LNG

SEA-LNG, the coalition established to demonstrate the commercial and environmental benefits of LNG and the pathway it provides for cleaner shipping, has signed up Nikkiso Clean Energy and Industrial Gases (Nikkiso CEIG) is the latest member company.

Nikkiso supplies equipment, technologies and engineering services to support the safe operation of LNG as a marine fuel.

“SEA-LNG’s membership will open up networking and collaboration opportunities for Nikkiso to support its work on cryogenic pumps and process systems as well as broader cryogenic services,” said a statement.

The group also works on heat exchanger systems and Nikkiso Turboexpander systems and has experience in boil-off-gas management for LNG fuelled vessels, methane slip mitigation, and integrated LNG fuel gas supply systems.

Wide options 

Peter Keller, Chairman of SEA-LNG, said that to achieve its cleaner shipping targets the industry would require a basket of fuels and technology options.

“Collaboration across the entire LNG value chain, with companies like Nikkiso, ensures that LNG will have a place as a key part of that basket,” added Keller.

“As an important marine fuel, LNG can deliver on decarbonisation now with immediate greenhouse-gas emissions reductions and that provides a low risk, incremental pathway for decarbonisation through bio-LNG and renewable synthetic e-LNG,” he stated in looking well into the future.

Peter Wagner, Chief Executive of the Nikkiso CEIG, said the the group aimed to encourage the shipping industry to swiftly adopt LNG as a marine fuel, because it provides a readily and immediately available low-carbon clean energy.

“The fuel also has the physical properties to facilitate a more efficient ship construction integration compared to alternative fuels,” added Wagner.

“This enables the maritime industry to lower emissions by a further 20 percent on the basis of clean energy and efficient ship designs,” he said.

Gradual process

Steve Esau, Chief Operating Officer of SEA-LNG, concluded that the carbon-neutral fuel solutions would not arrive in a “big-bang” process and instead there would be incremental decarbonisation of existing assets as fuel production, transportation, storage and bunkering infrastructure and engine technologies develop.

“We are excited to welcome another new member whose innovative technology and engineering expertise supports the cost-effective operation of LNG as a marine fuel today,” stated Esau.

SEA-LNG is a UK-registered not-for-profit collaborative industry foundation serving the needs of its member organisations and is committed to furthering the use of LNG as an important, environmentally superior maritime fuel.

It has members across the entire LNG value chain including providers of the product, users, engine and asset suppliers and class societies.

Equinor, the Norwegian major and the UK’s Centrica, owner of the British Gas utility, have signed a deal for the delivery of more Norwegian pipeline natural gas over the next three winters and the accord will slightly lessen the need for more LNG deliveries to UK terminals.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said its Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement entered into force at the start of January, creating the world’s largest free trade area in all products, including LNG and hydrocarbons fuels.

While Corporate America caves-in to woke extremism on most issues and now even kowtows with Big Tech to China, leading Australian and European energy and LNG companies have drawn a line in the sand by defeating environmental extremists demanding a timetable for giving up oil and gas.

The France-based International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL) has elected former Gaz de France and Cheniere Energy LNG executive Jean Abiteboul as its new President during its annual General Assembly.

Abiteboul succeeds Jean-Marie Dauger, who had held the position since 2016.

New President Abiteboul’s career started in 1975 with the French utility, Gaz de France, which has now transformed into Engie.

The GIIGNL constitutes a forum for exchange of information and experience among its 86 members in 27 countries with the aim of enhancing the safety, reliability, efficiency and sustainability of LNG import activities and in particular the operation of regasification terminals.

Abiteboul’s later Gaz de France positions included Executive Vice-President for Supply, Trading and Marketing, President of LNG carrier unit Gaselys and International Executive Vice-President.

In 2006, he left Gaz de France to become Senior Vice President International of Cheniere Energy and played a key role in concluding the long-term sale contracts necessary for obtaining the financing of the Sabine Pass LNG export project in Louisiana, and later of the Corpus Christi liquefaction plant in Texas.

In 2010, he was appointed President of Cheniere Marketing, a position he occupied until his retirement in November 2016.

“I look forward to serving GIIGNL, which plays a key role in advancing the LNG industry and in promoting LNG as a responsible solution for a sustainable energy future,” said Abiteboul.

Over the last 50 years, the GIIGNL has played a unique role in the development of the LNG industry, constituting a forum for exchange of views, experience and research among its members.

The GIIGNL, whose headquarters are in Paris, publishes one of the most authoritative annual reviews in the industry and in the 2020 edition noted that at the start of the year eight new floating terminals and 18 onshore terminals were under development

Global regasification capacity stood at 920 MTPA at the start of 2020 and there were 42 importing countries.

The GIIGNL report also noted that for LNG sellers and buyers, business models and contractual arrangements were becoming increasingly diversified.

Traders continue to take advantage of seasonal and local supply tensions and integrated portfolio players were displaying impressive growth, aiming to bridge the disconnect between LNG seller and buyer interests.

The review also contained the landmark statistic that the global LNG carrier fleet had passed the 600-vessel mark. 

Qatargas, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas production company, has delivered the first cargo of LNG on a Q-Max vessel to the Belgian import and regasification terminal at Zeebrugge even though the facility has been operational for 32 years.

Supply volumes in the liquefied natural gas industry increased for a fifth consecutive year and were mostly driven by new production from Australia, the United States and Russia, though some existing exporters also boosted output.