During the period from August 16th to 22th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. NextDecade secures $1.8bn funding for Rio Grande LNG project
U. S. firm NextDecade secured $1.8 billion in funding from TotalEnergies and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) for Train 4 of its Rio Grande LNG project in Texas. TotalEnergies holds a 10% stake, GIP holds 50%, and NextDecade holds 40% with a $1.2 billion investment. A final investment decision is expected in September, and a $4.3 billion EPC contract has been signed with Bechtel.
2. Jamaica to serve as Excelerate LNG regional hub
U. S.-based Excelerate Energy acquired LNG terminals in Montego Bay and Old Harbour, Jamaica, along with the Clarendon power plant, to establish a Caribbean LNG distribution hub. Jamaica’s proximity to the U.S. offers cost advantages and rapid response to regional demand. The company reported Q2 adjusted net profit of $46.8 million and acquired the LNG carrier Excelerate Shenandoah to serve mid-term supply agreements in the Atlantic Basin, expanding its full-value-chain LNG operations.
3. Centrica buys Grain LNG terminal from National Grid
UK’s Centrica, in a joint venture with Energy Capital Partners, acquired the UK’s Grain LNG terminal from National Grid for £1.5 billion. Centrica holds a 50% stake with an equity investment of approximately £200 million. As critical UK energy infrastructure, the terminal aligns with Centrica’s energy transition strategy. Its capacity is contracted through 2029, with future plans to expand into hydrogen and ammonia to support UK energy security and net-zero goals.
4. Ocean Yield buys CapeOmega Gas Transportation to strengthen LNG profile
Norwegian shipowner Ocean Yield acquired CapeOmega Gas Transportation from Partners Group, gaining co-ownership of 10 LNG carriers, 7 of which are already in operation with an average age of 2 years, and 3 to be delivered between 2025 and 2026. All vessels have signed long-term charter contracts with Shell, Engie, and QatarEnergy, with an average charter period of 9 years (up to 16 years including renewal options), which is expected to add $120 million in adjusted EBITDA for Ocean Yield. The transaction is set to be completed in the second half of 2025, and KKR will provide additional investment to enhance financial strength.
5. Centrica strikes gas supply deal with Devon Energy
UK-based Centrica Energy signed a 10-year natural gas supply agreement with US-based Devon Energy, under which Devon will supply 50,000 MMBtu of natural gas per day (equivalent to 5 LNG cargoes per year) starting from 2028, with the price linked to the European TTF benchmark. This agreement will help Centrica manage the price risks of its LNG portfolio and deepen US-UK energy trade cooperation.
6. Saudi Arabia's National Water Company begins $1.3 billion water and sanitation projects
Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company (NWC) launched $1.3 billion water projects in Asir, Jazan, Najran, and Al-Baha regions. The projects include laying 2,177 km of pipelines, building reservoirs with 545,000 m³ capacity, and pump stations processing over 150,000 m³/day. Asir received $2 billion in investments, and Jazan over $1.5 billion. These initiatives will enhance regional water supply and sanitation, supporting local infrastructure development.
7. Australia’s Central Coast AUD 82.5M water treatment upgrade set to strengthen water security
Australia’s Central Coast, New South Wales, invested AUD 82.5 million to upgrade the Mardi Water Treatment Plant, increasing daily capacity to 160 million liters to serve 210,000 households. The upgrade includes dissolved air flotation clarifiers to improve resilience against algal blooms and storms. A planned 30 million liters/day desalination plant in Toukley will address extreme drought.
8. Southern Water appoints Horizon Water Infrastructure for water meter upgrade rollout
UK’s Southern Water appointed the Horizon Water Infrastructure alliance to replace 1 million smart water meters over five years, a key step in the water sector’s digital transformation. The project will use advanced metering to enhance customer insights, optimize network performance, and support environmental sustainability. The alliance, including SUEZ and M Group Water, will drive innovation in accurate billing and leak detection, reducing costs and environmental impact.
9. USBR invests almost $200 million in water reuse in the Colorado River Basin
The US Bureau of Reclamation invested nearly $200 million to support water reuse projects in the Colorado River Basin, injecting $179 million into Phoenix to build the North Gateway Advanced Water Purification Plant, which can treat 8 million gallons of wastewater per day; another $20.6 million was allocated to the Washington County Regional Reuse System in Utah. In addition, $130 million will be provided for more large-scale recycling projects to cope with long-term drought, improve water resilience, and enhance the sustainability of water resources in the Colorado River Basin.