LNG

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and Conrad Shipyard have secured Approval in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping for the basic design of a US-built LNG bunkering barge.

German state-controlled utility Uniper has agreed to offtake 2 mtpa of destination-flexible LNG from Canada’s proposed Ksi Lisims terminal in British Columbia. First deliveries are expected from 2032.

Pakistan LNG Ltd reportedly accepted a lone bid from TotalEnergies on 20 July, at $21.88 per MMBtu for a cargo nominally delivering on 27 to 28 July. It was the seventh spot purchase since QatarEnergy declared force majeure on 4 March, and the fifth procured for a July delivery window. The four before it cleared successively higher, at $16.74, $17.37, $18.23 and $20.70, the last of which was already the most expensive spot cargo Pakistan had bought since 2022. Not all of the purchased cargoes had berthed at the time of writing, according to our data.

PetroChina is considering divesting part of its 15% share in LNG Canada Development Inc. in Kitimat, British Columbia, to help finance a planned Phase 2 expansion of the liquefaction project, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The Chinese state-owned producer, which is working with an adviser to gauge buyer interest, may reduce its holding gradually through several smaller transactions.

U.S. regulators have cleared Cheniere Energy to introduce feed gas into the “warm end” of Midscale Train 7 at the Corpus Christi Stage 3 LNG project as part of commissioning activities.

QatarEnergies has notified Edison that it is unable to deliver three LNG cargoes, extending force majeure until the end of September, the Italian utility stated. A total of 24 cargoes, representing a combined 3 bcm of natural gas, are now subject to force majeure over the April-September delivery window, with Edison saying it has already replaced most of the lost volumes.

Optionality, not just molecules, is what LNG buyers are scrambling for as spare capacity shrinks and shipments from Qatar remain constraint. As sources for ‘safe’ supply become finite, each new shipping disruption has a greater impact on prices and procurement decisions, analysts warn.

Asyad Shipping has agreed to sell minority stakes in the companies that own its two newest carriers, Muscat LNG and Musandam LNG, to two Omani investors. The deal leaves Asyad with 80% of each vessel-owning company and brings domestic capital into the group’s gas-shipping platform.

Italian contractor Saipem has revised down its 2026 earnings guidance to factor in extra costs related to the conflict in the Middle East. EBITDA is now forecast at €1.75 billion, down from previously expected €1.9 billion, as the Milan-based group had to spend around €70 million in the first half to improve security for its staff ​in the Persian Gulf region and to overcome ​logistical challenges related to the Strait of Hormuz blockade.

TotalEnergies and Eni have approved development of the Cronos gas field offshore Cyprus, a project that will route gas through Egypt’s LNG export infrastructure with first production expected in 2028.