Each week, the Asia Natural Gas and Energy Association (ANGEA) compiles stories from the energy world that have caught our eye.                         

Given the region in which we operate – and our purpose – this collection of content is largely Asia-focussed. But we also look further afield, knowing that developments, trends and technology from around the world also have an impact across our region.   

COP28 wraps up, reinforcing critical role of gas
The attention of the energy world remained focussed on Dubai during the first half of the week, where the annual COP28 Climate Change Conference reached its conclusion. 

After some delays in delegates finding agreement on energy-related wording, the final text of the Global Stocktake was a pointer towards a low-carbon future that will see gas and LNG play critical roles in the energy transition. 

The final text contains “[Recognition] that transitional fuels can play a role in facilitating the energy transition while ensuring energy security” and a commitment to “accelerating efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power.” 

It also acknowledges the need to accelerate the development of carbon capture and storage solutions. 

As ANGEA CEO Paul Everingham reflected: “Energy transition is a process that will take place over decades and the final text from COP28 should be a signal to gas-producing nations to advance projects that will meet global demand for the 2030s and beyond.”

Read our take on COP28: https://bit.ly/47WrdKH 

Vietnam awards licence for new LNG power plant
In a well-timed announcement following COP28, Vietnam revealed that a consortium led by Tokyo Gas had been awarded an investment licence to develop a $2 billion LNG power plant in the northern province of Thai Binh. 

It’s the latest step in Vietnam’s ongoing plan to reduce its reliance on coal for electricity generation and instead focus on lower-emission natural gas. 

Read more: https://bit.ly/41uJ6hh 

JERA explores maritime use of ammonia
Ammonia shapes to be a key fuel of the future for Asia in a variety of industries, including power generation and shipping. 

ANGEA member company JERA, which is heavily involved in the development of technologies using ammonia as a co-firing agent for electricity production, announced this week it was working with shipping company NYK Line and chemical manufacturer Resonac on the employment of ammonia as an alternative maritime fuel.

Total CO2 emissions from the international shipping industry are roughly equivalent to those of a nation like Germany and maritime decarbonisation is a key aspect of the global net zero picture. 

Read more: https://bit.ly/48huwfh  

LNG imports for major Indonesian industrial estate
BP will develop a new LNG import terminal at the Java Integrated Industrial and Port Estate, targeting deliveries in 2027 to coincide with the start-up of large gas-consuming projects at the site. 

The estate is one of Indonesia’s biggest and the new terminal will highlight the versatility of natural gas as both a source of industrial power generation and a feedstock for a variety of manufacturing processes. 

Read more: https://bit.ly/4abQAd5   

Op-ed makes the case for CCS in Indonesia
Sticking with Indonesia, the Jakarta Post featured an interesting op-ed during the week by McKinsey that outlined the opportunities (and challenges) in front of the country as it develops a carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry.

As expressed in the article, CCS is essential to Indonesia’s net zero ambitions but there is a strong need to establish a regulatory framework that allows the technology’s potential to be maximised.

The absence of a region-wide framework that supports not only investment in CCS but the transnational transport of CO2 is why ANGEA recently launched the Asia Pacific Cross Border Carbon Accreditation Study. 

Read the Jakarta Post op-ed: https://bit.ly/3ToJD2f
Learn more about our Study: https://bit.ly/3R3Vem3 

DOE awards $890 million to advance CCS projects
Finishing up with more CCS news, it was very encouraging to see the US Department of Energy committing nearly $900 million to progress three projects related to power plants in Texas, North Dakota and California. 

Learnings from these types of projects will be critical to informing the development of the technology in Asia, where CCS is central to the region’s decarbonisation pathway.

Two of the three power plants receiving funding for CCS are gas-powered, which is particularly relevant given the plans of many Asian nations to switch coal for gas in electricity generation. 

Read more: https://bit.ly/3GL53z7  

ANGEA is an industry association representing LNG and natural gas producers, energy buyers, suppliers and companies in APAC. Based in Singapore, it works in partnership with governments and societies across the region to deliver reliable and secure energy solutions that achieve national economic, energy security, social and environmental objectives and meet global climate goals. 

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