Qatargas said it was restarting three LNG Trains following a disruption to production caused by a machinery breakdown outside the main Qatargas liquefaction facilities earlier this month and which led to a declaration of force majeure.
The western US state of Oregon said it would make a court appeal to overturn approval of the Bradwood Landing LNG project by the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Three US LNG projects will move forward after their certifications were upheld at a meeting of the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, while a fourth import venture was suspended by the company itself.
Inpex Corp. of Japan and Frances Total have awarded the onshore front-end engineering and design contract for the US$20 billion Ichthys LNG project in Australia to the JKC joint venture comprising Japans JGC Corp and Chiyoda Corp. and KBR of the US.
Yokogawa Electric Corp. of Japan said it received two control system orders from LNG carrier owners based in Australia and Brunei, and said it would also now be targeting planned floating LNG projects for new contracts.
Qatargas has revealed that three LNG liquefaction Trains have been down since January 8, temporarily taking almost 10 million tonnes per annum of capacity out of the global market, but that they should be back on stream before the end of the month.
US LNG imports are expected to rise about 20 percent in 2009 to 420 billion cubic feet from 350 Bcf last year, as limits to natural gas storage capacity outside the US boost the number of cargoes that will head to the East coast and Gulf coast import terminals.
Mitsubishi Corp. and Canadas Kitimat LNG Inc.signed an agreement for the Japanese company to acquire offtake and an equity stake in a proposed LNG export facility to be constructed north of Vancouver in western Canada.
The London office of the New York-based international law firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP has strengthened its LNG industry team with the addition of partner Shane DeBeer, a main legal advisor to Russias Shtokman LNG project.
The US Federal Energy Regulator Commission will hold a certification meeting on January 15 for the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal in Oregon and the Sparrows Point LNG project and the Cove Point LNG terminal expansion, both in Maryland.