LNG

Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) is preparing to commission its floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) in Stade in September to facilitate LNG imports for the peak winter season.

Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods anticipates first LNG at Golden Pass LNG terminal will be “produced in very early March.” The $10 billion liquefaction terminal near Sabine Pass, jointly owned by Exxon Mobil and QatarEnergy, will become one of the newest US LNG export plants as it advances through commissioning.

Commissioning delays have pushed back the timeline for Costa Azul LNG’s first 3.25 mtpa train, which is now expected to begin commercial operations in the first quarter of 2026. Train 2 remains in the early stages of development, envisioned to expand total capacity to 12 mtpa.

Developers of Freeport LNG have filed to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a 40-month extension to complete Train 4 expansion. If granted, the extension would postpone the in-service deadline from August 1, 2028, to December 1, 2031.

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The Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has urged for an accelerated start-up of the country’s first LNG-fuelled power project. Out of 14 gas power projects in planning, only the Nhon Trach 3&4 plants are on track to be commissioned in the second and third quarter of this year.

Nhon Trach 3&4, developed by the EPC contractors SamSung C&T and Lilama on behalf of PV Power. Situated near Ho-Chi-Minh City in Dong Nai province, the plants have a design capacity of 1.500 MW (2x750MW) and an annual average power production of 9 billion kWh per year.

Urge to bring another 6 GW onstream

Speaking at an industry forum, PM Chính underlined the urgency of advancing the remaining projects, particularly the Block B–O Mon and Hiep Phuoc 1 combined cycle gas power plants, which together have a projected capacity of 6,634 MW. 

According to Vietnam’s Office of the National Steering Committee on Energy Projects, these two CCGTs are “the only other projects with a realistic chance of becoming operational before 2030.”

To meet that timeline, however, developers must finalize power purchase agreements (PPAs), gas sale agreements (GSAs), and secure debt financing by early 2026.

PetroVietnam in June signed multiple agreements with its partners to advance the Block B–O Mon project, yet efforts have had limited effect so far. The national oil major’s initiative involves offshore gas fields in blocks 48/95 and 52/97 along with a 400-kilometer pipeline, designated to deliver natural gas to the O Mon thermal power complex in southwest Vietnam.

Moheshkhali Floating LNG, Bangladesh’s first regas facility, has been commissioned by Exelerate Energy just 25 month after the project was first announced. Qatargas supplied the commissioning cargo.

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order authorizing Cheniere Energy and its Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas export plant in Louisiana to introduce feed-gas and refrigerants for the initial commissioning phase of the second processing Train.

China National Oil Corporation's (CNOOC) will use Qatargas' first delivered LNG cargo to commission its new regasification terminal in Hainan province in the coming days.

Golar LNG, the shipping company with a midstream investment strategy, reported increased operating income of $23.9 million for the third quarter because of improved spot vessel earnings, but still posted a net loss for the three months of $5.9M because of interest rate swaps.

John McKay reports on the project that will bring imported LNG into Texas for the first time when it is completed in less than a year

Freeport LNG in Texas is winning the race to be the first onshore import terminal to open in the United States in 25 years as its project nears completion.

Imports to the US began with the construction of a terminal in Everett, Massachusetts, in 1971. The last mainland terminal to be constructed was Trunkline LNG’s Lake Charles facility in Louisiana, which was completed in 1982.