UK energy major BP has entered into a 20-year sales and purchase agreement for the supply of 2 million tonnes per annum from a plant under development at Calcasieu Pass in Louisiana.
Tokyo Gas, the largest Japanese LNG importer after Jera Co. Inc., has received its first cargo from the Cove Point export plant in Maryland where Japanese and Indian utilities have 20-year tolling agreement.
The 140,620 cubic metres capacity carrier “Galicia Spirit” will deliver a cargo on June 14 to the new Chinese Qidong import terminal owned by Guanghui Energy from the floating LNG hull “Hilli Episeyo” that began production in mid-March off the port of Kribi in Cameroon.
Japanese liquefied natural gas imports dropped 14.7 percent last month as shipments from Asia, the Middle East and the spot market fell and thermal coal purchases were preferred to LNG for power generation as the nation reined in its energy spending.
US private equity firm Harbour Energy has raised its offer to $US10.8 billion ($A14.2Bln) for Santos, the stakeholder in three Asia-Pacific LNG export ventures, provided the Australian company puts in place hedging for the soaring oil price.
Ophir Energy, the UK-based energy company and stakeholder in the Equatorial Guinea floating liquefied natural gas project offshore West Africa, said Chief Executive Nicholas Cooper was leaving the company amid delays in taking the FLNG joint venture to a final investment decision.
British Columbia, the Canadian province seeking an LNG export and energy industry while many of its politicians and interest groups actively oppose the energy sector, has this week seen several landmark events relating to energy policies.
The first US liquefied natural gas cargo is scheduled to be delivered to Israel around May 25 at the Hadera floating import facility offshore the city of Haifa to boost peak supplies for power generation.
Singapore LNG cargo indices jumped to new highs over US$8.00 per million British thermal units through to the second half of July, while North Asia and Dubai-Kuwait-India shipments are both quoted at around $8.50 per MMBtu for July deliveries.
Long-term LNG contract prices will be affected and raise costs for importers like Japan and China as the Brent crude price passed the $79 per barrel mark and the premium to the US West Texas Intermediate price rose to almost $8 per barrel on Middle East tension and supply concerns.