Therese Robinson

A number of deals were signed across Asia and the Middle East in recent weeks to further expand the availability of natural gas and develop new resources.

State-owned Qatar Energy (QE) is moving aggressively to secure long-term contracts to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to buyers throughout Asia as it plows ahead with a plan to significantly boost its output and preserve its leading role in a growing global market. 

European Union (EU) long-term natural gas contracts would not be extended after 2049 under a package of legislative proposals put forward by the European Commission (EC) last week to decarbonize EU gas markets, promote hydrogen and reduce methane emissions.  

Shipping congestion that has slowed passage through the Panama Canal since last year amid strong demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other goods between Asia and the United States has finally eased, after wait times peaked at 16 days for vessels with unreserved slots. 

Egypt is moving forward with its plans to become a regional natural gas hub as its two liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants are running at full capacity for the first time in more than a decade.  

Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG) offtakers that have contracts with Malaysia’s state-owned Petroliam Nasional Berhad, aka Petronas, are looking to cover peak winter demand after cargoes were canceled and deferred from the Bintulu LNG complex in Sarawak.