Gas Utilities News

Japan, the world's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) importer, is facing its latest challenge in securing vital gas supplies from Russia after Western reinsurers said they would halt marine war insurance for ships travelling in Russian waters from Jan. 1.Having joined other G7 countries in imposing sweeping sanctions on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine, Japan has been reducing its reliance on Russian oil and coal, but it continues to buy Russian LNG amid elevated prices in a tight…

Greece has received five non-binding bids to operate part of a port in northern city of Kavala, the country's privatization agency (HRADF) said on Friday.HRADF received expressions of interest for a sub-concession to operate a multipurpose terminal of Philippos II port, currently operated by Kavala Port Authority.The initial bidders are a consortium of IMERYS SA, Goldair Cargo and I.M.G., and the International Port Investments Kavala consortium, which includes Black Summit Financial Group, EFA Group and GEK TERNA.

India's state-run natural gas firm GAIL (India) Ltd has hired a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier on short-term charter from Japan's shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).MOL, the world’s largest operator of LNG carriers, in its press release, did not disclose further details of the charter deal, including the duration of the contract, the name of the ship and the day rate.GAIL is the largest natural gas Company of India with approx. 11,400 Km of cross country existing trunk pipeline network and another 4,000 Km pipelines in advance stage of completion. GAIL is ranked no. 1 gas pipeline company in India and among the top gas utilities in Asia.GAIL currently holds a LNG / RLNG portfolio of about 14 MTPA from various long and short-term contracts.

Sempra Energy, the US group that aims to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility near Ensenada, Mexico, to serve customers in Asia moved closer to becoming reality as the natural gas utilities holding company  announced agreements with three international firms.The San Diego-based company announced in a press release that  that its subsidiaries Infraestructura Energetica Nova  (IEnova) and Sempra LNG & Midstream have signed three Heads of Agreements (HOAs) with affiliates of Total, Mitsui & Co. and Tokyo Gas Co. for the full export capacity of Phase 1 of the Energia Costa Azul liquefied natural gas (ECA LNG) project located in Baja California…

India's new LNG import terminals will face major challenges due to price sensitive demand, ICRA said in its latest update on gas utilities sector. "Crowding of regasification terminals could put pressure on utilization levels, regasification charges and returns of new entrants," says ICRA (formerly Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited). "Despite high domestic demand-supply deficit, the demand for Regasified-Liquefied Natural Gas (R-LNG) in the country is critically dependent upon the prices of liquid fuels and global spot LNG prices," Icra said. Gas demand is expected to increase to 330 million standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd) by 2024-25, while domestic natural gas production will rise 60 per cent to about 150 mmscmd.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced that the naming ceremony for a newbuilding LNG carrier for Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. was held at the Nagasaki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. The vessel was ordered by MOL and Osaka Gas International Transport, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Osaka Gas, and built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Guests from MOL, Osaka Gas, MHI, and other organizations were on hand as Osaka Gas President Takehiro Honjo named the vessel the LNG Mars, and his wife cut the rope. The vessel is co-owned by MOL and Osaka Gas International Transport, and will serve a wide variety of projects including Osaka Gas' Gorgon Project.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. President: Koichi Muto) today announced the naming ceremony of 'LNG Venus', a newbuilding liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier held at the Nagasaki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI; President: Shunichi Miyanaga; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo). The vessel is under construction at MHI and will serve Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. As a large group of guests looked on, Osaka Gas President Ozaki named the vessel, and his wife cut the rope. The LNG Venus is co-owned by MOL and Osaka Gas’ wholly owned subsidiary, Osaka Gas International Transport Inc. (President: Shigeru Chikamoto; Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture). After its completion, it will sail under a charter contract with Osaka Gas.

Commissioner David Porter of the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) Tuesday visited several south Texas border oil and gas facilities and pipeline rights-of-way to meet with field staff, operators, law enforcement and security officials to examine the vulnerability of Texas’ critical industry infrastructure. "While oil and gas operators take every precaution to limit any threat to their equipment and product, the unfettered flow of illegal aliens complicates their efforts,” said Porter. Commissioner Porter recently sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske, questioning the agency’s commitment to border security and the protection of vital U.S. interests and infrastructure.

Ziff Energy and Gas Processing Management Inc. analyze the gas growth areas of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin in Alberta and British Columbia. Ziff Energy, a division of HSB Solomon Associates LLC (Solomon), and Gas Processing Management Inc. (GPMi) announced the launch of the Gas West for LNG Growth Study, which analyzes the gas growth areas of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin in Alberta and British Columbia as key suppliers of natural gas to the developing liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities on the West Coast of British Columbia (Canada) and Oregon (United States). The proponents of 16 natural gas liquefaction (NGL) and export facilities have applied to the Canadian National Energy Board for licenses to export gas volumes or have announced potential projects.

There are many different views on the future of energy supplies, but strong agreement in two areas; over the next 25 years or so population growth and GDP growth in the developing economies, particularly China and India, will drive global energy demand to increase by some 50% and second; while oil’s share of the energy mix will decline, the largest growth will be in consumption of natural gas. Why? Natural gas is an outstanding fuel for power generation, gas-fired power plant has the lowest Capex…

A strong continuation in the recovery of LNG expenditure is underway worldwide, driven by a growing demand for natural gas. The new eighth edition of Douglas-Westwood’s (DW) World LNG Market Forecast expects that global capital expenditure (Capex) will total nearly $228B during the 2013-2017 period. The surge includes capital expenditure on base-load onshore and offshore fixed LNG liquefaction, LNG carriers and LNG regasification, via both onshore and offshore fixed import terminals.

In its effort to continue its expansive growth in the South American market, Iridium® Satellite announced a partnership with Tesacom®, one of the key South American channel partners of Iridium service provider, Stratos Global Corporation. Iridium is a fast-growing service provider in the mobile satellite services (MSS) sector and operates the largest commercial – and only global – satellite constellation in the world. Stratos, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, is one of the key Iridium service partners operating around the world. Stratos is planning to offer a number of enhancements for Tesacom customers through the Stratos Advantage…