European Union ministers meet to start Ukraine EU membership process after LNG sanctions on Russia
The European Commission, after many delays in imposing updated sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine invasion has now banned from its ports LNG tankers of the Russian Sovcomflot shipping line, while also convening on June 25 the first meeting of the Conference on Accession of Ukraine to the European Union.
US natural gas pipelines operator Williams continues on acquisitions path with deal for Gulf Coast storage assets
Williams Companies, a leading US natural gas pipelines operator with projects aimed at boosting feed-gas supplies for Gulf Coast LNG export plants, has reached an agreement to acquire a portfolio of natural gas storage assets from an affiliate of Hartree Partners LP for $1.95 billion.
US LNG data shows France and Spain leading by volumes while Calcasieu Pass cargoes were most expensive
The US Department of Energy published its latest LNG export data with France, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK and South Korea and Japan being the main destinations while prices for that period began to rise and shipments from Calcasieu Pass were the most expensive.
US LNG cargo and prices data shows split in volumes between Europe and Asia as prices remained moderate
The US Department of Energy published its latest LNG export data with the Netherlands, Italy, France and Spain along with South Korea and Japan being the main destinations while prices for that period remained moderate and averaged just over $6 per million British thermal units.
LNG prices ease again with full storage, mild weather and logistics favouring European supply over Asia
Global liquefied natural gas prices declined for a third week as European Union supply was helped by peak storage levels and mild weather, while the start of winter in parts of China coincided with further restrictions on Panama Canal transits and along with narrow price margins will limit arbitrage opportunities.
US LNG cargo and prices data shows more volumes headed for Europe with Netherlands and Italy favoured
The US Department of Energy has published its latest LNG export data showing more cargoes pointed at both Europe and North Asia with the Netherlands and Italy being the most favoured monthly destinations in the European Union just before the spike in prices.
US LNG pricing and delivery data shows Germany entering list of leading US cargo recipients for the first time
The US Department of Energy has published its latest LNG export data showing that Germany has for the first time entered the monthly list for being a top five recipient of US shipments, though most of the cargoes delivered to Germany were relatively expensive ones.
Venture Global completes second storage tank roof-raising ahead of schedule at Plaquemines LNG project
Venture Global LNG, the operator of the Calcasieu Pass export plant in Louisiana and developer of three other plants in the US Gulf Coast state, said it had successfully raised the roof of the second LNG storage tank at the Plaquemines LNG export project in Louisiana.
Venture Global, based in Arlington, Virginia, said the roof-raising was completed ahead of schedule and came just seven weeks after the roof-raising for tank one.
“This represents another major milestone in the construction of Plaquemines LNG, with both roofs now raised for the tanks serving Phase One,” said Michael Sabel, Chief Executive of Venture Global.
“With Phase One deep into construction and our recent final investment decision and full notice to proceed on Phase Two, Plaquemines is well positioned to be the next new major LNG capacity to reach the global market,” Sabel explained.
Four tanks
This is the second tank of four in total being constructed for Plaquemines, located on the banks of the Mississippi and south of New Orleans.
When operational each tank will be capable of storing 200,000 cubic metres of LNG.
“The roof weighs 900 tons and is 294 feet in diameter. Air raising allows for better and safer access as well as a faster construction schedule, as the roof can be erected concurrently with the shell. The tank dome was raised in 71 minutes using 0.3 psi of pressure underneath the roof,” the company said.
“It was raised from ground level to top of the wall height of 130 feet. Eventually, the tank will have an inner tank made from 9% nickel alloy and an outer wall and outer roof made from concrete to provide full containment of the LNG and provide the maximum level of resilience and safety,” added Venture Global.
The company’s existing export plant, the Calcasieu Pass facility in Cameron Parish in Louisiana, is located south of the city of Lake Charles and shipped its first cargo at the start of March 2022.
The Calcasieu Pass facility comprises 18 small-scale modular liquefaction Trains each with 0.626 million tonnes per annum of capacity and configured in 9 blocks for total nameplate output of 11.26 MTPA.
However, Venture Global has plans for more future output of about 60 MTPA of LNG export capacity.
The company’s three other projects, including the CP2 (Calcasieu Pass 2) venture, are each expected to have nameplate capacity of around 20 MTPA.
As well as the Plaquemines plant there is the Delta LNG project to be constructed on a 540-acre site also in Plaquemines Parish on the banks of the Mississippi.
European and Asian LNG prices are mixed as US Henry Hub stays under $2 and EU storage re-starts
European natural gas prices and LNG values were mixed as the winter season ended and there was a mixed bag of prices for the Northern Hemisphere summer while European Union gas storage was building already apart from in France while the front-month Asian spot price declined even amid more China optimism.
US LNG data shows UK overtaking China in overall list for deliveries while Cameron has highest price
The US Department of Energy has published its latest LNG monthly export data showing that the United Kingdom has formally overtaken China in the overall list of countries receiving the most cargoes, while the most expensive US shipments by far have been departing from the Cameron export point in Louisiana.
