Canada Launches New Major Projects Office
The Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has launched the new Major Projects Office (MPO).The MPO is headquartered in Calgary and will have offices in other major Canadian cities. Its mandate is to serve as a single point of contact to get nation-building projects built faster by streamlining and accelerating regulatory approval processes and by helping to structure and co-ordinate financing of these projects as needed.The MPO will accelerate projects by creating a single set of conditions, thereby reducing the approval timeline for projects of national interest to a maximum of two years.
CEO Seeking to Build Philadelphia LNG Terminal Meets with White House
The CEO of a company seeking to build a liquefied natural gas terminal near Philadelphia told Reuters on Wednesday he met officials at the White House this week to "provide intelligence" about the project in the works for years despite local opposition.Penn America Energy Holdings wants to export 7.2 million tons a year of LNG from a site near Philadelphia to markets in Europe and Asia. Franc James, the CEO, said he had a meeting at the White House on Tuesday and that the company is considering several locations other than the original site in Chester…
US Companies Seek Exemption from Trump LNG Plan
U.S. energy groups are asking President Donald Trump's administration to exempt liquefied natural gas tankers from a new rule that will require producers to move an increasing percentage of their exports on U.S.-built vessels as part of a broader push to revive domestic shipbuilding.The U.S. is the world's No. 1 LNG exporter at $34 billion annually and the Trump administration has been a supporter of the industry in his push for energy dominance.In a move that shocked the industry, the U.S.
Advisers try to Pump Brakes on Trump LNG Export Pledge
Advisers to U.S.President-elect Donald Trump are urging him to take a patient approach to restarting approvals for liquefied natural gas export licenses, fearing rapid approvals will only get overturned in court, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.The recommendations offer a preview of the challenges Trump will face as his bold campaign promises to slash regulation and unfetter industry crash into the reality of governing an unwieldy bureaucracy.In an election-year move…
French Firm Secures Service Contract for Coral Sul FLNG Off Mozambique
GTT, the technology expert in membrane containment systems for the transport and storage of liquefied gases, has signed a service contract with Coral FLNG for Eni-operated Coral Sul FLNG unit.Under the agreement, GTT will provide technical support services to ensure the efficient operation and maintenance of the LNG storage tanks on board of the Coral Sul FLNG.These services include on-site and remote technical assistance, on-site testing, inspection, emergency assistance, engineering…
MET Group to Build Its First LNG Vessel in Partnership with Celsius
As part of its LNG growth strategy, Swiss-based MET Group has reached a partnership agreement with Celsius to build its first LNG vessel, scheduled for delivery in 2027.The LNG carrier will be constructed by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) and will support the growing LNG activities of MET Group.MET’s JV equity partner Celsius is a leading ship owner and operator focusing on sustainable, infrastructure-like investments and special opportunities within the maritime industry.The…
Höegh LNG Rebrands as Höegh Evi
Marine energy infrastructure solutions company Höegh LNG announced it has rebranded as Höegh Evi in a move that reflects its expansion beyond liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels and terminals.Standing for “energy vector infrastructure,” the name Evi encompass a wider range of clean energy solutions, including floating infrastructure for ammonia and hydrogen, as well as carbon transport and storage (CCS), in addition to LNG.“In a world of rapid change and evolving energy demands, customers need a partner to help them balance today’s energy security needs with tomorrow’s clean energy ambitions.
Predictive Tech Could Extend Tank Inspection Intervals on LNG Carriers
Inspection intervals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier membrane tanks could be safely extended thanks to monitoring technology and predictive maintenance, according to a study led by GTT Group, Lloyd’s Register and Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited.The International Gas Carriers (IGC) Code and IACS UR Z16 rules require LNG carrier cargo tanks to be inspected internally every five years. This joint study explored whether this interval could be extended…
Qatar's Bigger LNG Expansion to Squeeze US, Other Rivals
Qatar's planned expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production could see it control nearly 25% share of the global market by 2030 and squeeze out rival projects including in the United States where President Biden paused new export approvals, market experts say.Qatar, one of the world's top LNG exporters, plans an 85% expansion in LNG output from its North Field's current 77 million metric tons per year (mtpa) to 142 mtpa by 2030, from previously expected 126 mtpa.Some market experts said that the move will have an impact on global projects in the United States…
QatarEnergy Pays Homage to Rex Tillerson by Giving His Name to New LNG Carrier
QatarEnergy has named the first LNG carrier to be delivered as part of its new LNG fleet expansion program as Rex Tillerson, in recognition of the former Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, who also served as the 69th United States Secretary of State.During his 10-year term as Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, Tillerson oversaw the consolidation of relations with the State of Qatar and its energy sector, resulting in strategic partnerships and significant investments in Qatar’s LNG industry.While making his mark on the global energy scene…
Woodside Preserves Place for Australian Seafarers
Woodside Energy has reached agreement with three Australian maritime unions on the Australian crewing of an LNG vessel.The agreement with the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union – Maritime Union of Australia Division; the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers; and the Australian Maritime Officers Union preserves a role for Australian-resident seafarers in the maritime industry delivering LNG to customers across Asia.The agreement will support employment of around 70 Australian-resident seafarers on an LNG carrier within Woodside’s chartered fleet.
QatarEnergy Orders 17 Ultra-Modern LNG Carriers for $3.9 Billion
Qatari oil and gas company QatarEnergy has ordered 17 "ultra-modern" LNG carriers from South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).The deal, signed at a ceremony in Seoul, is valued at 14.2 billion Qatari Riyals (currently around $3,9 billion), and marks the start of the second phase of QatarEnergy's LNG ship acquisition program, which will support its expanding LNG production capacity from the North Field LNG expansion and Golden Pass LNG export projects as well as its long…
DNV Awards AiP to HD KSOE’s Hydrogen System for LH2 Carrier
DNV has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and its subsidiaries HD Hyundai Heavy Industry (HD HHI) and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) for their new hydrogen system.HD KSOE aims to complete the development of the hydrogen carrier technology that enables large-capacity hydrogen transportation and storage by around 2030.HD KSOE's new system utilizes boil-off gas from hydrogen transport for a hybrid propulsion system, integrating hydrogen dual-fuel engines and fuel cells.
ABS Approves LNG Containment System from LNT Marine and SDARI
LNT Marine and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS for the latest variant of their LNT A-BOX liquified natural gas (LNG) containment system, which is more than three times the size of the previous design.The new design is for a 175,000-cubic-meter (m3) LNG carrier, a significant increase in capacity from the earlier 45,000 m3 design installed on the pioneering ABS-classed Saga Dawn carrier for Saga LNG Shipping.The LNT A-BOX system features self-supporting IMO Type-A tanks mounted within an insulated hold space.
Electricity Constraints Force Canada's First LNG Terminal to Delay Renewable Shift
Shell PLC's LNG Canada export project in British Columbia plans to start building its proposed second phase with natural gas-powered turbines and switch to electricity as more renewable power becomes available, a top executive said, a decision that means the expansion project will initially generate high greenhouse gas emissions.LNG Canada, in which Japan's Mitsubishi Corp owns a 15% stake, is set to be Canada's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal. The first phase…
Nigeria to Build its First FLNG Unit
Nigerian company UTM Offshore has signed a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for the development of an FLNG facility in Nigeria with JGC Corporation, Technip Energies, and KBR.This will be Nigeria's first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility. Africa currently has two FLNG units in operation, the Hili Episeyo in Cameroon, and, as of recently, the Coral Sul FLNG in Mozambique. In Nigeria, the FLNG unit will be used for development of offshore block OML 204.According to Chief Timipre Sylva…
Cheniere to Fix Louisiana LNG Plant After Failing Pollution Test
Top U.S. LNG exporter Cheniere Energy Inc said it will repair and replace equipment at its Louisiana terminal after tests showed it exceeded newly-imposed hazardous emissions limits on certain known carcinogens, but the work will have no material impact on operations.A round of testing showed at least one of Cheniere's turbines at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Louisiana failed the new standards, while the turbines in Texas at the company's only other U.S.
Cheniere Asks Biden Admin to Drop Pollution Rule
Cheniere Energy Inc has asked the Biden administration to exempt it from limits on emissions of cancer-causing pollutants, arguing they would force the top U.S. exporter of liquefied natural gas to shut for an extended period and endanger the country's efforts to ramp up supplies to Europe, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.The request imposes an uncomfortable dilemma on President Joe Biden’s administration as it tries to balance efforts to slash pollution from the fossil…
LNG Prices Could Stay High for a Few Years, Woodside CEO Says
Woodside Energy Group, Australia's top independent natural gas producer, sees liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices staying high for a few years as the market adjusts to supply disruptions after sanctions on Russia for its Ukraine invasion."With the invasion, we are seeing the world try to move away from Russian hydrocarbons and that means that demand for LNG from places like Australia is up," Woodside Chief Executive Meg O'Neill said."We do expect ... prices to remain elevated for the next year…
US Push to Export LNG Amid Ukraine Conflict Slowed by Climate Concerns
Early White House efforts to boost U.S. liquefied natural gas exports and cut Europe's reliance on gas from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine are proceeding slowly, because of concerns about climate change impacts, government and industry sources said.The Ukraine crisis has underscored Europe's dependence on Russia, which supplies about 40% of its natural gas used to heat homes and generate electricity, and the Biden administration has promised its allies it will help break…
SHI Demos SENSE IV, Its Own Natural Gas Liquefaction Process
Samsung Heavy Industries announced on November 18 that it successfully held a demonstration ceremony at the Geoje shipyard for "SENSE IV (SAMSUNG Enhanced Nitrogen Split Exapnsion IV)", SHI's in-house natural gas liquefaction system.The demonstration, which began on November 16, was attended by several major LNG producers and classification societies.The natural gas liquefaction system, called "An LNG plant on the sea," is one of the main processes of FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas)…
North Field Expansion: QatarEnergy Orders Six LNG Carriers from S. Korean Shipyards
Qatar's state-run energy firm QatarEnergy, until recently known as Qatar Petroleum, has ordered six LNG tankers, four from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and two from Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in support of its North Field expansion project.Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: “We are pleased to take this further step with DSME and SHI, which have built 23 Q-Flex and 14 Q-Max LNG vessels for Qatar as part of our previous LNG expansion project.”Al-Kaabi further said: These orders…
Höegh LNG CEO Støhle Resigns
Höegh LNG announced on Monday that its president and CEO Sveinung J. S. Støhle is resigning to purse a career outside of Norway.The Norwegian shipowner said Støhle gave his resignation notice on October 9 and that he will remain in his role until November 1.Thor Jørgen Guttormsen will act as interim president and CEO effective November 1 and until a permanent successor is appointed.An LNG industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience in shipping and oil and gas, Støhle has worked for Höegh LNG since 2005. He served as director and chairman of the board of directors of Höegh LNG Partners LP since April 2014 but stepped down as a chairman when assuming the position as CEO of Höegh LNG Partners LP since August 2020.