LNG

The European Union could source 75-80% of its LNG imports from the US, up from currently 57%, if the bloc honours all its offtake agreements and its gas demand reduction efforts falter. Analysts warn of an overreliance on US LNG, deemed “the most expensive LNG for EU buyers.”

Prices for fossil fuels and clean energy technologies are falling as overcapacity builds. “Oil prices have already come under pressure (…) and the same will soon be true in natural gas markets, as the wave of new LNG export projects start operations,” said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

A rebound in coal-burn is limiting China's power sector pull for LNG imports to 20 million tons, prompting Kpler analysts to revise down earlier projections of 35 Mt. Weather risk poses upside risk to coal-burn, with hotter summer forecast to add 50 Terawatt-hours (TWh) to China’s electricity demand.

A new wave of global LNG supply, particularly from the U.S. and Qatar, could reduce energy costs for European industry by up to €39 billion annually by 2032, with cumulative savings of around €180 billion, Wood Mackenzie forecasts.

Mitsubishi has disclosed it will buy Aethon Energy's assets in the Haynesville Shale – a move that positions the Japanese company to capitalise on burgeoning LNG exports from the US Gulf Coast. The transaction includes $5.2 billion in equity and $2.33 billion in assumed debt.

US oil giant Chevron has taken a final investment decision (FID) to expand gas production at the Leviathan field in Israel in a bid to boost gas supplies to neighbouring Egypt, which exports LNG to European buyers.

Morocco is advancing plans for an LNG import terminal and integrated 1.2 GW gas power plant at the Nador West Med Port. At the heart of the hub is a FSRU, initially sized at around 0.5 bcm/year, currently under tender and expected to start operations in late 2026 or early 2027.

Kimmeridge-owned Commonwealth LNG has entered a long-term deal to supply 1 mtpa to Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil exporter, sources told Reuters. This latest SPA brings Kimmeridge one step closer to achieving 8 mtpa of upfront-contracted LNG sales, out of the terminal’s total nameplate capacity of 9.5 mtpa.

TotalEnergies EP Nigeria has agreed to sell its 10 percent stake in Renaissance JV licenses to Vaaris Marine but retains its economic ties to blocks supplying feedgas to Nigeria LNG export terminal. The move signals majors are still committed to Nigerian LNG cash flows.

Japan’s biggest power generator JERA has signed a five-year Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Woodside Energy Trading Singapore to buy three LNG cargoes annually from 2027, securing winter supply of about 200,000 metric tons per year mainly sourced from Woodside’s Scarborough project.