Sources say that Italy will get LNG from QatarEnergy's US Golden Pass in June.

Two sources with knowledge of the matter have confirmed that Italy will start receiving liquefied natural gas (LNG), from the Golden Pass LNG plant in 'the United States. This is a joint venture between QatarEnergy & Exxon Mobil.

Sources with knowledge of the LNG markets said that the?LNG?tankers coming from the United States would help Italy fill a potential supply gap caused by disruptions in Qatar due to the U.S./Israeli war on Iran.

The United States already supplies LNG to Italy, but this cargo would be the first LNG that comes from Golden Pass facilities located in Texas and will arrive at the Adriatic LNG terminal.

LSEG, a financial firm, reported that U.S. LNG exports rose in March to a record high, as new units were added and plants operated above their?nameplate capacities.

Italian utility Edison has declined to comment on the'missing gas deliveries' from Qatar.

QatarEnergy did not respond to a request for comment. Exxon Mobil announced that gas exports from Golden Pass would begin in the second quarter this year.

EXXON CONTRACTS WITH QATARENERGY FOR A LONG-TERM PERIOD

Edison has signed a long-term agreement with QatarEnergy for the delivery of 6.4 billion cubic meters of LNG annually, which is around 10% of Italy’s total consumption.

The Italian company was notified last week that its Gulf supplier had extended a pause on LNG deliveries due to the close-up of the Strait of Hormuz. It also stated that it would not be shipping?10 loads between April and June.

QatarEnergy CEO and State Minister for Energy Affairs, Qatar's minister of state for energy affairs, said last month that Iranian attacks had knocked down 17% of Qatar's LNG export capacity.

QatarEnergy's CEO said that the company will be forced to declare force majeure for?long-term LNG contracts of up to five years, for supplies bound for Italy, Belgium South Korea and China.

Golden Pass LNG announced earlier this week it had?produced its first LNG. This paved the way for a?first cargo to be delivered. The facility, once fully operational will be able produce 18 million tons of LNG per year. (Sheila Deng, Houston; Marwa Rashad, London; Nina Chestney & Bernadette Baum edited the story.)

(source: Reuters)