LNG

Australia’s Botala Energy has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NOVO Energy, a Southern African gas distributor, to jointly develop an LNG supply chain.

The MoU seeks to address the region’s increasing demand for natural gas by utilising Botala’s coal bed methane (CBM) resources in Botswana and NOVO’s established infrastructure and distribution network in South Africa.

SEFE Marketing & Trading Singapore (SM&TS) has reached  a settlement with Indian state-owned GAIL (India) regarding the arbitration proceedings initiated by GAIL alleging the non-supply of LNG cargoes during 2022/2023.

Deliveries to GAIL were restored in March, 2023.

Swiss-based energy trading company, MET Group has opened a Czech Republic subsidiary.

Prague-based MET Česká Republika will initially focus on supporting Czech wholesale energy market participants, such as large energy intensive industrial companies as well as utilities - with the aim of offering its services to smaller customers and households at a later stage.

The Czech company has received all the necessary licenses for power and gas trading.

MET is already active in the country. As part of its international operations, the Group recently delivered regasified LNG to the Czech market utilising its import capacities through Germany.

In the Czech Republic, the coal-to-gas switch will be of great importance in the coming years in order to reduce emissions, MET said, adding that it plays an active role in the European green transition and the diversification of energy sources, especially in the natural gas area.

MET recently secured long-term US LNG supply agreements and claimed to have one of the most diversified LNG import structures from a geographical perspective in Europe.

MET Czech Republic CEO, Pavel Balada. commented: “We are entering the Czech market as a full-fledged partner – our aim is to bring security of supply and stability to the market, and support the country in its energy transition.

“Being part of an integrated energy company, such as MET Group, makes us a reliable partner for our Czech customers. With our expertise, we want to support the Czech Republic in the ongoing de-carbonisation of the economy,” he said.

Russia is ready to supply Vietnam with oil and LNG, according to a joint Russian/Vietnamese communique adopted following the visit of Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, to Hanoi.

‘The parties noted the readiness of the Russian Federation to supply oil, liquefied natural gas and its processed products to Vietnam, to develop new energy projects, including in the field of renewable energy, which is a promising area of co-operation,’ the communique said.

Western LNG, one of the  partners in the Canadian Nisga’a Nation-backed Ksi Lisims $9 bill project to be located near Prince Rupert (BC), has secured $150 mill.

The money will advance the LNG and associated natural gas pipeline project towards a final investment decision (FID), expected later this year, the company said.

Last year, large Russian oil and gas developer,  PAO NOVATEK’s hydrocarbon production totalled 667 mill barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe), the company reported.

This included 84.08 bill cu m of natural gas and 13.8 mill tonnes of liquid hydrocarbons (gas condensate and crude oil), resulting in an increase in total hydrocarbons produced of 21.6 mmboe, or by 3.3%, compared with 2023.

German state-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) is marketing short-term 2025 regasification slots at the Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbüttel LNG receiving terminals.

Auctions of ‘obligation to deliver’ (OTD) slots in both terminals will be held on 4th February, 2025

‘No obligation to deliver’ (NOTD) slots will be on the 5th (Wilhelmshaven) and 6th (Brunsbüttel) February, 2025, respectively.

The slots cover services for regasification, LNG storage, and send-out to the gas grid.

The auctions start at €0.60per MMBtu for OTD and at €0.71 per MMBtu for the NOTD.

Gasunie has appointed Jan Boekelman interim CFO with effect from 11th February, 2025.

Boekelman, who was previously CFO at Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN) and development organisation SNV, will take over from Janneke Hermes, who is joining Koninklijke Wagenborg after 23 years’ employment at Gasunie.

The Norwegian Ministry of Energy has awarded energy major, Equinor, 27 new production licenses in this year's Awards in Predefined Areas (APA).

Equinor was awarded 20 licenses in the North Sea, six in the Norwegian Sea and one in the Barents sea. The oil and gas major will be the operator of seven of the licenses and a partner in 20.

Specialist law firm HFW has expanded its international commodities practice and continued to grow its Australian business with the appointment of energy M&A and projects partner, Graeme Gamble.

Gamble, who joined HFW from Herbert Smith Freehills on 1st January, 2025, and is based in Perth, has more than 25 years' experience advising clients in the energy sector.

He is admitted in Australia and England and Wales and has practiced in London and Perth and specialises in energy related M&A and project development, including carbon capture and storage, LNG liquefaction and import and offshore wind projects and operations.

In addition, he has advised on numerous significant LNG trades between Australia, Asia, the US, and Europe.

Earlier in his career, Gamble spent several years as Senior Legal Counsel at the UK’s Centrica Energy where he was responsible for its LNG import capacity position at the Isle of Grain LNG import terminal, North Sea M&A and field development, plus Centrica's offshore wind portfolio development and operations in the North and east Irish Seas.