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Natural gas has been fuelling industrial and economic growth across developed and developing countries. Its usage is set to increase as it is also being considered as a low-carbon fuel that can help make the transition to a no-to-low-carbon economy. Argus is your irreplaceable source of price information, news, expert analysis and fundamentals data for international natural gas markets.
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New Zealand’s gas reserves extend fall in 2025: MBIE
New Zealand’s gas reserves extend fall in 2025: MBIE
Sydney, 14 May (Argus) — National gas reserves are at an all-time low, New Zealand's ministry of business, innovation and employment (MBIE) said, while Wellington has struggled to attract new investment and turned to LNG imports to bridge a supply shortfall. The nation's official proved and probable (2P) reserves as of 1 January fell by 23pc on the year to just 731PJ (19.2bn m³), a 217PJ decline in 12 months due to 108PJ of production and 109PJ of downward revisions. The Pohokura field recorded the largest single decline of 129PJ, linked partly to well underperformance, MBIE said on 14 May. Turangi field, operated by privately-held Greymouth Petroleum, now holds 380PJ or 51pc of remaining 2P reserves. New Zealand's 2026 production is now estimated at 85PJ, 15pc below expectations submitted for the 1 January 2025 reserves statement and lower than the 115.7PJ in 2024, data show. New Zealand's centre-right National-led government has overturned a ban on new exploration instituted under the previous Labour administration but has yet to attract any significant new spending, despite offering to buy up to 15pc equity in new projects to drive activity. The country's energy minister instead announced a turn to LNG imports this year. The country will build a regasification facility at Port Taranaki on the country's North Island, nearby major gas producing facilities in the offshore Taranaki basin. Power problems New Zealand's electricity is mainly sourced from hydroelectricity, but drought periods can hamper output because the catchments are relatively small. The government is aiming to fast-track solar and wind approvals and explore new deep geothermal technologies to make up shortfalls and reserve gas for industrial and heating purposes instead of power generation. New Zealand's sole major non-renewable electricity generator is the 953MW Huntly power station on the North Island which can use coal or gas. Shortfalls of electricity have previously led major manufacturers like Rio Tinto to curtail production at its 335,000 t/yr Tiwai Point aluminium smelter in 2024, and the associated need for gas-fired power led Methanex to idle its plants to free up gas in the same year. Methanex this month said its New Zealand operations may close after gas supplier OMV in April said it would cease Maui gas field production by the end of the year. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
German government approves building modernisation law
German government approves building modernisation law
Hamburg, 13 May (Argus) — Germany's cabinet approved the building modernisation act on 13 May, sending it to parliament for further deliberation, with only minor changes from the original draft. The new act will remove the existing requirement that new heating systems run on at least 65pc renewable energy . Instead, owners will again be able to choose between technologies, including gas and oil boilers, heat pumps, district heating, biomass installations or hybrid systems. The core element of the reform remains the increasing quota for climate-neutral fuels, under which gas and oil boilers must gradually use more renewable or low-carbon energy from 2029. Minimum shares are set at 10pc in 2029, 15pc in 2030, 30pc from 2035 and 60pc from 2040. Most of the changes that were made apply to biomass, with rules on a hierarchy for use of wood scrapped following industry opposition. But a new limit was introduced on use of maize and grain in biogas plants. These feedstocks can now make up no more than 40pc for biogas units that became operational after 31 December 2023. Bioenergy industry representatives broadly welcomed the law, but still see shortcomings. Berlin-based lobby group Hauptstadtburo Bioenergie points to a possible loophole, as the new act applies to heating systems installed after it takes effect. Units added since the previous act took force would face no related obligations, leaving an estimated 900,000 oil and gas boilers to fall through the gap. Industry associations are also seeking annual adjustments to bio-targets, rather than steep jumps years apart, arguing this would support investment security and avoid sharp price movements. Changes around biomethane imports have also come into focus. The current bill does not limit EU imports when producers benefit from subsidy schemes, but industry groups have proposed excluding any biomethane that received significant incentives in its country of origin or which counts towards renewable targets there. Details of the bill are still open to amendment. The lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, will first hold a reading before referring the bill to committees, which usually make the most substantive changes based on expert hearings. After committee discussions, the Bundestag will hold second and third readings, before the upper house, the Bundesrat, takes up the bill. Here, there could be delays, as states and municipalities are responsible for implementing and enforcing the law. Disagreements among states could trigger mediation, further slowing progress. The economy and energy ministry wants the law to take force on 1 July. By Svea Winter Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Kabinett beschließt Gebäudemodernisierungsgesetz
Kabinett beschließt Gebäudemodernisierungsgesetz
Hamburg, 13 May (Argus) — Das Bundeskabinett hat am 13. Mai das Gebäudemodernisierungsgesetz beschlossen und damit in das parlamentarische Verfahren überführt. In der Kabinettsfassung wurden gegenüber dem Referentenentwurf nur punktuelle Anpassungen vorgenommen, im nächsten Schritt wird das Gesetz an den Bundestag und die entsprechenden Ausschüsse weitergeleitet. Das Gebäudemodernisierungsgesetz (GModG) soll das bestehende Gebäudeenergiegesetz (GEG) ablösen und die Vorgabe des GEG, wonach neue Heizungen zu mindestens 65 % mit erneuerbaren Energien betrieben werden müssen, streichen. Stattdessen erhalten Eigentümer wieder eine Wahlfreiheit zwischen Technologien wie Gas- und Ölheizungen, Wärmepumpen, Fernwärme, Biomasseanlagen oder Hybridlösungen. Kern der Neuregelung bleibt die sogenannte "Bio Treppe" : Gas- und Ölheizungen müssen ab 2029 schrittweise steigende Anteile erneuerbarer oder CO2-armer Energieträger einsetzen. Vorgesehen sind Mindestanteile von 10 % ab 2029, 15 % ab 2030, 30 % ab 2035 und 60 % ab 2040. Dieser Mechanismus blieb in der Kabinettsfassung unverändert. Anpassungen gab es vor allem im Bereich der Biomasse. Vorgaben zur Nutzung von Holz entlang einer Nutzungshierarchie wurden gestrichen, nachdem Branchenverbände dagegen protestiert hatten. Neu aufgenommen wurde hingegen eine Begrenzung des Einsatzes von Mais und Getreide in Biogasanlagen: Für Anlagen, die nach dem 31. Dezember 2023 in Betrieb gehen, darf der Anteil dieser Substrate künftig höchstens 40 % der Biomasse betragen, sofern das Biogas zur Erfüllung der Mindestanteile genutzt wird. Die Bioenergiebranche bewertet den Entwurf insgesamt positiv, sieht jedoch weiterhin Kritikpunkte. So verweist das Hauptstadtbüro Bioenergie auf eine potenzielle Regelungslücke: Das GModG gilt nur für Heizungen, die nach Inkrafttreten des Gesetzes installiert werden. Anlagen, die seit Beginn des GEG eingebaut wurden, würden demnach nicht mehr unter entsprechende Verpflichtungen fallen. Betroffen sein könnten laut Branche rund 900.000 Öl- und Gasheizungen. Zudem fordern Verbände eine jährliche Anpassung der Ziele anstatt von wenigen großen Sprüngen bei der Bio-Treppe. Dies soll die Investitionssicherheit gewähren und Preissprünge vorbeugen. Auch werden Anpassungen beim Import von Biomethan gefordert. Derzeit enthält der Entwurf keine Einschränkungen, obwohl Produzenten in anderen EU-Staaten teils von Fördermechanismen profitieren und dadurch Wettbewerbsvorteile haben. Daher wird vorgeschlagen, dass Biomethan, das im Produktionsland bereits eine signifikante Produktionsförderung erhalten hat oder im Herkunftsland bereits auf Erneuerbare-Energien-Ausbauziele angerechnet wurde, nicht auf die Bio-Treppe anrechenbar sein sollte. Mit dem Kabinettsbeschluss ist die politische Richtung vorgegeben, die inhaltliche Ausgestaltung aber noch offen. Der Entwurf geht nun in den Bundestag und wird dort zunächst in erster Lesung beraten, bevor er in die Ausschüsse überwiesen wird. In der Regel findet die entscheidende Ausdifferenzierung in den Fachausschüssen und Anhörungen statt, wo die Kritikpunkte der Branche erneut verhandelt werden könnten. Nach Abschluss der Beratungen folgen zweite und dritte Lesung im Bundestag sowie die Befassung des Bundesrats. Da das Gesetz insbesondere von Ländern und Kommunen getragen und durchgesetzt werden muss, kann es im Bundesrat noch zu Verzögerungen in der Länderkammer kommen. In dem Fall, dass es hier Unstimmigkeiten zwischen den Bundesländern gibt, wäre ein Vermittlungsverfahren wahrscheinlich, dass das Gesetz dann noch verzögern könnte. Das Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE) strebte zuletzt ein Inkrafttreten zum 1. Juli 2026 an. Von Svea Winter Senden Sie Kommentare und fordern Sie weitere Informationen an feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
EU energy ministers to discuss domestic gas production
EU energy ministers to discuss domestic gas production
London, 12 May (Argus) — EU energy ministers will discuss boosting domestic oil and gas production as part of a broader effort to strengthen energy security at an informal meeting on 13 May in Lefkosia, Cyprus, according to a document seen by Argus . The meeting has been organised by the Cyprus presidency of the EU and is part of broader efforts to reduce the bloc's exposure to external supply shocks. "The development of indigenous gas resources can strategically complement the EU's long-term security and decarbonisation goals by contributing to diversification and resilience goals," the document says. The discussion will focus on the role of domestic production in mitigating price volatility and on how EU gas infrastructure can remain investment-viable while aligned with long-term climate commitments. The document highlights that projects by several EU member states accelerated offshore exploration and domestic gas production projects, including Romania's Neptun Deep and new initiatives in Greece, Bulgaria and Poland. Northern and central European countries have reinforced gas infrastructure, while Italy combined partnerships with exporters in north Africa with domestic upgrades. Denmark and Germany have co-operated on North Sea projects with a view to future carbon capture and hydrogen, the document said. Oil and gas producers association IOGP has welcomed the initiatives and has called on the EU to "take a more balanced approach to energy policy" and facilitate dialogue regarding the exploitation of the bloc's resources by "providing data, identifying barriers at EU and national level, and presenting member states with options on how to accelerate the responsible use of these resources". Up to 150 exploration wells could be drilled in 2026-27, including in Germany, Poland, Austria, Romania and Greece, but regulatory and permitting barriers continue to constrain increased domestic gas production in the EU, IOGP said. Around 12 EU member states still have bans or restrictions on exploration and production, and projects can take 3-10 years from discovery to output, according to IOGP. The challenge is to define a regulatory and investment environment that encourages the extraction of domestic resources to lower prices and secure supply, while avoiding a lock-in to carbon-intensive systems that could undermine long-term climate goals, the document said. By Victoria Dovgal Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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