CNG/LNG

U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports hit monthly and annual record highs in December, according to tanker tracking data reviewed by Reuters. Analysts say the data shows the United States leapfrogged both Qatar and Australia to become the largest exporter of LNG in 2023. The two main factors for the U.S. achieving the #1 position are (a) Freeport LNG returned to full service after being down for 10 months following an explosion and fire, and (b) Venture Global LNG’s Calcasieu Pass facility adding more capacity to a facility that it still claims is not commercially ready.
Read More “U.S. Became #1 LNG Exporter in the World in 2023”

Last week, Charif Souki, an Egyptian-born but naturalized U.S. citizen, was booted from the company he co-founded, Tellurian (see Tellurian Fires Charif Souki – Out as Chairman & Executive Officer). The board fired Souki but let him keep a board seat. Souki is now gone from the board, too. He worked out a deal to leave the company with a severance package worth roughly $8 million.
Read More “Charif Souki Exits Tellurian & Driftwood LNG with $8 Million Payout”

Charif Souki, an Egyptian-born but naturalized U.S. citizen, has just been booted (for a second time) from a company he co-founded. In December 2015, evil corporate raider Carl Icahn (who invests in companies so he can fire a bunch of people, boost the stock, and pocket the profit) fired Souki from Cheniere Energy, a company he co-founded and helmed as CEO (see Evil Corporate Raider Carl Icahn Claims Another CEO Scalp). Souki didn’t let it slow him down. He started a new LNG export company to compete with his old company, Tellurian (see Revenge: Fired Cheniere CEO Starts Competing LNG Company). On Monday, the Tellurian board of directors removed Souki as Chairman. Souki will remain on the board, but he will no longer have any executive (day-to-day) responsibilities at the company. An SEC filing says Souki was “terminated without cause.”
Read More “Tellurian Fires Charif Souki – Out as Chairman & Executive Officer”

Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility recently received Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) authorization to place the final three liquefaction blocks (7-9) into service (see Venture Global Gets FERC OK to Commission 3 Calcasieu Pass Trains). The other trains, 1-6, have been online for 18 months but are not officially in commercial service, even though the facility has shipped over 200 cargoes! Venture Global claims it’s still working out the kinks. Venture’s contracted customers are frustrated that they aren’t getting any shipments and have sued (see Repsol Joins Shell, BP in Suing Venture Global for Missed LNG). In recent interviews, Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel challenged those claims, stating the contracts don’t force him to sell to them. Talk about chutzpah!
Read More “Venture Global LNG Fights Back, Says It Did Not Violate Contracts”

In early November, MDN warned you about delays with LPG (propane) and LNG ships transiting the Panama Canal on their way to Asia (see Drought Along Panama Canal Causing Delays in Propane, LNG Exports). According to the Panama Canal Authority (APC), water levels at Gatún Lake are the lowest since at least 1995 due to an extended dry season and lower-than-normal precipitation on the Panama Canal. Several weeks later, the situation grew even more dire, with ships now required to pay money to reserve slots to transit the canal (see LNG Vessels Transiting Panama Canal Must Use Auction for Time Slots). Some LNG ships opt to travel further to the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, and the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean. But the Suez Canal has its own problems…
Read More “Red Sea Chokepoints, Pirates Threaten U.S. LNG Shipments to Asia”

In March 2022, MDN brought you news of a bold new plan by EQT CEO Toby Rice to “unleash” American LNG exports to not only help our friends in Europe but also to reduce the amount of coal use across the world, thereby lowering coal-related emissions including carbon dioxide (see EQT CEO Toby Rice Unveils Nationwide Plan to “Unleash” U.S. LNG). At last week’s Hart Energy DUG Appalachia, Rice said he will release the next iteration of his plan, Unleash LNG 2.0, early next year.
Read More “DUG Appalachia: EQT CEO Toby Rice Ready to Unleash LNG 2.0 Plan”