In this issue

 

LNG trade returned to growth after three years of stagnation, according to according to a report from Cedigaz, the France-based consultants and information organization that publishes analyses and surveys of…
Our Europe editor French energy and liquefied natural gas engineering company Technip said it achieved its first-quarter objectives in the “harsh” downturn as it advanced the world’s first two floating…
Amec Foster Wheeler, the energy and LNG engineering and construction company, said it had appointment Jonathan Lewis from US company Halliburton as its new Chief Executive with effect from 1…
Our North America editor in New York FMC Technologies Inc., the US-based energy and liquefied natural gas project contractor and services supplier, posted a first-quarter drop of 29 percent in…
How Texas plant is now emerging from the mist of the Gulf Coast Our North America editor in New York Cheniere Energy, operator of the Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas…
Our Asia-Pacific editor Australia’s largest LNG plant operator Woodside posted an almost 31 percent plunge in liquefied natural gas revenue in the third quarter to US$727.4 million from $1.05 billion…
Chevron Corp. said its Wheatstone venture in Western Australia has signed a natural gas agreement with Alinta Energy for the local domestic market in addition to current LNG supply agreements…
Our Europe editor Finland has begun sea trials for the world’s first LNG-powered icebreaker named “Polaris” and built at the Arctech Helsinki Shipyard.
Mitsui Osk Lines, the Japanese shipping company involved in operating about 70 liquefied natural gas carriers, has established a new LNG management company in Hong Kong called MOL LNG Transport…
United Arab Shipping Co., Royal Dutch Shell and the world’s largest liquefied natural gas producer, Qatargas, have signed an agreement to jointly study projects related to the development of LNG…
Our North America editor in New York US energy companies and liquefied natural gas project developers have hailed the passing by the Senate of a bill that will make it…
Japanese LNG imports of long-term contract and other cargoes edged higher last month for the first time in 2016 in a market reversal in terms of volumes even as prices…
Our Europe editor OLT Offshore LNG Toscana’s Italian floating import facility, deployed offshore the Mediterranean coast, said 12 different companies presented offers in its tender for cargoes and it had…
Our North America editor in New York The US Department of Energy has authorized Flint Hills Resources, based in Wichita, Kansas, to export around 120,000 gallons per day of LNG…

News Nudges

Sabah to invest in Petronas’ FLNG project

Sabah is to sign an agreement with PETRONAS that would see the state acquire a 40% stake in an FLNG project. Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, said the deal was made possible through a co-operation agreement previously signed with the Malaysian energy giant to enable the state government to participate more actively in Sabah's oil and gas industry. “We have successfully reached an agreement with PETRONAS, and in the next few months, we will sign an agreement under which Sabah will receive a 40% stake in the state's floating LNG project. “In Sandakan, PETRONAS has secured an oil and gas field, and Sabah will receive a 20% stake in the project there,” he said, adding that the state and its people stood to benefit significantly from the strong relationship between the state and federal governments. He claimed that Sabah continued to attract growing investor interest, due to the state government's investor-friendly policies.


MISC wins LNG contract - orders vessel

Malaysia’s PETRONAS’ shipping arm, MISC has secured a 10-year contract from Malaysia LNG (MLNG) to provide long-term LNG shipping services. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, MISC said it had received a letter of award from MLNG for the vessel's long-term timecharter, with the operation expected to start in 2028. As a result, MISC has signed a contract with China's Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding to build a small-scale 18,000 cu m LNGC. "The project is strategically important as it supports PETRONAS' continued LNG supply to Sendai City, Japan, reinforcing a long-standing partnership of nearly 30 years and ensuring the reliable delivery of LNG to meet the customer's long-term energy needs,” MISC said in the filing.


Golar closes $600 mill credit facility

Golar LNG Limited has closed a new $600 mill senior secured revolving credit facility (RCF). The RCF further strengthens Golar’s balance sheet flexibility and facilitates further FLNG growth, the company claimed. It was secured by Golar’s investment in the MKII FLNG currently being converted in China to serve a 20-year contract with Argentina’s Southern Energy. The facility received strong backing from a consortium of banks including ABN AMRO, Citibank, Danske Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, Golar said.


Silversteam ALS success

London-based engineering design company, Silverstream has installed more than 160 air lubrication systems (ALS) worldwide, which have found favour on LNGCs, plus other vessel types. The latest fitting involve two Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs), which brought the total up to 164 vessels fitted with the technology. This growth in the number of installations reflects the shipping industry’s commitment to air lubrication, as an independently verified technology that delivers immediate fuel and emissions reductions, Silverstream claimed. Reflecting on this significant milestone for the company, Noah Silberschmidt, Founder and CEO, said: “Reaching more than 160 vessels on the water is a significant achievement and I am grateful to our customers, colleagues and partners who have played a huge role in this success. “Shipowners increasingly look for solutions that can provide a hedge against rising fuel costs by reducing fuel consumption and emissions immediately. The growth of our installed fleet shows that air lubrication is a trusted and proven part of future-proofing strategies,” he said.