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Bill Proposes Excise Tax Based on LNG's Energy Content
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January 27, 2012
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Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) has proposed legislation that would adjust the calculation of excise taxes on LNG. The bill, H.R. 3832, would tax LNG at 24.3 cents/energy equivalent of diesel. Read more in Platts LNG Daily [subscription required].
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Op-Ed Advocates LNG Exports Over Oil from Canada's West Coast
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January 27, 2012
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In an op-ed carried by the Financial Post, Ellis Ross, chief councillor for the Haisla Nation, argues that LNG export projects on Canada's Pacific coast are preferable to investments in an oil pipeline and export facility.
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European LNG Headlines
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January 27, 2012
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Expanded Access to Panama Canal Make U.S. LNG Exports to Asia "Instantly Economic"
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January 27, 2012
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Reporting on a recent discussion at the Brookings Institution, AOL Energy reports that the expansion of the Panama Canal reduces the distance between proposed LNG export facilities in the United States and LNG consuming markets in Asia, making U.S. LNG exports "instantly economic."
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DOE Offers Summary of December LNG Permit Activities
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January 26, 2012
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a summary of the agency's orders granting, amending and vacating authority to import and export natural gas and LNG during December 2011 in today's Federal Register.
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Investment Analysts Do Not Expect Significant North American LNG Exports This Decade
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January 26, 2012
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Analysts with Barclays Capital issued a report this week predicting that LNG exports from North America will total 2 Bcf/d by 2017. According to Platts LNG Daily, the analysts state that North American LNG export proposals face a number of regulatory and market challenges. [Subscription required]
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BG, Cheniere Amend SPA for LNG Exports at Sabine Pass Facility
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January 26, 2012
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BG Gulf Coast LNG, LLC and Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. announced this morning that the two companies have amended their Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) for LNG exported via the Sabine Pass LNG facility. Under the terms of the amended agreement, BG has agreed to purchase an additional two million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG, bringing the total amount to 5.5 mtpa. According to a press release, BG now has secured a portion of the output from the Sabine Pass facility's liquefaction trains two, three, and four as they commence operations.
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United States Pushing LNG Exports to Pakistan
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January 26, 2012
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The Express Tribune (Pakistan) reports that U.S. embassy officials have lobbied the Pakistani government to replace planned natural gas purchases from Iran with less expensive natural gas supplies from the United States. A government official stated that the United States has not made any firm offer to supply LNG to Pakistan, but that the U.S. Agency for International Development provided a briefing on the global LNG market.
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Panel Suggests EIA Study Overstates U.S. LNG Export Volumes
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January 26, 2012
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Speaking in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, two industry analysts agreed that a study published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) likely overstates the impacts of U.S. LNG exports on domestic gas prices. According to Platts, the analysts noted that the likely volume of LNG exports is far less than the 6-12 Bcf/d scenario analyzed by the study.
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Port of Brownsville Approves Lease Option for Site of Proposed Gulf Coast LNG Export Project
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January 26, 2012
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The Port of Brownsville has approved a lease option for the site of the proposed Gulf Coast LNG Export project. According to the Brownsville Herald, the site includes 500 acres of the Port's property.
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United States Received Less Than 20% of Trinidad's LNG Exports in 2011
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January 24, 2012
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Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs reports that the United States received approximately 19% of Trinidad and Tobago's LNG exports in 2011, while approximately 60% of the country's LNG exports went to destinations in Asia, Europe, and South America. Platts LNG Daily [subscription required] provides additional coverage.
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European LNG Headlines
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January 24, 2012
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- France's Montoir Terminal to Offer Reloading Service (Platts LNG Daily) [Subscription required]
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Cheniere Submits Description of Corpus Christi LNG Liquefaction Project to FERC
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January 24, 2012
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Cheniere has filed a detailed project description for the company's planned Corpus Christi LNG liquefaction project with FERC. The report, submitted under FERC's pre-filing procedures, is available in the Commission's eLibrary under Docket No. PF12-3.
Separately, the Wall Street Journal [subscription required] offers an analysis of Cheniere Energy, concluding that the company faces a number of challenges in the coming years as it works to bring the planned LNG export facilities at the Sabine Pass terminal online.
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EIA Expects United States to Become Net LNG Exporter by 2016
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January 24, 2012
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Speaking to an audience in Washington, D.C., Acting Administrator Howard Gruenspecht of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicted that the United States will become a net LNG exporter by 2016. According to Bloomberg, Gruenspecht noted that domestic natural gas supply is growing faster than demand and that the surplus will likely be exported to Mexico and overseas.
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U.S. Virgin Islands May Consider LNG Imports
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January 23, 2012
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Following the announcement that Hess and PDVSA will close their jointly-owned oil refinery in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Rep. Donna Christensen (D-V.I.) told Platts LNG Daily that the U.S. territory may consider constructing an LNG import facility to accept LNG from U.S. exporters. [Subscription required]
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European LNG Headlines
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January 23, 2012
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- Poland Urged to Prepare for LNG Exports (Platts LNG Daily) [Subscription required]
- Lithuania Turns to LNG, Picks Hoegh for Platform (Reuters)
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Freeport LNG Submits Additional LNG Export Applications to DOE
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January 20, 2012
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Freeport LNG has submitted two additional LNG export applications to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), seeking authorization to export up to 1.4 Bcf/d for a term of 25 years. The company has submitted two applications, one application for export of LNG to countries with which the United States has or develops a free trade agreement and another application for LNG exports to countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement. Freeport LNG expressly describes these applications as completely separate from the LNG export applications it has previously submitted to DOE.
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Alaska Governor Sets March 30 Deadline for North Slope Gas Production and Transport Project
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January 20, 2012
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Speaking to state legislators this week, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell (R) called on ExxonMobil, BP, and ConocoPhillips to align behind a project that would transport natural gas from the North Slope of Alaska to the Alaska tidewater, where it could be liquefied and exported as LNG to customers in the Pacific Basin. Read more in the Anchorage Daily News.
Separately, Larry Persily, federal coordinator for the Alaska gas pipeline, said yesterday that he believes that exports of Alaskan natural gas as LNG could face a number of economic challenges when competing on a global gas market, but that the North Slope gas pipeline and export project is possible. The Juneau Empire provides additional coverage.
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European LNG Headlines
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January 20, 2012
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- Statoil Restarts Shuttered Snohvit LNG Facility (UPI)
- DNV to Help Belgium to Set LNG Bunkering Facilities (Tanker Operator)
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FERC Plans EA for BOG Project at Elba Island LNG Terminal
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January 20, 2012
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FERC has announced that it will complete an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate potential environmental impacts of the planned installation of a boil-off gas (BOG) compressor at the Elba Island LNG import terminal. According to today's Federal Register, the deadline for public comments on the scope of the EA is February 13, 2012.
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FERC Requests Status Update and Schedule for Calais LNG Project
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January 20, 2012
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In a letter issued yesterday, FERC asked the developers of the Calais LNG project to provide the Commission with an update on the status of the project and a schedule for providing details regarding project financing, securing site control, obtaining necessary state permits, and complying with guidance from the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The letter is available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No. CP10-31.
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Oregon LNG Submits Responses to FERC's Data Request
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January 20, 2012
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Yesterday, Oregon LNG submitted its responses to several data requests promulgated by FERC on April 22, 2011. The responses, available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No. CP09-6, focus on revisions to the design of the project and potential impacts of the project on the surrounding community.
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DOE Approves Cameron LNG Export Permit for FTA Countries
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January 20, 2012
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The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy has approved an application by Cameron LNG, LLC to export LNG to countries with which the United States has entered free trade agreements (FTA), or countries with which the United States may enter free trade agreements in the future. The authorization permits Cameron LNG to export up to 12 million metric tons of LNG per annum over a term of 20 years.
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EIA Releases Report on Potential Economic Effects of Additional U.S. LNG Exports
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January 19, 2012
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The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released a report discussing potential effects of additional U.S. LNG exports on the domestic economy. The report was requested by the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy as it continues to evaluate LNG export applications.
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FERC Requests Additional Information on BOG Project at Elba Island LNG Terminal
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January 19, 2012
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FERC has requested additional environmental information regarding the proposed installation of a boil-off gas compressor system at the Elba Island LNG terminal. The data request is available in FERC's eLibrary under Docket No. CP12-31.
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Golden Pass LNG Seeking Authorization to Re-Export LNG
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January 19, 2012
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Yesterday Golden Pass LNG requested an exemption from FERC's pre-filing procedures for the company's proposal to re-export LNG previously imported to the terminal. The request is available in FERC's eLibrary.
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Environmental Groups Appeal Jordan Cove LNG Project's Dredging Application Approval
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January 19, 2012
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Several environmental groups have filed an appeal with the Oregon Department of State Lands over the agency's approval of a dredging permit application submitted by the Port of Coos Bay. The appeal argues that the agency should have considered potential environmental impacts from the planned Jordan Cove LNG project in its evaluation of the application, as Jordan Cove LNG stands to benefit from approval of the dredging plan. ENews Park Forest provides additional coverage.
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European LNG Headlines
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January 19, 2012
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- Will Dunkirk LNG Terminal Disrupt Ferries? (IFW)
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Japan's Marubeni Settles with U.S. Government over Alleged Bribery Scheme Involving Nigerian Bonny Island LNG Project
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January 18, 2012
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Marubeni Corporation has settled with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of a U.S. Government investigation into bribery allegations regarding the Bonny Island LNG liquefaction project in Nigeria. Under the terms of the settlement, Marubeni Corp. will pay the DOJ $54.8 million for its role in the alleged bribery scheme. Other parties in this investigation, including JGC Corp. and KBR LLC, have paid fines to settle claims under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for their respective roles in the alleged bribery operation.
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Company Applies for LNG Export Authorization from New-Build Liquefaction Facility in Texas
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January 18, 2012
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Gulf Coast LNG Export LLC has applied for authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to export up to 2.8 Bcf/d of LNG to both FTA and non-FTA countries from a new LNG liquefaction terminal in Brownsville, Texas. The application, available under Docket No. 12-05-LNG from DOE's Office of Fossil Energy, requests export authorization for a 25-year term. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review offers additional coverage.
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Spectra CEO Predicts Between Three and Six U.S. LNG Export Projects Will Be Built
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January 18, 2012
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Speaking to BusinessWeek, Spectra Energy Corp. CEO Gregory Ebel said that he expects three to six LNG export projects to be built in the United States, and that Spectra, a leading natural gas pipeline operator, will have some level of involvement in all of them.
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Think Tank Discusses Prospects for U.S. LNG Exports
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January 18, 2012
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The Brookings Institution has released an interim report entitled "Evaluating the Prospects for Increased Exports of Liquefied Natural Gas from the United States" which offers an in-depth discussion of various issues facing U.S. LNG exports. The report notes that although U.S. LNG exports to overseas markets are attractive at present, particularly to consuming markets in the Pacific Basin, numerous factors will affect future decisions to export U.S. natural gas as LNG.
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India's GAIL negotiating LNG Purchase Agreement with Freeport LNG
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January 17, 2012
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Platts LNG Daily [subscription required] offers details regarding ongoing negotiations between India's GAIL and Freeport LNG for a twenty-year LNG purchase agreement.
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Debate Over U.S. LNG Exports Continues
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January 17, 2012
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The Houston Chronicle offers an overview of the ongoing debate over whether the United States should permit significant LNG exports of domestic natural gas.
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Rolls Royce Marine Plans First LNG-Powered Tugs
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January 17, 2012
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Rolls Royce Marine has announced that it will build LNG power and propulsion systems for two LNG-fueled tugs by late 2013. According to Maritime Propulsion, the tugs were ordered by Bukser og Berging AS, Norway.
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European LNG Headlines
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January 17, 2012
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- France's Fos Tonkin LNG Terminal Decision Due in February (Platts LNG Daily) [Subscription required]
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Qatari Ambassador to Canada Meets with Canaport LNG Officials
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January 17, 2012
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Qatar's ambassador to Canada, Ambassador Salem Mubarak Al-Shafi met with New Brunswick Premier David Alward and several representatives from Canaport LNG recently. A Canaport LNG official told MENAFN.com that 42% of the LNG delivered to the Canaport LNG import terminal by project partner Repsol comes from Qatar.
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