Drought-hit Panama Canal Lets More Unbooked Ships Pass in bid to Ease Queue
The drought-hit Panama Canal has temporarily limited the number of new reserved passage slots to help ease a bottleneck of ships that are waiting to transit without reservations, the waterway's authority said on Thursday.A logjam of commercial vessels seeking to pass through the canal, one of the world's busiest trade passages, has sent companies that typically use the waterway chasing alternative routes, according to executives and data.Any delay or disruption can put shippers on edge.
Fire-damaged Freeport LNG Receives Approval for Partial Restart
Freeport LNG, the second largest U.S. liquefied natural gas exporter, said on Tuesday it had received regulatory approval to restart commercial operations at its Texas processing plant.The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the partial restart of two liquefaction trains, two tanks, and one loop and dock each, a filing showed on Tuesday. Restart of a third train, along with a tank, a loop, and a dock, would require additional permission."The second LNG berth and third LNG storage tank are expected to return to service in May," Freeport said.The closely-held U.S.
Freeport LNG Says Texas Plant Repairs Completed
Freeport LNG, the second-largest U.S. liquefied natural gas exporter, on Monday said it had completed repairs to its Texas plant and asked U.S. regulators for permission to take early steps to restart the fire-idled facility.The closely-held liquified natural gas (LNG) company's export facility was knocked offline by a fiery blast on June 8 and barred from resuming production until federal regulators completed an extensive safety review and approved resulting changes.Freeport LNG sought permission to begin introducing LNG into the plant's piping system…
UAE Eases Qatar Shipping Ban
The United Arab Emirates has eased a ban on the shipping of goods between it and Qatar enforced under a political and economic boycott of Doha, according to port circulars and an industry source.The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain severed diplomatic, trade and transport ties with Qatar in June 2017 over allegations it supports terrorism, a charge Doha denies.An Abu Dhabi Ports circular dated Feb. 12 cancelled previous directives that banned cargoes of Qatar origin from UAE waters and ports and those of UAE origin from Qatar.It maintained a ban on vessels flying the Qatar flag…
US Becomes Net Natgas Exporter for a Day with Sale to Brazil
The United States turned into a net natural gas exporter for a day after the first liquefied natural gas export from Cheniere Energy Inc's Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana left for Brazil on Wednesday. The United States however is not expected to become a net exporter of gas on an annual basis until 2017 after more pipelines to Mexico and LNG export terminals enter service, according to federal energy estimates. The United States was last a net exporter of gas on an annual basis in 1957. On Wednesday, the United States imported a net 4.8 billion cubic feet of gas per day from Canada and 0.2 bcfd from various LNG import terminals for a total of about 5 bcfd in imports.
LNG Export Strategies on Agenda at London 'Russian Day'
The role of Russia as a key global supplier of natural gas will be amplified at upcoming 'Russian Day' event. The Russian Energy Minister, Alexander Novak, confirms he will host a special ‘Russian Day’ at one of the world’s leading gas industry events in London this October. The role of Russia as a key global supplier of natural gas will be examined during the day-long session, which also welcomes Novak’s Deputy, Pavel Fedorov, plus chief executives from petrochemical giant SIBUR and liquefied natural gas exporter, Sakhalin Energy. Other leading government and state energy executives will also be present to explore future investment and financing issues in Russian energy and project development.
