Neft said this week the delivery took 47 days, without providing the buye
Woodside's Revenue Slumps More than Expected
Australia's Woodside Petroleum Ltd reported a worse-than-feared 29% drop in quarterly revenue, hit by weak spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices, but said it still expected to book a net profit in the first half.The hit came due to the double whammy of a global gas glut and a slump in demand with the coronavirus pandemic, and sent the company's shares down more than 2% while its peers were all trading higher."It's been a very difficult time for our industry and some external challenges are just simply beyond our control…
Gazprom Aims to Increase Gas Supplies to China
Russia's Gazprom is committed to supply as much as 130 billion cubic meters of gas (bcm) to China annually in the longer term, a company official told a conference call on Tuesday.Gazprom currently supplies gas to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline which is yet to reach its full capacity of 38 bcm per year. Gazprom plans to add another 6 bcm to Power of Siberia and is in talks over a number of additional routes, the official said.(Reporting by Olesya Astakhova Writing by Katya Golubkova. Editing by Jane Merriman)
Japan's JERA Books Hefty One-off Losses on 2019/20 LNG Supplies
Japan's JERA, the world's biggest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), booked tens of billions of yen in estimated one-off losses on its supply in the year ended on March 31, due to slumping prices, its president Satoshi Onoda said on Thursday. The losses highlight the issue for Japanese utilities, which have committed to large LNG volumes on contracts linked to oil prices, while spot prices for the chilled fuel are barely off record lows touched this year due to oversupply and the drop-off in demand because of the coronavirus pandemic.
China: BP, ENN Sign 300,000t a Year Gas Supply Deal
British oil major BP has signed a gas supply agreement with China's ENN Group (ENN) for the supply of 300,000 tonnes per year of pipeline gas re-gasified from LNG for two years from January 1, 2021, in Guangdong, China. The LNG will be received and re-gasified through the LNG receiving terminal of Guangdong Dapeng LNG Company Limited (GDLNG) where BP holds regasification capacity. Dev Sanyal, executive vice president of BP gas & low carbon energy, said: “Our strategy is to integrate energy value chains and, with this transaction…
US LNG Exports at 20-month Low
Natural gas flows to U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants plunged this month after falling to a 20-month low in June as coronavirus lockdowns cut global demand for the fuel.Before the pandemic slashed energy demand, U.S. producers counted on LNG exports to keep growing fast as an outlet for their record gas output. But after soaring 68% in 2019 and 53% in 2018, U.S. LNG exports were only expected to rise about 7% in 2020.Gas pipeline flows to U.S. LNG export plants dropped to an average of 3.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) so far in July from a 20-month low of 4.1 bcfd in June and a record high of 8.7 bcfd in February…
Indonesia Produced 104.8 LNG Cargoes in Jan-June Period
Indonesia produced 104.8 standard cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its Bontang and Tangguh LNG plants in between January to June. Susana Kurniasih, upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas' spokeswoman told Reuters.79 cargoes of LNG were exported and 25.8 cargoes were sold domestically in first half of 2020. 20.5 cargoes of domestic sales were sold for electricity. (Reporting by Wilda Asmarini; Writing by Fathin Ungku; Editing by Louise Heavens)
Essar Steel Seeking LNG Cargoes for 2021-2023
India's Essar Steel is seeking liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes for delivery over 2021 to 2023, two industry sources said on Tuesday.It is seeking 30 trillion British thermal units (TBtu) for delivery over the three years in a tender which closes on Tuesday, one of the sources said, adding that this works out to about 8 to 9 cargoes a year.Essar Steel is asking for the cargoes to be priced on Platts' Japan-Korea-Marker (JKM) linked basis, the source added.The company had in February sought 36 cargoes for delivery over the same period, though it was not immediately clear if it had bought all the cargoes it sought then.
US Approves LNG Exports from Oregon
The U.S. Energy Department on Monday approved the export of up to 1 billion cubic feet per day of liquefied natural gas from a proposed terminal in Oregon, a move it said would ease U.S. sales of the fuel to Asian markets.The approval advances efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to increase U.S. fossil fuel shipments around the globe at a time big projects are increasingly under strain from environmental protests and lawsuits.“Today’s export authorization for Jordan Cove, the first U.S West Coast LNG project, will ease access to further position the U.S.
Japan's LNG Investments Drive Faces Risk of Souring
Japan's banks and public agencies have funneled nearly $25 billion into liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects since 2017 but the investments may sour as prices plummet from the COVID-19 pandemic and as climate change risks rise, a new study shows.Spurred on by the government to boost energy security since the 2011 Fukushima disaster shut down the country's reactors, Japan's investment in LNG rivals that for coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, while more evidence is emerging of the high climate impacts from LNG and gas.The backing of high-risk projects that require decades of sales to return investments looks questionable…
India to End Federal Control of Gas prices, Lift LNG transport Use
India will gradually end federal controls on gas pricing as it seeks to attract foreign investment and technology to lift local output, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Friday.India, which is a large emitter of greenhouse gases and has multiple gas pricing regimes, aims to raise the share of gas in its energy mix to 15% by 2030, from 6.2%."This is an incentive we are giving to investors to come to India and take advantage of pricing and marketing freedom and produce more and invest more," Pradhan said at the BNEF summit.To boost gas usage…
Asian LNG Prices Steady on Ample Supply despite U.S. Cargo Cancellations
Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices remained steady this week on a continued stream of spot supply even though traders continued to cancel cargoes loading from the United States due to poor economics. The average LNG price for August delivery into northeast Asia was estimated to be about $2.20 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), slightly lower than the previous week, trade sources said. Buyers of LNG are expected to cancel 40 to 45 cargoes for August-loading from the United States due to a slow recovery in Asian gas demand and record-high European gas stocks…
KBR to Move Away from LNG, Energy Business
Engineering and construction firm KBR Inc will exit most of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) construction and other energy projects, it told investors and employees, as customers pull back on energy investments.The company will refocus on government contracts and technology businesses, Chief Executive Stuart Bradie wrote to employees on Monday. It will "no longer engage in lump sum, blue collar construction services," saying the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the decision to leave fixed-contract energy projects.KBR held contracts for engineering and construction services for several LNG projects…
Market in Focus: Gas Ships
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping hasn’t been able to avoid the negative impact of COVID-19 as gas demand fell during the first quarter of 2020.The residential sector recorded the largest drop in consumption this year compared to 2019 which wasn’t helped by the mild winter seen in the US. The shut-downs of major economies and more specifically shut-ins of cargoes due to the historically low gas prices means we have basically witnessed demand destruction.LNG rates have fallen since the beginning of the year with the one-year time charter dropping by 80%.
Shell Weighs Sale of $2B-plus Share in Queensland LNG
Royal Dutch Shell is considering raising more than $2 billion from the sale of a stake in the common facilities at its Queensland Curtis LNG plant in Australia, according to a sale flyer reviewed by Reuters."Royal Dutch Shell plc is considering a sale of a 26.25% interest in the Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) Common Facilities - a multibillion-dollar investment opportunity," the sale flyer said.The sale process is being run by Rothschild & Co and is due to be completed in 2020, the document showed.Shell declined to comment on what it called market speculation.
Gastech Postponed for 2021
Gastech, one of the world's largest gas, LNG and energy industries events has been postponed for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The event was expected to take place in Singapore in September this year, however, the organizers have now decided to delay the event to September 13 to 16, 2021.Organizers dmg events said the decision had been based on concerns around the global pandemic, accessibility and for the wellbeing of speakers, delegates, exhibitors and visitors. Nick Ornstien, Vice President Energy for dmg events…
New Hospital Planned for Russian Village Building Novatek's LNG Plant
Russia's Arctic region of Murmansk plans to build a new temporary hospital in a village where a vital liquefied natural gas supply plant is being built after an outbreak of the new coronavirus.Murmansk governor Andrey Chibis said the authorities had contained the outbreak in Belokamenka, where Russian gas producer Novatek is building the plant, and construction of the plant had not been suspended.But the Murmansk region, which borders Finland and Norway, must be prepared for a possible second wave of the virus, he said."We clearly understand that the virus is likely to stay for a long time," Chibis told Reuters by telephone.
US LNG Exports Drop More Than a Third
U.S. liquefied natural gas exports are down by more than a third since governments started imposing lockdowns to stop the spread of the coronavirus.Worldwide gas prices have plunged as lockdowns squeezed energy demand even as strong renewables output boosted supply. Gas prices are more expensive now in the United States than in Europe for the first time in a decade.Buyers in Asia and Europe have already canceled over 20 U.S. LNG cargoes for June and July, and more cancellations are anticipated.Gas flows to U.S. LNG export plants fell from a record 9.5 billion cubic feet per day in late March to a six-month low of 5.6 bcfd this week…
Qatar Petroleum to Cut Spending by 30%
Qatar Petroleum will slash its spending by around 30% this year in the face of the sharp drop in oil and gas prices due to the coronavirus epidemic, its Chief Executive said on Thursday.Speaking during a webcast organized by the U.S-Qatar Business Council, Saad al-Kaabi however said that plans to sharply expand Qatar Petroleum's liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity by the middle of the decade remain on track."We are going through budget revisions... In June we will be somewhere in the range of 30% reduction in expenditure…
Total Secures $14.4 Bln Funding for Mozambique LNG
French energy major Total has secured $14.4 billion funding for its Mozambique liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique, two sources said on Wednesday.A source with knowledge of the matter said Total has reached a financing agreement with a group that includes around 20 lenders for the first phase of senior debt funding of $14.4 billion. The source did not specify the name of the banks involved in the financial arrangement.Total declined to comment. Bloomberg reported earlier on Wednesday that Total was set to sign $15 billion financing for the project in June.The company expects the financing to be closed in the third quarter…
EXIM Bank Amends Mozambique LNG Loan. Earmarks $1.8B for Offshore Work
The U.S. EXIM Bank has amended its previously approved September 2019 direct loan supporting U.S. exports for the development and construction of the Total-operated LNG project located on the Afungi Peninsula in northern Mozambique.The original scope of the $4.7 billion loan for the project has been amended from exclusively the onshore portion of the LNG plant and related facilities to also allocate an estimated $1.8 billion to support the project’s offshore production. "As a result, the transaction now will support an increased number—16,700—of estimated American jobs over the five-year construction period," EXIM said Friday.The number of U.S.
Japan Spot LNG Import Prices Hit Record Low
Prices for spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes imported into Japan, the world's biggest buyer of the fuel, fell in April to their lowest since the country's trade ministry started compiling data in 2014. The latest low for LNG cargoes into Japan - reflecting actual prices paid rather than those derived from surveys or indices - highlights the evisceration of demand for gas, along with other commodities, brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. The outbreak has turned markets on their heads, with U.S. oil prices slipping into negative territory during April and in Japan…
Virus Lockdowns Pummel Global Gas Demand, Force LNG Output Cuts
Lockdowns to slow the coronavirus pandemic are pummelling gas demand in the world's biggest buyers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), pushing Asia's spot prices to record lows and forcing some suppliers to start cutting output. Economies worldwide have ground to a halt as virus containment measures have taken their toll, slashing gas demand for power generation, heating, cooking, vehicles and chemical manufacture. The world's biggest LNG markets - Japan, China, South Korea, and India - are all seeing a drop in demand. Asia's spot LNG prices dropped to $1.85 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) last week…
Woodside Watching Supermajors' Woes for Opportunities
Woodside Petroleum is keeping a close eye out for assets that might come up for grabs from the oil supermajors amid the oil market rout, seeing itself in a position to bid, Chief Executive Peter Coleman said on Friday.The head of Australia's top independent gas producer said, however, deals were unlikely until the third or fourth quarter of this year."We are watching closely the super majors," Coleman told reporters on a conference call the day after Woodside's annual meeting.He said Woodside was watching how the supermajors…
Inpex Sells Ichthys LNG at Record Low
Inpex sold a liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from Australia's Ichthys plant for loading in May at what traders say is a record low price.Inpex had offered two cargoes for loading in May and has sold at least one of them at about $1.70 to $1.75 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), four traders said.The cargo was sold on a delivered ex-ship (DES) basis, two of them said. Details of the buyer and the second cargo could not immediately be confirmed. (Reporting by Jessica Jaganathan; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Sinopec Building LNG Storage Tanks at Tianjin Terminal
China's energy giant Sinopec has started building storage tanks in the second phase of its Tianjin terminal project to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG), the company said in a statement.The plan for the second phase is to have five LNG tanks, with storage capacity of 220,000 cubic metres each, and a new berth for LNG vessels.After the project is completed in end-2021, the LNG receiving capacity at the terminal will expand to 10.8 million tonnes per annum from the current 6 million tonnes.So far, the terminal has received 11.21 million tonnes of LNG since the first phase of the project was launched in March 2018.(Reporting by Muyu Xu and Shivani
BP Issues Force Majeure Notice for Golar FLNG Unit
Golar LNG Ltd said on Tuesday that it received a force majeure notice from a BP Plc unit seeking to delay taking delivery of a floating liquefied natural gas facility by a year.The notice is the latest force majeure claim issued in the LNG sector that is struggling with a seasonal plunge in demand as well as the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, which has further hammered the consumption of the super-chilled fuel globally.BP is expecting a one-year delay due to the pandemic and currently sees no possibility in reducing the duration of the new timing…
Exxon Cuts Spending by $10B
Exxon Mobil Corp on Tuesday throttled back a multi-year investment spree in shale, LNG and deep water oil production and will cut planned capital spending this year by $10 billion as the coronavirus pandemic saps energy demand and oil prices.Oil companies are reversing 2020 spending and production increases by an average 20% as countries limit air travel, order businesses to close and tell residents to stay home. In a one-two punch to suppliers, crude prices are down nearly 60% this year and demand for fuels is falling sharply.The largest U.S.
