Asia is the largest LNG import market. In China, imports are expected to reach a record level in 2024. In November 2023, Sinopec put into service the world’ s largest LNG storage tank( 270,000 cu m) at Qingdao. So far in 2024, four new terminals and two peak shaving and storage tanks have come online. The second-highest regasification capacity additions in Asia from 2023 to 2027 are expected to occur in India. In June, it was found that Indian imports had risen 11.4 % year on year. However, existing terminals are under-utilised. Hindustan Petroleum’ s terminal at Chhara in Gujarat is expected to come online soon. Other countries planning or constructing terminals include Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The Philippines unveiled its first integrated LNG facility at Batangas: an import terminal and two gas-fired plants. After Asia, the most important market is Europe, whose economy has been faltering because of higher energy costs. Russia is still exporting natural gas( including LNG) to Europe but the EU is targeting a ban on Russian fuel imports by 2027. As a country with a strong manufacturing sector, Germany is especially vulnerable to energy shortages. It has therefore wasted no time in building new capacity. Projects include: Brunsbüttel FSRU( also known as Elbehafen LNG) started regular commercial π www. valve-world. net Valve World May 2025 33
LNG
Does this mean LNG is not the way to go? Climate activists persuaded President Biden to pause pending and future export licence applications but this measure was blocked by a federal judge. However, technology can come to the rescue: for example, Wärtsilä is converting its dual-fuel engines to spark gas, thereby improving the combustion process. Other solutions, more costly and more long-term, would be to fuel ships with hydrogen or ammonia instead of LNG.
Exports
Despite safety and emission concerns, in 2023, North America signed 21 export contracts, more than any other country. Present export capacity is set to double by 2028. Five export projects are currently under construction – Plaquemines, Corpus Christi Stage III, Golden Pass, Rio Grande( Phase I), and Port Arthur( Phase I) – with others planned. In Canada, three terminals are under construction in British Columbia: Kitimat( LNG Canada), Woodfibre and Cedar FLNG. New Fortress Energy has started up its Fast LNG Altamira( two FLNGs) in Mexico and the Barcarena terminal in Brazil. A further liquefaction plant, Energía Costa Azul, is under construction in Mexico. If the USA is important for Europe, Qatar’ s markets lie mainly to the east. The country plans to increase its capacity by 85 % by 2030 to meet growing demand. QatarEnergy is expanding North Field East( the world’ s four largest four LNG trains), with the help of Technip Energies and Chiyoda and is
LNG Canada facility, Kitimat, November 2023.
planning to expand its North Field West field. The company recently ordered 18 ultra-large( Q-Max class) LNG carriers from a Chinese shipyard. Oman is adding an LNG train at its Qalhat Industrial Complex in South Sharqiyah Governorate, and Technip is building two trains at the Ruwais LNG in the UAE. Australia’ s LNG construction has slowed in recent years, but the government has said it plans to remain a reliable partner for LNG until 2050. Woodside’ s Scarborough gasfield is two-thirds complete and will start producing gas in 2026. A new pipeline will connect to the Pluto facility, where a second train is being built.
Shell’ s LNG regasification terminal in Gibraltar. An inspector checks the gas pressure gauge of the evaporator. Photo: Shell.
Santos’ s Darwin LNG Life Extension project( undertaken to process gas condensate from the Barossa field) has been awarded to UGL.
Imports
Asia is the largest LNG import market. In China, imports are expected to reach a record level in 2024. In November 2023, Sinopec put into service the world’ s largest LNG storage tank( 270,000 cu m) at Qingdao. So far in 2024, four new terminals and two peak shaving and storage tanks have come online. The second-highest regasification capacity additions in Asia from 2023 to 2027 are expected to occur in India. In June, it was found that Indian imports had risen 11.4 % year on year. However, existing terminals are under-utilised. Hindustan Petroleum’ s terminal at Chhara in Gujarat is expected to come online soon. Other countries planning or constructing terminals include Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The Philippines unveiled its first integrated LNG facility at Batangas: an import terminal and two gas-fired plants. After Asia, the most important market is Europe, whose economy has been faltering because of higher energy costs. Russia is still exporting natural gas( including LNG) to Europe but the EU is targeting a ban on Russian fuel imports by 2027. As a country with a strong manufacturing sector, Germany is especially vulnerable to energy shortages. It has therefore wasted no time in building new capacity. Projects include: Brunsbüttel FSRU( also known as Elbehafen LNG) started regular commercial π www. valve-world. net Valve World May 2025 33