During the period from June 28th to July 4th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. Global energy giants are targeting Southeast Asian markets! Aim for more natural gas exploration
Global energy giants are increasing investment in natural gas exploration and production in Malaysia and Indonesia to meet Southeast Asia's electricity demand driven by population growth and data center expansion. Shell announced an additional investment of $2.12 billion in Malaysia over the next 2-3 years; TotalEnergies increased its stake in Malaysian natural gas assets; Eni and Malaysia's Petronas are advancing joint development of gas fields in Indonesia and Malaysia. Southeast Asian countries regard natural gas as a key transitional fuel for energy transition. Petronas noted that global data center electricity consumption will double to 945 TWH by 2030. Japanese companies such as Inpex are adopting a "local production, local consumption" strategy to address geopolitical risks.
2. Glenfarne Alaska LNG and PTT sign long-term supply and offtake deal
Thailand's PTT Public Company Limited has entered into a 20-year LNG supply agreement with Glenfarne Alaska LNG, securing an annual purchase of 2 million tons. The project will utilize Alaska's abundant natural gas resources, transported via an 807-mile pipeline to directly supply Asian markets while bypassing contentious waterways, offering pricing below the U.S. Gulf Coast Henry Hub benchmark. Currently, 50% of third-party LNG capacity has been secured, with the project advancing toward a final investment decision on pipeline construction. The initiative is expected to address Alaska's natural gas shortages while generating employment and economic opportunities. Glenfarne, as the lead developer, is collaborating with Worley and others to complete engineering design and secure strategic partners.
3. Argentina Eyes Future LNG Exports
Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale gas field reported significant production growth in Q1 2025, with oil output rising 26% year-on-year to 447,000 barrels per day in March, and natural gas increasing 16% year-on-year to 2.1 billion cubic feet per day of dry gas, up 13% quarter-on-quarter. This progress has reduced Argentina's reliance on natural gas imports, bringing the country closer to self-sufficiency while advancing a phased LNG export strategy that could position it as a new global supplier. The region has attracted substantial investment, with shale gas transactions accounting for 43% of Latin America's upstream deals in Q1. Norway's Equinor reversed its earlier exit decision, reinforcing international confidence in Argentina's shale gas resurgence.
4. Woodside completes 40% Louisiana LNG sale to Stonepeak
Australian energy company Woodside has sold a 40% equity interest in its Louisiana LNG project to U.S. investment firm Stonepeak for $5.7 billion. The project, with an annual production capacity of 27.6 million tonnes of LNG, has received approval to construct three processing trains (annual capacity: 16.5 million tonnes) at a total investment of $17.5 billion. Stonepeak will bear 75% of the development costs during 2025-2026. This transaction supports global demand for clean and flexible energy solutions, with the project having reached its final investment decision (FID) in April 2025.
5. Cheniere to invest in two more LNG trains in Texas
U.S. energy company Cheniere has made a final investment decision (FID) for 8 and 9 production lines at its Corpus Christi LNG project in Texas. The two new production lines will add 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of liquefaction capacity, bringing the site's total capacity to 30 MTPA by the end of the decade. The third phase of the project comprises seven production lines with a combined capacity exceeding 10 MTPA, with the first line completed in March and the second commencing operations this month. Cheniere also plans phased expansions at both its Corpus Christi and Sabine Pass terminals, aiming to increase total capacity to approximately 75 MTPA by the early 2030s.
6. Oil price fall “an outlier” and LNG price could soon rise
Latest research shows that in the current Middle East conflict, the oil price has anomalously dropped below $70/barrel, contrary to historical trends. Analysts point out that increased U.S. shale oil production (accounting for 1/5 of global output) has eased supply risks in the Strait of Hormuz, but the escalation of the situation may still push up crude oil and LNG prices. Currently, countries such as Pakistan (with over 90% LNG import dependency) and India are most vulnerable to transportation disruptions in the strait. The Asian market also faces dual pressures from soaring gas turbine costs (electricity prices for new combined-cycle power plants need to exceed $140/MWh) and the impact of tariff policies on renewable energy.
7. TES and CPC Finland announce Finnish e-NG joint venture
Synthetic fuel company TES and Finland's CPC established a joint venture Luoto Energia, which will build a 125,000-ton-per-year electro-natural gas (e-NG) project at Rauma Port, Finland. Covering 20 hectares, the project is equipped with 500MW electrolyzers, combining Finnish bio-based CO₂ and green hydrogen to synthesize e-NG, which can be applied in hard-to-abate sectors such as steel and shipping. The produced e-NG meets EU renewable fuel standards and can be supplied to European and international markets through liquefied transportation. The project plans to complete front-end design in 2026 and make the final investment decision in 2028.
8. West-East Gas Pipeline Line 4 fully completed and put into operation
On June 26, PipeChina announced that the West-East Gas Pipeline Line 4 (Turpan-Zhongwei) has been fully completed and put into operation, marking another strategic energy corridor connecting Central Asia. The project has an annual gas transmission capacity of 15 billion cubic meters, equivalent to replacing over 27 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon emissions by approximately 50 million tons, enabling the annual transmission capacity of the West-East Gas Pipeline system to exceed 100 billion cubic meters. The Gansu-Ningxia section, 1,162 kilometers long, features complex geology and passes through the Anxi Extra-Arid Desert Nature Reserve; a "green construction plan" was adopted to adjust the pipeline by over 6 kilometers to avoid ecologically sensitive areas. After the full line is put into operation, it will operate in conjunction with Line 2 and Line 3, enhancing natural gas dispatching capacity and supporting energy security and green development.
9. Towngas signs dual MOUs to position Hong Kong as green methanol bunkering hub
Hong Kong’s Towngas has signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to promote Hong Kong as a green marine fuel hub. First, it will cooperate with the Transport and Logistics Bureau to develop a local green methanol bunkering and trading hub; second, it has reached an agreement with Pacific Basin to supply ISCC-certified green methanol for fleet decarbonization. Towngas produces green methanol from waste tires and agricultural/forestry waste through its subsidiary in Inner Mongolia, planning to expand production to 150,000 tons/year by the end of 2025 and 1 million tons by 2028. This move helps Hong Kong seize the opportunity of new regulations by the International Maritime Organization and build a regional green shipping hub.
10. Global Gas and LNG Outlook: Balancing Growth, Security and Sustainability
At the Indonesia International Natural Gas Conference, Andrea Stegher, President of the International Gas Union(IGU), emphasized that natural gas is key to addressing the triple challenges of energy security, accessibility and sustainability. He pointed out that the global LNG market is facing geopolitical instability and supply chain pressures, while Indonesia, with its abundant resources, can realize the replacement of coal-fired power and emission reduction in transportation through natural gas, LNG and biomethane, contributing to the 2060 net-zero target. Stegher called on Indonesia to seize the opportunities for natural gas development, promote large-scale infrastructure investment while ensuring energy security, and accelerate the decarbonization process. The conference focused on Indonesia's strategic approach of balancing growth and sustainable development in energy transition.
11. Centrica expands in Asia with Thai LNG deal
UK energy company Centrica has signed a 10-year LNG supply agreement with Thailand's PTT Public Company Limited, commencing deliveries to multiple Asian countries from 2028. This marks a strategic expansion of Centrica's LNG operations in Asia and represents PTT's first long-term international LNG sales contract. The deal follows PTT's recent 20-year agreement to purchase 2 million tonnes annually from Alaska LNG. Centrica's CEO emphasized LNG as central to the company's long-term strategy for supporting energy transition. Earlier this February, Centrica also secured a 15-year supply contract with Brazil's Petrobras for 800,000 tonnes of LNG per year.
12. WRC South Africa Wins Resource Recovery Cluster Best Practice Award 2025
The Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa was honored with the 2025 Resource Recovery Cluster Best Practice Award during the 6th IWA International Resource Recovery Conference in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. The award recognizes WRC's outstanding achievements in implementing resource recovery solutions within the water cycle. Its WESS technology converts human waste into valuable resources, benefiting 49,000 users. This success stems from multi-stakeholder collaboration and has already been deployed in 60 schools, with plans for expansion into municipal applications.
13. 5th Global Water Security Seminar - Keynote speech
On June 23, 2025, the special session of the 41st International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research(IAHR) World Congress and the 5th Global Water Security Seminar opened in Singapore under the theme "Water and Biodiversity." Officials from multiple countries delivered speeches, Chinese experts shared policy practices, and domestic and international experts presented related achievements. Having been successfully held four times previously, this year's seminar attracted over 150 international participants.
14. Pennsylvania American Water completes $4 million water storage tank
Pennsylvania American Water has constructed a 1-million-gallon water storage tank in Jenkins Township, Luzerne County, with a cost of $4 million. The project, which began in April 2023, is expected to be operational by early July. The tank will increase water storage capacity for local residents and businesses, ensuring stable water pressure and meeting fire protection needs. It is adjacent to two existing 750,000-gallon water storage tanks. This is one of three new water storage tanks the company is building in Pennsylvania this year, alongside plans to rehabilitate seven existing tanks, with a total investment of approximately $12.8 million. In 2024, the company invested about $675 million in Pennsylvania to upgrade water infrastructure, supporting over 10,125 jobs.