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-focused. But we also look further afield, knowing that developments, trends and technology from around the world also have an impact across our region. 

Major CCS news from Singapore
Asia’s appetite for carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions continues to grow – with a major announcement out of Singapore this week being another pointer towards the technology’s future contribution to decarbonisation. 

ANGEA member company ExxonMobil and Shell have formed an S-Hub consortium to evaluate and develop a cross-border CCS project for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Singapore. 

The project could be capable of sequestering up to 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030. 

Read more: https://bit.ly/3ThFahw 

Asian gas demand drives another Woodside deal
Less than a week after Japan’s biggest power producer JERA took a 15 per cent stake in the Scarborough project, ANGEA member Woodside Energy has signed another large LNG supply contract. 

Woodside will supply South Korea’s KOGAS with 0.5 million tonnes of LNG for a period of 10.5 years from 2026. 

The LNG will come from a global porfolio that includes Scarborough and the agreement again underscores Asia’s strong and long-term demand for Australian gas. 

Read more: https://bit.ly/3SUnqYa 

New challenges for US LNG export approval pause
The recently-announced US Government pause on pending LNG export approvals continues to be hotly contested, with two new official challenges to the decision being announced this week.

Republican Senators John Barrasso (Wyoming) and Bill Cassidy (Louisiana) have introduced a bill to the Senate that would reverse the bill and require the Department of Energy to approve LNG exports to any country that currently imports Russian or Iranian natural gas or has in the past.

Meanwhile, the American Petroleum Institute has filed for a re-hearing on the pause, arguing that it is unlawful and violates both the Natural Gas Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.

 India’s energy challenge even as renewables grow
S&P Global published a very interesting article this week about India’s future energy outlook and the assessment of BP chief economist Spencer Dale. 

Dale, who has been in his role at BP for a decade, believes that even if India achieves a goal of tripling renewable energy by 2030, it will still only meet 75 per cent of energy demand growth. 

To cover the gap, Dale said, the country would either need to expand coal-fired power generation capacity by 20 per cent or triple gas-fired generation. 

Unless gas-producing countries around the world keep developing projects that will meet demand from India and other emerging economies in Asia, high-emitting but inexpensive coal is likely to continue to prove a popular fallback fuel. 

Read more: https://bit.ly/3TcYA7g  

Indian coal industry buoyant about the future
Meanwhile, on the coal side of the Indian energy equation, a wide range of industry stakeholders seem confident that demand will continue to rise. 

Reporting on the annual Coaltrans India conference in Goa, Reuters columnist Clyde Russell reported that miners, traders, utilities and steelmakers all project coal production, imports and demand will continue to rise – and by substantial volumes. 

Read more: https://reut.rs/48DImIP  

Vietnam eyes more LNG imports
After taking delivery of an historic first LNG cargo last year, Vietnam is now hoping to secure two more spot market shipments over the next six months.

LNG is central to Vietnam’s National Power Development Plan 8, which outlines plans for gas to replace coal as the nation’s primary source of power by 2030.

Vietnam has set a 2050 net zero target and reducing use of high-emitting coal will be essential to this amibition.

Like fellow “new” LNG importer the Philippines, Vietnam will ideally look to lock in longer-term supply in the future that removes some of the volatility of the spot market. 

Read more: https://bit.ly/3SWWJlL  

All systems go for Santos’ CCS project in Australia
ANGEA member company Santos announced during the week that it had secured funding for its share of the Moomba carbon capture and storage project in South Australia. 

Moomba is set to become Australia’s second operational CCS project when it achieves first injection in mid-2024 and will be capable of storing up to 1.7 million tonnes of CO2 per annum. 

The facility will offer storage for both international and Australian emissions, with another deal signed last week making it likely that the Whyalla Steelworks will become Moomba’s first domestic customer. 

Read more: https://bit.ly/48rZiBP  

 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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