LNG

Though Shell's acquisition of BG is creating the world's largest LNG seller, Wood Mackenzie believes that regardless of the Tepco/Chubu merger, the buy-side is getting more fragmented.

ConocoPhillips, operator of the small-scale Kenai LNG export plant in Alaska, has filed an application with the US Department of Energy for authority to export cargoes to Free Trade Agreement Nations and Non-FTA countries. The permit would extend the current export license that expires in March 2016.

Despite the fall in global oil and gas prices, growth of LNG use in Asia's power sector is limited by coal. "Only very competitively priced LNG has a chance to beat coal in Asia," the International Energy Agency's (IEA) executive director Dr Fatih Birol told the Singapore Energy Week today.

Gas Natural Fenosa has increased its interest in Metrogas of Chile, lifting its shareholding to more than 60% in the utility that also holds 20% of the South American country's Quintero LNG import terminal.

Shell Trading Rotterdam has signed a time-charter agreement that will see it operate 15 under construction LNG-fuelled barges in the Rhine region.

A subsidiary of American ship owner, LNG and logistics services provider Crowley Maritime has selected American Eagle LNG Partners as fuel supplier.

American LNG ship conversion services provider Clean Marine Energy plans to launch first LNG bunker barge in North America in February 2016.

President Obama has approved continuation of an alternative fuel tax credit, part of a bill called Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes Act (PATH).

Western Cascade and Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) are testing new ways to supply in central Alaska LNG under Alaska’s Interior Energy Project (IEP).

Canadian resources and mining company Teck Resources is piloting LNG as fuel conversion for six of its owned haul trucks at its Fording River steelmaking coal operation in British Columbia.