Therese Robinson

Israel is exploring options for building an onshore or floating LNG (FLNG) facility offshore, potentially expanding the country’s lucrative natural gas exports and its foothold in the global market. Over the past several years, the Israeli Energy Ministry has taken steps to use two of the country’s massive gas discoveries, the Tamar and Leviathan fields,…

Egypt has halted all LNG exports beginning in May as lower domestic natural gas production has forced the North African country to divert supply to local power demand during the summer months. Last year was Egypt’s hottest summer on record, with temperatures surpassing 95 F. This summer is forecast to have similar temperatures. Egypt’s Ministry…

Despite fuel restrictions at four of Jera Co. Inc.’s gas-fired power plants in Tokyo last month, Japan’s LNG imports are again expected to decline this year.  Liquefied natural gas stockpiles hit their lowest point since January 2021 last month, when they fell below the five-year average of 2.14 million tons (Mt). Cargo deliveries were delayed…

The Netherlands is expected to permanently close the huge Groningen natural gas field, the Dutch Senate announced this week. Groningen, one of the largest gas fields in Europe, caused earthquakes and damage to local communities for more than 20 years, which created debate among politicians, local residents and gas industry supporters for years about whether…

State-owned Petronas has started construction on Malaysia’s third floating LNG (FLNG) facility to better help it capitalize on stranded natural gas assets amid failing production from other fields.  The design and construction of the nearshore facility “is expected to be simpler, and upon completion, has the potential for improved production uptime as it will be…

Asian LNG buyers continue to snap up cheap cargoes as a mild winter in Europe has left storage inventories there high and more vessels are diverting to the region. But as spot prices move higher, buying activity is already slowing.  As temperatures have increased in the last week in North Asia, “we seem to be…

Australian LNG exports have ticked upward so far this year, driven in large part by higher volumes from the country’s east coast facilities.   Exports reached 21.5 million tons (Mt) through March 27, up from 20.6 Mt over the same time last year, according to Kpler. The uptick came from the Australia Pacific, Gladstone (GLNG) and…

South Korea’s plans to bring online more nuclear power capacity could cut natural gas demand this summer, but the strategy is unlikely to curb demand the way it has in Japan. “Korea’s nuclear projects have been under construction for some time, and Japan will be far ahead with switching their plants back on once they…

China imported nearly 13% more LNG in the first two months of the year compared to the same time in 2023 as lower spot prices have encouraged Chinese buyers to close more deals.  China’s imports of the super-chilled fuel reached 14.03 million tons (Mt) in January and February, up from 13.50 Mt during the same…