Muar LNG to develop LNG bunkering hub in Malaysia

Spanish Market: Natural gas
12/03/26

Singapore-based Muar LNG is developing an integrated LNG bunkering, reloading and transshipment hub within the Maharani Freeport Industrial Park (MFIP), located in Johor, Malaysia, the company said.

The Maharani Freeport is managed by the Maharani Energy Gateway (MEG) and was launched by the sultan of Johor Ibrahim Iskandar late last year in a ceremony that was also attended by Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

It sits in a strategic location just 70 nautical miles away from Singapore, and is also embedded within the Strait of Malacca bunkering corridor. This sets it up as a potential alternative destination for vessels looking to purchase LNG as a bunker fuel, in addition to the neighbouring hub of Singapore located further south.

"More than 30 ports in Europe are offering LNG bunkering, along with more than 10 in China. Both markets have ample reloading options," said Muar LNG chief executive He Yiyong on 11 March. "In comparison, the ecosystem in the Strait of Malacca market can be strengthened, so collectively the region can retain its rightful market share achieved in conventional fuel oil bunkering," he added.

It is also located in close geographical proximity to bio-LNG feedstock bases in Malaysia, raising the prospect of bio-LNG bunkering taking place in Asia in the near future.

The project consists of two main berths. The first berth is a dedicated liquefied biomethane (LBM) export terminal, and the second berth is an export terminal for conventional LNG. Construction will last from the third quarter of 2026 until the third quarter of 2027, with commissioning targeted for the fourth quarter of 2027.

LNG bunkering sales and related services are set to be ready by the fourth quarter of 2027, with a full slate of services including transshipment, regasification, gas up/cool down expected to be available by the fourth quarter of 2030.

Meanwhile, demand for LNG as a bunker fuel in Singapore rose by 30pc on the year to 42,600t in January. Overall demand for LNG is expected to be robust, backed by arrivals of newbuilds. LNG dual-fuelled newbuilds continue to dominate the order books, and demand for LNG and bio-LNG is expected to emerge in the coming year.

Strong demand for LNG as a bunker fuel may imply significant spillover benefits from Maharani Freeport being located nearby, making it possible for southeast Asia to be jointly developed as a hub for LNG and bio-LNG bunkering.

By Rou Urn Lee

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04/04/26

Israel’s Leviathan gas output restarts after shutdown

London, 4 April (Argus) — Israel's Leviathan gas field resumed operations on 31 March after a month-long security-related shutdown, project partner NewMed said on 3 April. Israel's energy ministry ordered Chevron, operator of the 12bn m³/yr field, to halt production on 2 March following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran two days earlier. NewMed said Chevron received regulatory clearance on 31 March to carry out preparations to restart output, and "regular production" resumed on 2 April. The shutdown led Chevron to declare force majeure and pushed Egypt — which receives Leviathan gas by pipeline — to step up LNG imports. Egypt's LNG receipts tripled year on year in the first quarter of 2026 and rose by 4pc from the previous quarter, according to Kpler data. Most volumes came from the US, but Equatorial Guinea also contributed, shipping its first LNG cargo to Egypt since June 2025. The Tenergy LNG tanker arrived in Ain Sukhna on 1 April, Kpler data show. By Andrey Telegin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US fighter jet shot down over Iran: Tasnim

03/04/26

US fighter jet shot down over Iran: Tasnim

Washington, 3 April (Argus) — Iran's military has shot down a US F-15 fighter jet over Iran, Iranian news agency Tasnim said on Friday. In a development that could spark a major escalation of the US-Israeli war with Iran and upend the White House's timetable for the conflict, the Iranian Army's Air Defense Unit shot down the fighter jet, Tasnim reported. The fate of the F-15 crew members was not immediately clear. In a conflicting report, Iranian state news agency Irna posted images on X of what it described as an "F-35 fighter jet" that it said had been destroyed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Neither the White House nor US Central Command responded immediately to enquiries, while the Pentagon referred questions to Central Command. President Donald Trump has not posted on his social media platform about the incident. But at around 3:30pm ET he did post, "KEEP THE OIL, ANYONE?" And earlier in the day, Trump posted: "With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A 'GUSHER' FOR THE WORLD???" During his prime time address to the US public about the war on 1 April, Trump claimed that the Iranians "have no anti-aircraft equipment", adding: "Their radar is 100pc annihilated. We are unstoppable as a military force." A second US war plane, an A-10 Warthog attack plane, crashed near the strait of Hormuz about the same time as the F-15, the New York Times reported on Friday. By David Ivanovich Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump pledges to 'finish the job' quickly in Iran

02/04/26

Trump pledges to 'finish the job' quickly in Iran

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Iran, US presidents trade peace requirements: Update 2

01/04/26

Iran, US presidents trade peace requirements: Update 2

adds Iranian denial of ceasefire request in paragraph 4 London, 1 April (Argus) — The presidents of Iran and the US have each laid out simple conditions required in order for the war to de-escalate, but neither indicated they would take the first step. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said late on 31 March that Tehran has the "necessary will" to bring the conflict with the US and Israel to an end, but only once it has ironclad guarantees that they will not attack Iran in the future. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said "Iran's new regime president" — presumably Pezeshkian, but this was not specified — has asked Washington for a ceasefire, but said this request would only be considered when Iran reopens shipping through the strait of Hormuz. Until then the US would continue its military campaign, Trump said. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman has since described Trump's claim of a ceasefire request as "false and baseless", according to Iranian state news agency Press TV. This would be consistent with Tehran's recent stance. Iranian officials, including foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, have repeatedly said Iran is not looking for a ceasefire, but wants a total end to hostilities. They have said a ceasefire will allow for the US and Israel to once again regroup and prepare for future attacks. "We do not believe in a ceasefire," Araqchi said. "We believe in ending the war." The US has been claiming negotiations with unidentified Iranian officials since last week, repeatedly remarking on "very good" progress. Iranian officials have consistently denied that any negotiations are underway. Trump is scheduled to address the US to "provide an important update on Iran" at 21:00 ET on Wednesday (02:00 GMT on Thursday), the White House said. He said on 31 March that US forces could leave the region within two to three weeks. Hormuz disruption The war in the Middle East is in a fifth week, with the US and Israel continuing their heavy aerial campaign against numerous targets across Iran. Tehran has been responding to the attacks by launching missiles and drones at Israel and US-linked assets across the Mideast Gulf, including critical energy infrastructure in Gulf Co-operation Council states. Iranian retaliatory attacks on commercial vessels in and around the strait of Hormuz have heavily restricted traffic through the key waterway, severely curtailing exports of crude oil, oil products, LNG, fertilizers and other commodities from the region. Pezeshkian reiterated that the strait is only closed to vessels with links to "Iran's aggressors and their supporters", and several Asian countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, have said in recent days that Tehran has given assurances of safe passage. Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar said at the weekend that Iran had approved 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels to traverse the strait. Abu Dhabi state-owned Adnoc's chief executive, Sultan al-Jaber, today described the strait's closure as "global extortion", and said "the world must act together to protect the free flow of energy and safeguard economic stability." With the US seemingly preferring other countries to take responsibility for securing the strait, the UK today said it will host this week a meeting of 35 nations' foreign ministers to assess ways of opening the waterway and to make it "accessible and safe after the fighting has stopped". London did not outline which countries are involved, but if they are the same 35 as co-signed a UK letter in mid-March calling for the strait to reopen this would be a new attempt to get an international coalition together. In the early days of the war France said it would create a coalition to secure vessel traffic through Hormuz, but Paris later backtracked on that , in line with the broader EU stance . By Nader Itayim Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Iran, US presidents trade peace requirements: Update

01/04/26

Iran, US presidents trade peace requirements: Update

Recasts, with added comments from US president, Adnoc CEO, UK PM London, 1 April (Argus) — The presidents of Iran and the US have each laid out simple conditions required in order for the war to de-escalate, but neither indicated they would take the first step. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said late on 31 March that Tehran has the "necessary will" to bring the conflict with the US and Israel to an end, but only once it has ironclad guarantees that they will not attack Iran in the future. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said "Iran's new regime president" — presumably Pezeshkian, but this was not specified — has asked Washington for a ceasefire, but said this request would only be considered when Iran reopens shipping through the strait of Hormuz. Until then the US would continue its military campaign, Trump said. Iran has yet to offer any formal response to Trump's latest comments. If true, they would represent a departure from Tehran's recent stance. Iranian officials, including foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, have repeatedly said Iran is not looking for a ceasefire, but wants a total end to hostilities. They have said a ceasefire will allow for the US and Israel to once again regroup and prepare for future attacks. "We do not believe in a ceasefire," Araqchi said. "We believe in ending the war." The US has been claiming negotiations with unidentified Iranian officials since last week, repeatedly remarking on "very good" progress. Iranian officials have consistently denied that any negotiations are underway. Trump is scheduled to address the US to "provide an important update on Iran" at 21:00 ET on Wednesday (02:00 GMT on Thursday), the White House said. He said on 31 March that US forces could leave the region within two to three weeks. Hormuz disruption The war in the Middle East is in a fifth week, with the US and Israel continuing their heavy aerial campaign against numerous targets across Iran. Tehran has been responding to the attacks by launching missiles and drones at Israel and US-linked assets across the Mideast Gulf, including critical energy infrastructure in Gulf Co-operation Council states. Iranian retaliatory attacks on commercial vessels in and around the strait of Hormuz have heavily restricted traffic through the key waterway, severely curtailing exports of crude oil, oil products, LNG, fertilizers and other commodities from the region. Pezeshkian reiterated that the strait is only closed to vessels with links to "Iran's aggressors and their supporters", and several Asian countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, have said in recent days that Tehran has given assurances of safe passage. Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar said at the weekend that Iran had approved 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels to traverse the strait. Abu Dhabi state-owned Adnoc's chief executive, Sultan al-Jaber, today described the strait's closure as "global extortion", and said "the world must act together to protect the free flow of energy and safeguard economic stability." With the US seemingly preferring other countries to take responsibility for securing the strait, the UK today said it will host this week a meeting of 35 nations' foreign ministers to assess ways of opening the waterway and to make it "accessible and safe after the fighting has stopped". London did not outline which countries are involved, but if they are the same 35 as co-signed a UK letter in mid-March calling for the strait to reopen this would be a new attempt to get an international coalition together. In the early days of the war France said it would create a coalition to secure vessel traffic through Hormuz, but Paris later backtracked on that , in line with the broader EU stance . By Nader Itayim Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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