During the period from September 19th to 25th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. Latest Rio Grande LNG train gets go-ahead
US-based NextDecade has made a final investment decision for the fourth liquefaction train at its Rio Grande LNG project in Texas. The project has an annual capacity of 6 million tonnes. France's TotalEnergies confirmed it will hold a 10% direct equity stake in this train and has signed a long-term offtake agreement for 1.5 million tonnes per annum, enhancing its global LNG supply capacity.
2. Europe ‘must stop’ discounted Russian gas, argues trading group
Pan-European energy trading company D. Trading argues that discounted Russian gas continues to enter Europe through indirect routes, distorting competition and hindering investment in alternative energy sources. Europe's LNG imports decreased by 19% in 2024, but Russian LNG exports to Europe reached €4.4 billion in the first half of 2025, showing year-on-year growth, with France, Spain, and Belgium as the main buyers. The company calls for a complete EU ban on Russian gas. The EU plans to phase it out by the end of - 2027 and strengthen LNG origin monitoring.
3. Gas chance should grow as Microsoft eyes new US data centres
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced the construction of new data centers in the US as part of its global investment in AI and cloud infrastructure. The surging power demand from data centers highlights the critical role of industrial gases in computing cooling and semiconductor manufacturing. Concurrently, the UK's investment of £500 million to develop quantum computing also presents new opportunities for cryogenic gas technologies like Helium-3.
4. Pharma giant’s $30bn US investment to drive gas growth
Pharma giant GSK plans to invest $30 billion in US R&D and supply chain infrastructure over the next five years, including $1.2 billion for advanced manufacturing facilities and technologies like AI, building biopharmaceutical plants and laboratories. Processes such as cell and gene therapy production require collaboration with industrial and medical gas suppliers, and some products also require gaseous raw materials. This investment will drive gas demand growth. GSK also aims to power its operations entirely with renewable electricity by 2030.
5. Adnoc withdraws $18.7bn offer for Santos
A consortium led by XRG, a subsidiary of the UAE's Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), and including Carlyle Group, has withdrawn its $18.7 billion takeover offer for Australian gas company Santos after a prolonged due diligence period. The withdrawal may be due to tax liabilities Santos faces in Papua New Guinea next year, emissions concerns related to its assets, and uncertainty surrounding the renewal of contracts for its Gladstone LNG facility with Korea Gas Corporation expiring in 2031. Concerns about global LNG oversupply were also a factor. Domestically, there were concerns about whether the deal aligned with Australia's national interest.
6. EcoCeres gears up for Asia expansion with SAF platform
Renewable fuel producer EcoCeres is accelerating its expansion in Asia, planning to build a Sustainable Aviation Fuel platform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and is about to start production at a new plant in Malaysia with an annual capacity of 420,000 tonnes. It uses agricultural waste to produce biofuels and has partnered with Xiamen Airlines, among others, helping airlines like Cathay Pacific achieve their 2030 SAF usage targets.
7. Hyundai E&C wins $3.16 billion contract for Iraqi seawater treatment plant
South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) has signed a contract worth $3.16 billion to build a seawater treatment plant at Khor Al-Zubair Port in Iraq. The project is part of the Common Seawater Supply Project, with a daily treatment capacity of 5 million barrels. The treated seawater will be injected into oil reservoirs to support production in southern oil fields, while freshwater will be supplied to surrounding fields. The project is jointly invested by companies from France, Qatar, and Iraq, with a construction period of 49 months. This is Hyundai E&C's largest project in Iraq since completing the Karbala Refinery in 2023.
8. SWPC receives three bids for Riyadh–Qassim Water Transmission Pipeline Project
Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has received three bids for the Riyadh-Qassim Independent Water Transmission Pipeline Project, from two consortiums and Vision International Investment Company. The pipeline will be 859 kilometers long with a daily transmission capacity of 685,000 cubic meters, featuring bidirectional flow capability, accompanying water storage tanks, and integrated solar power solutions. The project uses a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model, is expected to commence commercial operation in Q1 2030, and will have a 35-year concession period.
9. Groundbreaking water treatment research advances potable reuse technologies
A multi-national collaborative research project funded by the Water Research Foundation has made a breakthrough, providing an innovative pathway for ozone-biological activated carbon-based potable reuse treatment. The research validated a new ozone dosing control method that can reduce energy consumption and disinfection byproducts while ensuring viral inactivation efficacy, offering a more sustainable alternative to reverse osmosis technology for inland regions.
10. Mexico City, Monterrey partner with Xylem and Amazon to save 1.3B liters of water annually
Mexico City and Monterrey are partnering with Xylem and Amazon to deploy an intelligent water management platform to reduce leaks and regulate water pressure in real-time. The project is expected to save over 1.3 billion liters of water annually, significantly enhancing water supply resilience in the water-scarce cities. This collaboration is part of Amazon's global water replenishment initiative, helping the cities cope with drought and growing demand, and benefiting vulnerable communities.