Asia-Pacific

Japan's May LNG imports plunge on rising nuclear, healthy stockpiles

Imports of LNG to Japan fell in May by 20%, data from the Ministry of Finance showed, as rising nuclear power usage and ample stockpiles reduced purchasing needs.

Indonesia's PGN to supply gas to Lotte Chemical petrochemical plant

Indonesia's state-controlled gas company Perusahaan Gas Negara said it would supply natural gas to a petrochemical plant operated by a unit of South Korea's Lotte Chemical Corp .

Pakistan approves LNG purchase deal with Azerbaijan

Pakistan approved a LNG purchase agreement framework with Azerbaijan, its finance ministry said.

Hydrogen hype meets hard realities for Tasmania's global ambitions

Hydrogen has been hyped as offering perhaps the greatest hope of a renewable energy to replace fossil fuels, and Australia's island state of Tasmania is lauded as one of the best places to develop the new industry.

CPGC and BASF accelerate onboard CO2 capture system development

CSSC Power Co., Ltd. and BASF have formed a solid cooperation to expedite the progress of onboard carbon capture system for commercial maritime applications.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines enters strategic investment agreement with Delfin

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced that it has entered into a strategic investment agreement with Delfin Midstream Inc enabling Delfin to accelerate clean low-cost LNG exports from North America to customers around the world.

Asahi Kasei and Mitsui to establish supply and procurement systems for bio-methanol

Asahi Kasei Corporation and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. will establish a supply and procurement scheme for bio-methanol produced in the United States.

Japan to invest $107 B in hydrogen supply over 15 years

Japan plans to invest $107.5 B over the next 15 years to supply the country with hydrogen, the government said, as it accelerates efforts to use the gas to shift to a low carbon economy.

Asian spot LNG prices flat on limited demand, ample spot supplies

Asian spot liquefied natural gas remained flat this week at a two-year low, as ample spot supplies and limited buying activity kept prices steady in a range.

Tokyo Gas to spend $1.4 B on renewable power at home and abroad

Japan's Tokyo Gas is shifting its overseas focus to renewable energy and away from regional upstream gas projects as it seeks to combat climate change, its president said, although it will invest in LNG.

Europe's gas prices stabilize as storage additions slow

Europe’s gas storage is refilling much more slowly than usual as the drop in prices encourages more consumption by industrial users and power generators while diverting LNG cargoes to Asia.

S&P Global seeks feedback on new LNG forward month price assessment

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights released a consultation note for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) price assessment for cargoes delivered a month after the front-month JKM benchmark.

Despite China heatwave, weak factory demand curbs LNG imports

An ongoing heatwave in China is boosting power demand for cooling, but tepid industrial demand and record high coal inventories are keeping prices at two-year lows and limiting spot LNG imports.

Russia's Sakhalin invites India and China to tap energy resources

The local governor of Russia's Pacific island of Sakhalin has invited companies from India and China to tap the region's energy resources following the departure of European and American oil and gas majors.

Bangladesh power cuts may last two more weeks on fuel shortages

Bangladesh could face power cuts for two more weeks, its power minister said, as higher electricity consumption because of rising temperatures has caused a fuel shortfall for generation plants.

Asian spot LNG prices slip for sixth straight week

Asian spot LNG prices fell for the sixth straight week to their lowest level in more than two years, while European LNG prices also declined on weak demand and high inventories.

Russia's Sibur switches to yuan for LPG settlements with China

Sibur, Russia's largest LPG exporter, in 2022 switched fully to conducting financial settlements with China in yuan, Russia's state news agency cited a top manager at the company as saying.

QatarEnergy to sign long-term LNG supply deal with Bangladesh

QatarEnergy will sign a long-term LNG supply deal with Bangladesh's state-owned gas company Petrobangla, the second Asian sales deal to be sealed for Qatar's North Field expansion project.

PetroChina, bp awarded 20 year access to Europe's Gate LNG terminal

PetroChina International and energy giant bp have won a tender that will allow each to handle 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually for 20 years at Rotterdam's Gate terminal, the Chinese state firm's first long-term access to a European gas terminal.

Asian spot LNG prices slide for fifth straight week on low demand

Asian spot liquefied natural gas prices have weakened for the fifth consecutive week on muted demand due to healthy stocks, remaining at their lowest level in two years.

Air Products signs $1-B deal for processing facility in Uzbekistan

Industrial gases maker Air Products and Chemicals said it had signed a $1-B deal with the Republic of Uzbekistan government and Uzbekneftegaz JSC to acquire, own and operate a natural gas processing facility in the country.

As gas reserves wane, Philippines faces rising costs in switch to LNG

With just four years before the Philippines' only gas field is set to run dry, the country has started importing liquefied natural gas, creating a fresh headache for a government struggling to curb high inflation.

China's main import gas pipelines

China, the world's third-largest gas buyer, imports the fuel in gaseous form via long-distance pipelines from three sources - central Asia, predominantly Turkmenistan, as well as Russia and Myanmar.

China prioritizing Turkmenistan over Russia in next big pipeline project

China is accelerating the building of a long-delayed Central Asian pipeline to source gas from Turkmenistan even as Russia pushes its own new Siberian connection, as Beijing juggles its energy security needs with diplomatic priorities.

PetroVietnam Gas signs deal for first LNG cargo from Shell Eastern Trading

PetroVietnam Gas said it had signed a contract to buy Vietnam’s first liquefied natural gas cargo from Singapore-based Shell Eastern Trading.

Spot LNG price drops to level that's not too hot, not too cold

The spot price of LNG in Asia is in the sweet spot of being low enough to boost buying interest, but not so low that it sparks a surge in demand.

Asian spot LNG prices slip to 2-year low on tepid demand

Asian spot LNG prices slipped to their lowest level in two years on weak demand and high inventories, while European LNG prices also fell below the $10 mark amid healthy stock build and limited need for additional supply.

Lower gas prices to push up India's FY24 gas demand by 7%

Indian gas utility GAIL (India) Ltd sees local gas demand growing by 6%-7% in the fiscal year to March, driven by lower prices and the resumption of supply under a deal with the former unit of Russia's Gazprom.

Chevron, Exxon seek state backing for Australia carbon capture, hydrogen projects

Chevron Corp and Exxon Mobil Corp, the two largest U.S. fossil fuel companies, are seeking Australia's backing for carbon capture and storage and hydrogen projects as they look to increase investment in a bid to slash intensity of carbon emissions.

Japan embraces G7's gas support but companies may face long-term problems

Japan's energy companies were quick to embrace the G7's support for natural gas investment in their statement last month but analysts caution that relying on the fossil fuel may open the companies up to long-term problems.