LNG

Volumes regasified and delivered by Adriatic LNG terminal reached a record 44% of Italy’s LNG imports in the first half of this year, amounting to about 10.3 billion cubic meters (bcm) – a 35% rise compared to the pre-year period. Adriatic LNG is Italy’s third most important gas entry point after pipelines from Algeria and Azerbaijan.

Toho Gas is developing a Cryo-DAC prototype direct air capture plant, designed to absorb one tonne of CO2 a year by using ‘cold energy’ from LNG regas terminals. The protype at Nagoya University is due completed and operational later this year.

By 2028, the Middle East envisages to add 60 mtpa of new LNG export capacity and developments will require more than $50 billion in capital spending, Rystad Energy forecasts. Qatar will lead the expansion with 48 mtpa alone through its North Field East and North Field South projects, the UAE will contribute 10 mtpa from the Ruwais LNG project, and TotalEnergies is developing the Marsa LNG project with a capacity of 1 mtpa in Oman.

PetroVietnam Power is preparing to start up the Nhon Trach 3 power plant in the third quarter of 2025, while Nhon Trach 4 is scheduled to start commercial operations by the end of this year. Capital expenditure (CAPEX) for developing the two LNG-fuelled power plants comes to US$ 1.4 billion, financed under a 75:25 debt vs equity ratio.

LNG imports to the Philippines are forecast to jump 508% through to 2029, spurred by the fast-depleting Malampaya field which forces gas power plant operators to source fuel from abroad. Projections from the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) show the transition to LNG could cost $3.9 billion (PHP218 bn) over the next four years.

US energy imports have fallen off a cliff and currently make up just 17% of domestic energy supply, half the share in 2006. Analysts attribute this plunge to the unfolding shale gas revolution and fast renewable energy build-out.

If the Brent crude oil market begins to “flirt with contango,” OPEC+ will likely cut production, Rystad reckons. The primary goal of oil and gas producers remains maintaining a backwardated market structure, with crude prices impacting oil-indexed gas and LNG contracts.

United Energy LNG (UE LNG) is working on a scalable liquefaction platform to serve industry, power gen, and transport markets. Front-End Loading (FEL) Phase 1 is underway at a site in Houston, a second site is underway, and a third site in Kansas set to start FEL in a few days.

Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project is back with the apparent restart of a 9 bcm/y liquefaction train. The carrier Iris reportedly departed from the terminal, direction Murmansk. Analysts doubt Novatek has found a buyer for its sanctioned product.

Start-up of the first repowered block of Taipower’s Hsinta plant is accelerating Taiwan’s switch from coal to LNG-fuelled power generation. The Government is actively promoting new nuclear and LNG in an effort to decarbonise.