During the period from July 26th to August 1rd, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. AHG Group to invest $20m in Saudi industrial gas facility
Saudi industrial gas company AHG Group announced a $20 million investment to build an industrial gas production facility in Dammam, supporting the country's "Vision 2030" economic transformation plan. The project, launched in May and managed by an in-house team, is expected to be completed within 20 months. It aims to meet Saudi Arabia's growing demand for industrial gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen, driven by large-scale petrochemical expansion plans from companies like Saudi Aramco. The project will enhance local production capacity and improve supply chains.
2. Biomethane hub set to add to Tasmania gas grid
A A$50 million renewable gas facility will be built in Westbury, Tasmania, Australia, with operations expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027. Developed by Optimal Group, the project will process 36,000 tons of agricultural organic waste annually, producing 376,000 gigajoules of biomethane for injection into the existing gas grid. It will reduce carbon emissions by 15,000 tons per year. Australia plans to meet 9%-33% of its natural gas demand with biomethane by 2050.
3. US and Japan poised ‘to form LNG joint venture’
U.S. President Trump announced that the U.S. and Japan are close to finalizing an LNG joint venture agreement as part of a $550 billion trade deal. The plan may involve the $44 billion Alaska LNG project, for which the U.S. has been seeking Asian buyers. Trump stated that the agreement would create numerous jobs, open Japanese markets in multiple sectors, and establish a 15% reciprocal tariff.
4. Planned Texas fuels terminal to produce electro-LNG by 2028
The Galveston LNG Bunker Port (GLBP) in Texas has signed a letter of intent with Loa Carbon to launch the Gulf of Mexico's first marine electro-LNG (e-LNG) facility by 2028. The project will use industrial carbon dioxide to produce renewable e-methane, with an initial annual capacity of 3,000 tons, expanding to 70,000 tons by 2030. The e-LNG production process relies entirely on green electricity, resulting in extremely low carbon intensity. The fuel can be blended with conventional LNG to meet FuelEU Maritime regulations. The LNG terminal market is projected to reach $13.15 billion by 2030.
5. Two more US LNG projects should by funded soon, says Drewry
Shipping research firm Drewry noted that two U.S. LNG projects (CP2 Phase 1 and Commonwealth LNG, with a combined annual capacity of 20 million tons) are expected to receive final investment decisions (FIDs) by the end of this year. With regulatory easing, signs of recovery in the LNG market have emerged in 2025, with three projects already securing FIDs in the first half of the year. Global supply is projected to peak in 2027, with European demand growing by 25% while Asian imports decline. New vessel deliveries are set to double over the next five years amid tightening emissions regulations.
6. TotalEnergies net income falls 30% in a quarter
TotalEnergies reported a 30% drop in net income for Q2 2025 compared to Q1, due to declining energy prices and weak global markets. Adjusted net income fell to $3.6 billion in Q2 and $7.8 billion for the first half of the year. Despite the downturn, the company made progress in its LNG business, signing multiple agreements. The CEO described the performance as solid and discussed LNG supply, project restarts, and digital collaboration efforts.
7. Eni posts drop in profits but sees strong gas prospects
Italy's Eni reported a 25% year-on-year decline in adjusted net profit to €1.13 billion in Q2 2025, with gas sales dropping 4% to 9.01 billion cubic meters. The company recently signed two long-term LNG agreements: a 20-year deal with U.S.-based Venture Global for 2 million tons per year and an investment decision for a 12 million-ton-per-year LNG project with Argentina's YPF. Eni aims to achieve an annual LNG supply target of 20 million tons by 2030.
8. Rehabilitation and wastewater to fuel growth in pipe infrastructure, exceeding US$117 bn by 2035
A new report by Bluefield Research predicts that water and wastewater pipeline infrastructure investments in the U.S. and Canada will reach $117 billion between 2025 and 2035, with annual spending rising from $7.9 billion to $14.1 billion. The focus will be on pipeline rehabilitation (annual growth of 15.1%) and sewage systems (annual growth of 7.15%), with high demand in fast-growing regions like Arizona. PVC materials dominate new projects due to cost advantages, though price volatility and supply chain risks remain.
9. Harnessing quantum to tackle water leak detection
Belgian data intelligence firm QClavis.io, in collaboration with CERN's Open Quantum Institute, is developing a quantum machine learning solution to optimize sensor placement for detecting leaks in urban water supply networks. The project uses neutral-atom quantum processors to address graph theory challenges in pipeline networks and is currently in its third simulation phase. Partners include UN-Habitat, aiming to tackle global water scarcity and support Sustainable Development Goals related to clean water and sanitation.
10. Common data-sharing mechanism to bridge UK water wholesalers and retailers
CGI and MOSL are collaborating to develop a smart water meter data-sharing hub, providing a standardized platform for UK water wholesalers and retailers to securely access data and address inefficiencies in current data-sharing practices. The hub will process over 1 million smart meter readings monthly, replacing the existing fragmented data exchange model. It supports the goal of reducing water consumption by 9% by 2038. The first phase is slated for completion by March 2026, with the second phase integrating a central billing system.