LNG

Aug 20 - Royal Dutch Shell has entered a framework agreement with Guanghui Energy Co of China to jointly purchase and distribute LNG. The privately-owned Chinese firm is building a regasification terminal in Qidong, Jangsu province, with a designed capacity of 0.6 mtpa in its first phase.

Once sanctions are lifted, Iran's NIGEC aims to sell gas to Persian Gulf states, notably Oman, for export as LNG to global markets. The head of National Iranian Gas Export Co. (NIGEC), Alireza Kameli, specifically referred to a proposal to build a gas pipeline from Iran to Oman which would enable Iran "to take advantage of the gas refineries and liquefaction facilities in Oman."

Feeding first coal seam gas into Train-1 at Santos' GLNG project is a key milestone for advancing the liquefaction terminal on Curtis Island. The first gas turbine was fired and the operator aims for to start up the plant in Q3-2015.

Aug 19 - Developers of the Lake Charles LNG terminal have received FERC's Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Final investment decisions from both Energy Transfer and BG Group are expected in mid-2016, with construction to start immediately thereafter and first LNG exports are anticipated in mid-2020.

Nova Scotia's second LNG project has got the go-ahead. Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) issued a 20-year licence to Pieridae Energy to import US gas for liquefaction and export from Canada to Europe.

The federal government of Australia has given Woodside five years to complete substantial works in developing the 11.7 mtpa FLNG project offshore Western Australia.

Aug 17 - Badly hit by low oil prices, Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has warned that its cash flow from operations this year is not expected to meet its capital expenditure (capex) and dividend commitments moving forward. CEO Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said the company would have to draw on its cash reserves.

Aug 18 - Though Santos' share price has fallen to an 11-year low, the Australian developer of the GLNG project stressed it has "no current intention" of raising equity to prop up its balance sheet. "Santos retains ample liquidity, with over $2 billion in cash and undrawn facilities currently available," the company said in a statement to the ASX.

Keen to establish Jamaica as an energy hub for the Caribbean, energy minister Philipp Paulwell has welcomed the latest LNG supply agreement between JPS and New Fortress Energy that will provide fuel for the 120 MW gas-fired power plant at Bogue, Montego Bay.

Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) has authorized Bear Head LNG to export liquefied natural gas from its project site on the Strait of Canso in Nova Scotia. The NEB approval follows DoE authorization to export up to 440 Bcf per year of US natural gas to Canada.