18
Jan
2021

Gas Matters Today | news roundup | w/c 11 January 2021

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​International

Gas-to-power player New Fortress Energy has set a target of having 15-20 LNG terminals lined up globally by the end of 2021, after the firm announced that it has agreed to acquire LNG-to-power firm Hygo Energy Transition for USD 2.1 billion and Golar LNG Partners for USD 1.5 billion.

Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa are joining forces to develop an offshore wind turbine and integrated electrolyser in the base of its tower, with a view to increasing efficiency and reducing energy losses and the cost of green hydrogen.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company have signed a memorandum of cooperation focussing on producing ammonia and recycling carbon in a deal that positions ADNOC to become a leader in alternative energy fuels.

​Africa

Mozambique – Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi has met with his Tanzanian counterpart to discuss efforts to confront terrorism amid an Islamist insurgency gripping the Cabo Delgado region, which is home to the Total-led Mozambique LNG project.

​Asia Pacific

US-based investment firm KKR has raised USD 3.9 billion for its inaugural Asia Pacific infrastructure fund, becoming the “largest pan-regional infrastructure fund to have been raised for Asia Pacific”, the firm said.

Philippines – Shell has revived plans to install an FSRU in the Philippines after filing a “notice to proceed” request with the country’s energy department eight years after the Anglo-Dutch major first proposed an LNG terminal in the Batangas province.

​Australasia

Australia – Shell has restarted loading LNG cargoes from Prelude FLNG, the world’s largest floating LNG vessel, after a technical fault last February forced the floating LNG facility into an 11-month long shutdown.

Gorgon LNG operator Chevron is set to face more regular environmental reviews for the plant after the Western Australia state government halved the duration of the environmental permit following appeals by the Conservation Council of WA.

​Central & South America

Argentina – State-owned YPF’s plans to embark on an exploration push in the Vaca Muerta shale play took a hit last week after major bondholders reportedly launched an attempt to block the company’s proposal to restructure USD 6.2 billion in debt.

​Europe

France – Total has become France’s market leader in biogas after acquiring the country’s top biomethane producer Fonroche Biogaz as part of a strategy to produce 4-6 TWh of biomethane a year by 2030.

Total and Engie are teaming to build a solar-powered, green hydrogen plant at a biorefinery near Marseille, which could begin producing renewable supply as soon as 2024, the French duo has said.

Ireland – The prospect of LNG imports into Ireland are looking increasingly bleak after the Irish environment minister said the Port of Cork has ruled out development of an FSRU, following the expiration of an MOU signed with US developer NextDecade.

Italy – Steel pipe manufacturer Tenaris plans to begin using green hydrogen instead of gas after partnering with Italian firms Snam and Edison to install a 20 MW electrolyser at a pipe mill, marking the first pilot project of its kind in the Italian steel sector.

Netherlands – The 2.5 mpta Porthos CCS project, which aims to capture CO2 from Rotterdam port, has taken another step towards FID after project partners including Shell and ExxonMobil applied for up to USD 2.5 billion in state funding.

UK – India’s Essar is teaming up with Progressive Energy to build a blue hydrogen production facility at a refinery near Liverpool, which could deliver 80% of the UK government’s 2030 hydrogen production target of 5 GW, the firms have said.

​Mediterranean

Israel – The Competition Authority has recommended the government reject bids by Chevron and Delek for offshore Block 72 on the grounds that the pair already hold a strong position in the domestic market in a move that could pave the way for rival Energean to scoop the licence.

​Middle East

Qatar – Qatar Petroleum has launched its new sustainability strategy, under which the firm has set out its emissions reduction targets, including the goal of capturing more than 7 mt of CO2 annually by 2027, through carbon capture storage technology.

​North America

US – Gas and oil production is expected to continue falling in 2021 and remain below pre-Covid levels before starting to recover in 2022, according to the EIA’s first Short Term Energy Outlook of the year.

Naturgy has acquired US solar company Hamel Renewables, in a landmark deal which sees the Spanish utility gain its first foothold in the fast-growing US renewables market.

Chevron has invested in California-based start-up Blue Planet in a move to strengthen its position in CCUS technologies.

​Russia & CIS

Russia – A subsidiary of Gazprom is reportedly using associated gas at a remote Siberian oil field in Russia to power an onsite Bitcoin mining operation that allows the field operator to avoid venting or flaring and generate revenues that far exceed selling the molecules.

Contact the editor:

Eric Thorp
[email protected]

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