Can Egypt Become A Global LNG Power? - OILPRICE.COM

Dec 13, 2021, 2:00 PM CST
Cyril Widdershoven

• As demand for LNG around the world soars ahead of winter, Egypt is taking full advantage of high prices
• As well as the financial reward of increased exports, Egypt appears to be using its LNG supply to influence Turkey
• In Turkey, support for Erdogan is dwindling amidst high energy prices and rising inflation, forcing him to open up to both the UAE and Egypt

Egypt’s long-suffering LNG industry is finally experiencing some success as it takes advantage of European gas market constraints and exploits regional geopolitical developments. Cairo’s dream of becoming a global LNG player was derailed by a combination of the Arab Spring, conflict with Turkey, and then COVID demand destruction. Now, however, the country’s LNG industry is poised for major growth, with its largest producer, EGAS, having just offered a cargo on a free-on-board (FOB) basis for loading over December 28 and 29 from its Damietta LNG plant. The EGAS LNG tender will be closing on December 13, sources have stated. The last EGAS LNG tenders, which closed on November 29, were successful, as the company sold four out of five spot cargoes for loading between December and February.

Greece teams up with Egypt on gas supply, infrastructure - REUTERS

November 25, 2021, 6:11 PM EET

ATHENS, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Greece and Egypt agreed on Thursday to expand their cooperation in the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and examine the possibility of constructing a subsea gas pipeline between the two countries, the Greek energy ministry said.

Greece, which mainly imports gas from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkey, has been looking to diversify its resources and become an energy hub in southeastern Europe.

The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding in Cairo on Thursday as a step towards specific agreements between Greek and Egyptian companies, the Greek energy ministry said in a statement.

Last month, Greece and Egypt agreed on a plan to build an undersea cable linking their electricity grids.

Qatargas Ships 1st Q-Flex LNG Cargo to Greek Revithoussa Terminal - WORLD MARITIME NEWS

Qatargas Ships 1st Q-Flex LNG Cargo to Greek Revithoussa

July 23, 2019

Doha-based liquefied natural gas company Qatargas has delivered the first LNG cargo on a Q-Flex vessel to Greece’s Revithoussa LNG Terminal.

This is the first time that a Q-Flex LNG vessel has called at the terminal ever since it underwent an expansion drive late last year, Qatargas said.

The cargo, which was loaded at the Ras Laffan Terminal in Qatar on July 3, 2019, arrived at the Revithoussa Terminal on board the 216,224 cbm Al Gharrafa on July 20, 2019.

The Q-Flex cargo is part of a multi-port delivery executed by Qatargas. It is being undertaken in cooperation with the European utility Engie, which will see the second cargo being delivered at the Cartagena LNG terminal in Spain later this month.

“This significant delivery is aligned with Qatargas’ strategy to continue growing the ever increasing number of terminals that our Q-Flex and Q-Max vessels can deliver into,” Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer of Qatargas, commented.

Bulgaria in first U.S. gas deals buys two LNG cargoes - REUTERS

MAY 31, 2019 / 12:52 PMReporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; editing by Jason Neely

SOFIA, May 31 (Reuters) - Bulgaria has agreed to buy U.S. natural gas for the first time, signing a deal for a delivery in the second quarter and another in the third, the country’s energy minister said on Friday.

Dutch-registered trader Kolmar NL will deliver a 90 million cubic metre (mcm) cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a second of 50 mcm.

“The ship carrying LNG from the United States has arrived at the Greek Revithoussa LNG terminal,” Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said. “This is yet another step towards liberalisation of the gas market and a clear sign of diversification.”

The first LNG shipment is from U.S. producer Cheniere and the second one from the U.S. unit of British Petroleum, she said.

Sofia at present buys almost all of its gas from Russia via one route.

It pledged to diversify after a 2009 dispute with Moscow disrupted winter supplies.

It is set to begin receiving mainly Azeri gas via a 182 km interconnector link with Greece expected to be ready by the end of 2020 with an initial annual capacity of three billion cubic metres. 

East Mediterranean gas no game-changer: IEA's Birol - ANADOLU AGENCY

Turkish head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol

28.12.2018Ovunc Kutlu and Nuran Erkul Kaya

ANKARA - Natural gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean are unlikely to be a game-changer given rising supplies in the global gas market, according to the Turkish head of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Discoveries of new gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean have put some countries in the spotlight, but feasibility, political challenges, and the presence of other major gas producers impose hurdles on projects that may fail to have a major impact on the gas market, Fatih Birol said on Friday.

"Qatar's liquefied natural gas has a very dominant role in the Mediterranean market," he told Anadolu Agency.

"With Qatar, American gas, and incoming supply from Israel and Egypt, it looks very difficult economically to constitute a major project in the eastern Mediterranean, plus there are some political issues as well."

Currently, Qatar is leading liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports with 12 consecutive years under its belt, while the U.S. is looking to raise its LNG exports with its abundant shale gas supplies.

Crete gas discovery will prompt ‘need for LNG facility on island’ - ENERGY PRESS

24 DEC 2018

The potential discovery of natural gas deposits west and southwest of Crete will prompt the need for infrastructure development on the island, including an LNG facility, Yiannis Basias, chairman of EDEY, the Greek Hydrocarbon Management Company, has told local newspaper Haniotika Nea in arguably his most forthright comments to date on the island’s energy prospects and subsequent actions.

Besides an LNG facility, the discovery of natural gas deposits in the region would also require pipeline development for natural gas transmission to platforms or the shore and subsequent transportation, Basias told the Cretan newspaper.

The official noted he is confident drilling expeditions planned for the region will produce favorable results. “Natural gas will be discovered west and southwest of Crete as the geological characteristics here converge with those of Egypt, Cyprus and Israel,” he pointed out.

LNG tanker carrying first export cargo from Texas headed to Greece - KATHIMERINI

FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2018

The first shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Texas, in the United States, is headed to Greece.

The Maria Energy LNG tanker, carrying the first export cargo from Cheniere Energy’s terminal near Corpus Christi, left the facility Tuesday and is expected to arrive at the Revithoussa LNG terminal, an islet west of Athens, on December 29.

In a statement Thursday, Greece’s Energy Ministry confirmed that LNG from the US will be unloaded before the end of the year at the newly-built tank.

The ministry said the deal demonstrates efforts on both sides to strengthen cooperation on energy security. It said natural gas is required to play a transitional role in bolstering Greece’s energy security.

Greece, which relies on Russian gas for its energy needs, inaugurated the Revithoussa LNG tank in November in a bid to boost its storage capacity and advance its ambitions to become a regional energy hub.

Growing Dependent On Russia: The Gas Routes In Europe - FORBES

Dec 12, 2018, 12:05pm
Annalisa Girardi

This year Italy has become the second largest buyer of Russian natural gas, outdoing Turkey. Rome and Moscow historically have had close commercial ties within the energy sector, being Eni, an oil and gas Italian company and one of the largest multinationals in the sector, the first Western business to become a commercial partner to the Kremlin. This year Italy has become Russia’s second market, buying 18,3 billion cubic meters gas, against the 17,9 billion cubic meters acquired by Ankara. According to Bloomberg, Germany remains far in its first place, with 42,7 billion cubic meters gas purchased from Siberian gas fields.

Russian gas is a precious resource for Italy since it provides more than one-third of its total domestic demand. Natural gas originated in Russia reaches Italy mainly through the Trans Austria Gas (TAG) pipeline, a 380 kilometers duct hold at 89% by Eni. At this moment, 40% of national requirements are met by Gazprom, the Russian business that is also a major oil and gas companies worldwide, as well as being state-owned at 50%. The rest of Italian energy needs are mainly covered at 25% by Algeria and at 6% by Libya, while the country imports from Qatar the majority of liquefied natural gas which is later processed at the regasification plants.

Use of LNG ‘a one-way street’, EAC boss says - CYPRUS MAIL

December 5, 2018 

Gregoris Savva

The use of liquified natural gas (LNG) for electricity generation is the only option for Cyprus to diversify its energy mix and avoid stricter fines on emissions from power generation, the chairman of the electricity authority (EAC) Andreas Marangos has said.

In an interview with CNA, Marangos said the EAC was ready for the two major challenges, namely the liberalisation of the electricity market and the use of natural gas for electricity generation.

He acknowledged that fluctuations in electricity bills which often cause reaction from the public and businesses but are “a reality” dependent on international oil prices, as 90 per cent of power generation is dependent on imported liquid fuel.

“The way to have lower and more stable prices is the introduction of natural gas in energy generation. A reduction in the electricity bills will depend on the natural gas purchase price but also on the introduction of solar plants and renewable source of energy to the system,” he said, as the Cyprus Natural Gas Company has launched a call for tenders for LNG import terminal.

ExxonMobil's VP, Tristan Aspray, interviewed in Cyprus - SIGMA LIVE

30 November 2018 - SigmaLive TV

LNG back in the limelight - CYPRUS MAIL

AUGUST 12, 2018
Charles Ellinas

With Noble, Delek and Shell requesting to renegotiate their Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Cyprus, and particularly the formula for sharing potential profits, LNG is back in the limelight in Cyprus. But how is LNG faring in a world with a glut of energy supplies, brought about by the inexorable increase in renewable energy?

This was the subject of recently released Global Annual Reports by the International Group of LNG Importers (GIIGNL) and the International Gas Union (IGU) on the performance of the LNG industry in 2017, and they make a very interesting reading.

Global LNG imports in 2017 recorded their highest annual growth rate since 2010, at 9.9 per cent, reaching 289.8 million tonnes. New liquefaction capacity continued to come online in various areas of the world ranging from the US to Australia, Malaysia and Russia, leading to a 26.2 million tonnes/yr increase in LNG supply compared with 2016.

Expectations of an LNG surplus did not materialise, as, among other factors, rising imports into China contributed substantially to balance the market.

Key conclusions are:

Promoting gas as a catalyst to energy transformation - CYPRUS MAIL

MAY 20, 2018

One of the best-known Cypriots in the global natural gas sector is Menelaos Ydreos, executive director of public affairs of the International Gas Union (IGU).

Charles Ellinas spoke to him about the role of gas in the future energy mix and how Cyprus can benefit

What is the main function of the IGU and your role in the organisation?
The International Gas Union (IGU) was founded in 1931 and is a worldwide non-profit organisation aimed at promoting the political, technical and economic progress of the gas industry. IGU has more than 150 members worldwide on all continents, representing approximately 97 per cent of the world gas market. The Cyprus Charter member to the IGU is the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry & Tourism.

As the executive director of public affairs, I oversee all of the global strategic communications and outreach efforts for the IGU ensuring that governments and policymakers recognise the significant role that gas can play in enabling the energy transition and cleaning-up the polluted and dirty air in the world’s cities.

A U.S. Shale Gas Cargo Is Heading to Israel for the First Time - BLOOMBERG

May 10, 2018, 11:57 PM GMT+3
Ryan Collins and Kevin Varley

Israel is about to receive a cargo of U.S. liquefied natural gas, the first to arrive in the Middle Eastern nation from America’s shores since exports began in 2016.

The vessel British Diamond, beneficially owned by BP Plc, is set to arrive at Israel’s Hadera import terminal on May 27 after departing Cheniere Energy Inc.’s Sabine Pass in Louisiana on May 3, ship tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show. Most cargoes to Hadera have come from Trinidad and Tobago, which also ships to the U.S.

U.S. shale gas has sailed from the nation’s two operating LNG export terminals -- Sabine Pass and Dominion Energy Inc.’s Cove Point facility in Maryland -- to buyers from Mexico to China. With three more projects set to start up in the next year, America is on course to rival Qatar and Australia for global LNG dominance in the next five years.

Israel’s gas imports, meanwhile, may slide in coming years as the nation produces more gas from domestic fields. Earlier this year, Dolphinus Holdings Ltd., a private Egyptian company, agreed to buy gas from Noble Energy Inc. and its partners from Israel’s two largest offshore fields, Leviathan and Tamar.

Gas supply changes in Turkey - NATURAL GAS WORLD / THE OXFORD INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY STUDIES

Jan 10, 2018 11:59:pmOIES | Gulmira Rzayeva

SUMMARY

The Turkish government is in the process of making significant structural changes in the country’s energy sector in attempts to lessen its dependence on current import and transmission infrastructure capacity which is constrained and cannot meet gas demand in peak periods.

The Turkish government is in the process of making significant structural changes in the country’s energy sector in attempts to lessen its dependence on current import and transmission infrastructure capacity which is constrained and cannot meet gas demand in peak periods. It intends to diversify supply sources and gas import types (both pipeline gas and LNG/FSRU) to ensure imports are available from a wider range of available sources on competitive terms, at the same time storing more gas in the country once downstream infrastructure capacity allows, to export the excess of gas in the future.

 Consequently, BOTAŞ expects its maximum daily gas supply capacity to almost double by 2023, from the current 252 mcm/d (including storage capacity) to 473 mcm/d as new projects come on stream. This will extend Turkey’s ability to import gas from various sources by eliminating technical constraints. By doing so, Turkey intends to ensure supply security during the peak demand seasons and to reduce its dependence on existing suppliers, allowing it room to manoeuvre between them and other new options. 

Turkey is also expanding capacity at its existing LNG receiving terminals and building new FSRUs, taking advantage of the fact that this method of importing natural gas is available in a flexible and near immediate manner. This will give BOTAŞ and private companies an advantage in meeting the growing demand in winter time, instead of having to increase annual pipeline contract quantities (ACQ) due to the application of “take or pay” clauses.

Total Acquires Engie’s Upstream LNG Business and Becomes the Second Largest Global LNG Player - BUSINESS WIRE

November 08, 2017 12:28 PM Eastern Standard Time

PARIS

Total (Paris:FP) (LSE:TTA) (NYSE:TOT) has signed an agreement with Engie to acquire its portfolio of upstream liquefied natural gas (LNG) assets for an overall enterprise value of $1.49 billion. This portfolio includes participating interests in liquefaction plants, notably the interest in the Cameron LNG project in the US, long term LNG sales and purchase agreements, an LNG tanker fleet as well as access to regasification capacities in Europe. Additional payments of up to $ 550 million could be payable by Total in case of an improvement in the oil markets in the coming years.

“The acquisition of Engie’s upstream LNG business enables Total to accelerate the implementation of its strategy to integrate along the full gas value chain, in an LNG market growing strongly at 5% to 6% per year. The combination of these two complementary portfolios will allow the Group to manage an overall volume of around 40 million tonnes of LNG per year by 2020, making Total the second largest global player among the majors with a worldwide market share of 10%,” commented Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Total. “With the equity stake in the Cameron LNG project, Total will also become an integrated player in the US LNG market, where the Group is already a gas producer.”

Future challenges for East Med energy - CYPRUS MAIL

October 15, 2017

Charles Ellinas

An international conference on the future of energy in the eastern Mediterranean held in Nicosia earlier this month had three main themes: global energy developments and their impact on the East Med; the oil and gas industry and the prospects for the region, and energy transition and renewables in the East Med.

Impact of global energy developments

The keynote presentation was made by Professor Jonathan Stern of Oxford University’s Institute of Energy Studies, who is a renowned expert in the global energy and gas industries. It was a forceful but sobering presentation setting the global scene. His opening statement was that the ‘good old days’ of the global gas sector are over. Industry liberalisation, increasing competition, short-term trading, the relentless advance of renewables, energy efficiency and carbon reduction policies are impacting future energy demand. The future for gas is uncertain due to competition from low carbon energy and Paris Climate Agreement commitments.

The rate of growth of energy, power and gas demand in Europe has declined since its peak in 2010. Low prices also mean that companies want guarantees for projects for at least 15 years – otherwise they do not invest. Russian gas penetration of Europe is increasing and low prices make it difficult for others to compete.

Energy ministry aims for LNG by 2020 - CYPRUS MAIL

September 29, 2017

Evie Andreou

The government aims to bring liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Cyprus by 2020 for cheaper and cleaner energy, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy Stelios Himonas said on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference in Limassol, on LNG, Himonas said that studies carried out under two programmes will contribute to the realization of the country’s energy goals and the arrival of natural gas in Cyprus.

Vassilikos energy hub to host floating LNG facility - CYPRUS MAIL

Existing facilities at Vassiliko

September 14, 2017

Angelos Anastasiou

The government is planning to construct a jetty at Vassilikos port to host a floating storage facility for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be used for power production, it emerged on Thursday.

According to local daily Phileleftheros, the plan is for Cyprus to start importing LNG at the end of 2019, with the state-owned electricity authority (EAC) pledging to have modified its generators to burn natural gas as of 2020.

The Golden Age of Natural Gas - THE AMERICAN INTEREST

August 18, 2017
Jamie Horgan & Agnia Grigas

Thanks to the American shale boom and a newly globalized market, natural gas is changing geopolitics around the globe.

Jamie Horgan: I’m here with Agnia Grigas, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and author of the new book, The New Geopolitics of Natural Gas. Agnia, thanks for taking the time to talk with me today.

Agnia Grigas: Thank you, Jamie. It’s a pleasure to be here.

JH: In your book, you look at the transition to a new era of gas that you characterize as “a golden age.” What were the characteristics of the old era of gas, and what’s changed?

AG: Throughout the 20th century, natural gas was a much more localized commodity than oil, due to the difficulties of transporting it over long distances and across seas and oceans. It was also a much more politicized commodity, precisely because it was so difficult to transport. Oftentimes, gas-exporting and gas-importing countries had to forge long-lasting trade relationships with each other, co-investing in land-based infrastructure.

But within the past decade, things have changed. First, trade in LNG (liquefied natural gas) has grown, because it is easy to transport across the sea—and it’s now at its highest level in history. Second, the market has become much more liquid, largely due to the U.S. shale revolution flooding it with supplies. In addition, American exporters support flexible gas trade, which means more spot and short-term trading rather than the traditional long-term, oil-linked contracts.

Rosneft delivers 129,000 tonnes of LNG to Egypt - TASS / REUTERS

August 04, 17:09 UTC+3

MOSCOW, August 4. /TASS/. Rosneft delivered 129,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Egypt under the contract with Egyptian Natural Gas Holding (EGAS) in the first half of 2017, the company said.

IT was reported earlier that Rosneft would supply 10 consignments of liquefied natural gas to Egypt with a total volume of 600,000 tonnes; deliveries would be carried out from May to October 2017. In 2016, Rosneft Trading SA delivered three tankers to the processing facilities of EGAS.