LNG

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), known as the OPEC of LNG and pipeline gas, is preparing for its 7th Summit meeting with members scheduled to start arriving at the end of February in the Algerian capital of Algiers.

The GECF, whose secretariat is based in Doha in Qatar, will attempt to put some context into the geopolitical and economic challenges facing LNG and pipeline natural gas producers.

Although the GECF counts Qatar among its members the other main LNG producers, Australia and the US, have never been members nor will they be sending observers.

The GECF meeting will have 19 countries in attendance who together represent over 70 percent of the world’s proven gas reserves, 43 percent of its marketed production, 52 percent of pipeline gas and 58 percent of LNG exports.

Algeria, which is a key supplier of LNG to Europe from its Skikda and Arzew liquefaction plants and with gas pipelines connected to Italy and Spain, said it would use the occasion to “build a consensus” between the producing states to preserve the interests of gas exporters.

Algiers Declaration

Meetings will start on February 29 and the actual summit will take place on March 2, after which the LNG nations will issue what will be known as the “Algiers Declaration”.

The meeting is expected to support emerging African LNG nations and existing producers in their fight to alleviate energy poverty, in particular through better access to financial resources for gas development as well as improved energy security.

GECF Secretary General, Mohamed Hamel, who is himself an Algerian outlined what is on the agenda for the 12 nations who are members and the other seven countries who will attend as observers.

“This summit presents an opportunity for leaders to engage in comprehensive discussions encompassing geopolitical, economic and policy developments, providing an avenue to delve into both the immediate and long-term prospects and challenges in the natural gas sector,” explained Secretary General Hamel.

“Moreover, the summit will reiterate the important role of our Forum in strengthening cooperation among member countries, advocating for natural gas as a pivotal element in achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals, ensuring stability in natural gas markets and addressing energy security, affordability, and sustainability,” he added.

Prior to the March 2 summit, a high-level working group will meet and an Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting will be held to “prepare essential documents” for the summit, including the Declaration.

The summit will be complemented by a series of side events such as the inauguration of the Headquarters in Algiers of the newly established GECF Gas Research Institute.

Global Gas Outlook

Additionally, the delegates will approve and issue the latest edition of the “Global Gas Outlook”, one of the GECF's flagship publications.

Finally, there will be a signing ceremony for Memoranda of Understanding with the African Energy Commission (AFREC) and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).

Preparations for the summit have been undertaken by the Algerian National Committee in collaboration with the GECF Secretariat and “all of the necessary resources have been mobilised to ensure ideal conditions for a successful and productive” summit.

“I am confident that this summit will go beyond discussions and collaborations, providing delegates the opportunity to immerse themselves in Algeria's distinctive culture and warm hospitality,” Hamel stated.

The 12 GECF members are Algeria, Bolivia, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

There are also seven observer members: Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mozambique and Peru.

Europe’s largest liquefied natural gas import terminal, the UK’s Isle of Grain facility on the Medway River in Kent, has extended its capacity agreement with the Algerian national energy company Sonatrach.

Grain LNG, owned by a subsidiary of National Grid Plc, said a 10-year agreement was signed to extend the long-term storage and redelivery capacity of Sonatrach at the UK terminal from January 2029.

This is the first agreement signed for around 3 million tonnes per annum of capacity from Grain LNG’s competitive auction process which was launched in September 2023.

“The successful outcome of the auction further secures the future of Europe’s largest terminal into the next decade,” said the company.

The Grain LNG terminal, sited about 43 miles (69 kilometres) southeast of London, is currently expanding to store and deliver enough gas to meet up to 33 percent of UK gas demand.

Security

“This helps ensure the UK’s energy security as LNG imports play a critical role in making sure the UK has the gas it needs, when it needs it and providing a flexible and reliable supply to heat peoples’ homes and to complement the growth of renewable generation,” said Katie Jackson, President of National Grid Ventures, owner of the terminal.

“This agreement ensures that Grain will continue to have a diverse supplier base within the Atlantic Basin,” added Jackson.

“I am delighted that Sonatrach have once again shown a long-term commitment to our world-class site which UK consumers rely on, and I look forward to continuing our working relationship with them in the coming years,” she stated.

Mayouf Belgacem, Executive Vice President of Sonatrach, said LNG would continue to play a critical role in worldwide energy supply.

Algeria, the longest-standing global exporter of LNG supplies to Europe, operates two liquefaction and export plants at Skikda and Arzew on the Mediterranean Coast.

“We have expressed our willingness to strengthen our position as a long-term partner of Grain LNG and as a substantial contributor to UK gas security of supply,” Belgacem explained.

Guaranteed access

“Besides, this agreement offers Sonatrach guaranteed access to Europe’s largest terminal which helps line up Sonatrach’s long-term marketing strategy by diversifying its markets,” said the Sonatrach executive .

The Isle of Grain terminal had launched its auction for 9 MTPA of existing capacity and Sonatrach has now been a leading beneficiary.

There is also an expansion project underway at the UK facility that will see LNG storage at the terminal increase in 2025 to around 1.2 million cubic metres.

In the past 12 months the UK terminal has unloaded almost 120 carriers originating from multiple countries.

In addition to Algerian volumes, the terminal has received cargoes from the US, Qatar, Angola, Nigeria, Norway, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago.

Grain LNG, as part of the National Grid Ventures subsidiary, operates outside of National Grid’s core regulated businesses in the UK.

National Grid Ventures has a diverse portfolio including subsea electricity interconnectors, competitive transmission, wind and solar generation, battery storage as well as the Grain LNG storage and regasification infrastructure.

Occidental Petroleum, the Houston-based company with US oil and gas assets and Warren Buffett as a main shareholder as well as owning oil and natural gas stakes in Algeria, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, has agreed to buy US Permian Basin-focused energy producer CrownRock in a cash and stock deal valued at $12 billion including debt.

US investor Warren Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway group has a stake in the Cove Point LNG export plant in Maryland and a growing stake in US exploration and production company, Occidental Petroleum, revealed that he had stakes in Japan’s five main trading houses with their widespread energy assets and intended to buy more Japanese shares.

Occidental Petroleum, the Houston-based company with US oil and gas assets and Warren Buffett as a main shareholder as well as owning Algerian oil and associated natural gas stakes pointing at Europe, reported strong third-quarter results.

SDX Energy, the UK-based oil and gas exploration, production, and development company with working interests in natural gas fields in Egypt and Morocco after a string of discoveries in 2017 and 2018, is facing a takeover battle and may have to bring more cash to the table for existing shareholders.

UK Stock Exchange-listed SDX Energy has been informed by London-headquartered Aleph Commodities Limited that it now commands over 25 percent of the share capital of the company and intends to block an all-share takeover proposed by Canadian company Tenaz Energy Corp. of Calgary, Alberta.

“Through public disclosures and communication with SDX, we have been informed that a shareholder intends to vote against the proposed Scheme of Arrangement to amalgamate Tenaz and SDX,” said a Tenaz Energy statement.

SDX's portfolio includes high impact exploration opportunities in both Egypt and Morocco as well as producing assets in Morocco’s Gharb Basin and the Egyptian Nile Delta.

Natural gas assets in Egypt are the focus of possible LNG or pipeline gas exports and in the case of Morocco domestic gas projects.

Tenaz Energy explained that the takeover required, among other things, that 75 percent of the shares voted by SDX shareholders support the combination for it to become effective.

Strategy change

The Canadian company has now said that it reserved the right to elect to implement the transaction by way of a takeover offer in compliance with the UK Takeover Code and through a co-operation agreement with SDX.

“We are evaluating all available options with respect to the transaction and will provide a further update when appropriate,” stated Tenaz Energy.

A statement from Aleph Commodities by way of explanation made several points on behalf of itself and other parties, who together hold 25.65 percent of the shares.

It stated that the group of shareholders led by Aleph Commodities intended to vote against the recommended all-share combination.

“The shareholder meetings relating to the Scheme of Arrangement are due to be held on 29 July 2022,” noted Aleph Commodities.

“Aleph welcomes the opportunity to engage with management and the Board of Directors to explore opportunities to provide financial, commercial and technical support to SDX to ensure the growth of the company and its production base, with minimal dilution,” it stated

SDX Energy has a working interest in two producing assets in Egypt, a 36.9 percent operated interest in the South Disouq and Ibn Yunus gas fields and a 67.0 percent operated interest in the Ibn Yunus North gas field in the Nile Delta.

It additionally holds a 50 percent non-operated interest in the West Gharib concession, which is located onshore in Egypt’s Eastern Desert, adjacent to the Gulf of Suez.

In Morocco, SDX has a 75 percent working interest in four development and production concessions, all situated in the Gharb Basin.

The producing assets in Morocco are characterised by “attractive gas prices and exceptionally low operating” costs.

Algerian energy company and LNG exporter Sonatrach is on track to make $50 billion record earnings this year and the North African nation also attended talks during the week on the 4,000-kilometre Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) from Nigeria via Algeria to bring African natural gas to Europe.

BHP Group will transfer a smaller-than-expected US$3.9 billion in oil and gas decommissioning liabilities to Woodside Petroleum when it merges its petroleum business with the Australian LNG plant operator.

Sonatrach, the Algerian oil and gas producer and exporter of LNG and pipeline gas to Europe, has reported progress on two natural gas projects in the country’s southwest Sahara desert region.

Italian energy company Eni and Algerian oil and gas company Sonatrach have held talks in Milan to increase their cooperation in exploration and production, LNG and pipeline gas supplies.

Eni Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi and Sonatrach counterpart Toufik Hakkar discussed progress on their joint ventures and signed various new agreements on exploration and production, research and development and decarbonisation.

“These agreements mark a further step forward in strengthening the partnership between the two companies,” said a statement.

The Italian company and Sonatrach hope to improve output with more investment in developed and undeveloped acreage of Eni’s 12,436 square kilometre in Algeria.

The most recent data shows Eni’s oil and gas production was at an average of 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Operated activities are located in the Bir Rebaa desert, in the Central-Eastern area of Algeria.

“The first of the agreements signed aims to implement an ambitious program for the relaunch of exploration and development activities in the Berkine Basin and provides for the creation of a gas and crude oil development hub through a synergy with existing installations,” explained Eni.

“This agreement is part of the process for the finalization of a new hydrocarbon contract in the Basin, under the aegis of the new Algerian oil law which came into force in December 2019,” added Eni.

Descalzi and Hakkar also signed an accord for the development of the partnership between Eni and Sonatrach in new technologies with a focus on renewable energy, biofuels and hydrogen.

Eni and Sonatrach additionally signed an agreement that provides for cooperation between the Eni Corporate University and the Institut Algerien du Petrole for the implementation of training programmes for students in the upstream sector, new technologies and the energy transition.

“These agreements represent the commitment made by our companies to strengthen a historic partnership,” they said.

Sonatrach is one of the main suppliers of LNG and pipeline natural gas to Europe and in February 2021 commissioned the Boosting III project for the Hassi R'mel gas hub in Laghouat province of central Algeria, which produces and supplies over half of the nation’s natural gas.

The Hassi R'Mel's Boosting III project came into operation as Sonatrach also announced increased natural gas sales in 2020 to both Spain and Italy, its main European markets.
The giant Hassi R’Mel field had been in long-term decline but the $2-billion project will boost volumes during 2021 and beyond.

The project will increase and stabilize feed-gas supplies to the Mediterranean Coast from the Hassi R'Mel hub to the port of Arzew where one of the nation’s two LNG exports plants are located.

Algerian LNG exports had been falling in previous years, though in the most recent official annual figures had recovered to a combined 12.34 million tonnes from the Arzew plant and the second facility at Skikda.

Developing new fields in Algeria and linking them to the rest of the gas network via the Hassi R'Mel hub has been a strategic priority for Sonatrach over the past few years.

The Booster III project will enable the maintenance of an estimated production level of 180 million cubic metres per day and to recover additional reserves estimated at 400 billion cubic metres of natural gas.

In 2020, Algeria exported to Italy a volume of gas of 14.8 Bcm, an increase of 12 percent compared with 2019.

The Algerian supplier also consolidated its position as Spain's leading gas supplier in 2020 with an exported volume of 9.6 Bcm, part of which flowed through to Portugal.

The volumes also comprised LNG cargoes delivered to the southern European nations as well as on the three pipelines, two to Spain and one to Italy.

Algerian gas supplies are carried from the Hassi R'Mel hub on the Medgaz pipeline via Beni Saf to Almeria in southern Spain and on the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline from the Hassi R'mel field through Morocco to Cordoba in Spain.

The Italian gas also starts from the Hassi R'mel hub and is supplied through the Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline from Algeria via Tunisia to Sicily and then onwards to the mainland of Italy.