LNG

OLT Offshore outlines forward capacity

OLT Offshore LNG Toscana has confirmed that the products in which the continuous capacity is made available for allocation from gas year 2021/2022 to 2032/2033 has been published on its website. This allocation implements new terms introduced by the Regasification Code approved on 24th March, 2020, by the Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment (ARERA). One of the key changes is the possibility for users to express a preference for both 155,000 cu m and 180,000 cu m capacity slots in the annual and multi-year allocation. OLT will offer six 180,000 cu m slots and 34 x 155,000 cu m slots. Offers can be submitted through the PAR from 27th May, 2020.

FERC asked to continue monitoring projects

Five US Representatives have sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FEC), asking for business to continue as usual during the pandemic. The letter, addressed to FERC Chairman, Neil Chatterjee, called for an outright rejection of a moratorium on approving and constructing new LNG projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that such measures were essential to energy security.

Gasum closes acquisitions

Nordic energy company Gasum closed the acquisition of Linde AG’s LNG and Biogas business in Sweden and Norway and Nauticor’s Marine Bunkering business in Germany on 30th April, 2020. In the transactions, around 35 employees, a customer base and several assets were transferred to Gasum. The businesses generate annual revenues of more than €100 mill. On 6th May, Gasum subsidiary the Hamburg based LNG supplier Nauticor, conducted the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation on a product tanker in Germany. The bunkering operation on ‘Ramelia’ was conducted at Brunsbüttel on the river Elbe.

Senior management changes

GasLog and GasLog Partners CFO, Alastair Maxwell, is to step down from his position on 30th June, 2020. As a result, Achilleas Tasioulas, currently Deputy CFO, will be promoted to CFO on 1st July, 2020. Maxwell’s resignation is due to GasLog’s decision to relocate its senior management, including the CFO, to Greece. Golar LNG Partners has appointed Karl Fredrik Staubo as an interim CEO. This follows Graham Robjohns, decision to step down from 30th April, 2020 as announced last year.

GasLog’s two new LNGCs

On 11th May, GasLog took delivery of the ‘GasLog Wales’, an 180,000 cu m LNGC fitted with a 2-stroke X-DF propulsion system. Upon her delivery from Samsung, she commenced a 12-year charter with JERA. Earlier, on 1st April, GasLog took delivery of her sistership ‘GasLog Windsor’. Despite the industrial disruption in South Korea caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the vessel was delivered on time and on budget. Upon her delivery, she immediately commenced a seven-year charter with Centrica. Both newbuildings are fitted with a GTT Mark III Flex+ containment system. GasLog has another five LNGCs building at Samsung.

Hudong wins domestic LNGC order

Brokers have reported that a joint venture involving CSET and PetroChina has ordered three, option three LNGCs from Hudong- Zhonghua. The 175,000 cu m vessels, valued at $185 mill each, will be delivered in 2022.