LNG

India has lifted an order imposing restrictions on gas suppliers as LNG deliveries from the Middle East resume. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Saturday withdrew provisions which had mandated all imported LNG and domestically produced gas to be sold to a list of priority customers.

Shipping companies and LNG portfolio players are slowly returning to the Panama Canal, where a two-year drought restrained traffic. As northern-hemisphere winter weather is sending natural gas demand soaring, most US LNG cargoes are currently looking for a home in Europe and avoid having to queue up for a costly Panama Canal transit.

BW Epic Kosan (BWEK) has contracted bound4blue to install a 24-metre tall suction sail on the LPG carrier ‘Helena Kosan’ in bid to save fuel. eSAIL technology is also suitable for gas carriers and offers a payback period of less than five years.

Amazon Web Services will help SK Group build Korea’s first AI hyperscale data centre in Ulsan, powered by LNG. All electricity needs of the data center will be met by Ulsan Gas Power Station (1,200 MW), capable to switch to LPG when LNG prices rise.

South Korean utility SK GA Ulsan has started operations of a 1.2 GW combined-cycle power station that can run on LNG and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Dual-fuel capability allows the plant operator to optimise fuel costs while guaranteeing stable electricity supply for 2.8 million households in the Korean port city.

Ohgishima City Gas Supply Co., a joint venture between Japan’s main LNG importers, has begun commercial operations of a city-gas production and supply facility with a calorific value adjustment system in the Ohgishima district of Kawasaki City.