Union pauses strike plans at Australia’s Ichthys LNG

Spanish Market: Condensate, LPG, Natural gas
26/05/26

The Offshore Alliance (OA) union will halt strikes planned for the 9.3mn t/yr Inpex-operated Ichthys LNG project for two days from 27 May due to advances in negotiations.

Strike action planned for 27 and 28 May will be paused due to progress made in bargaining talks, an OA spokesperson said today.

Staff at the project, which drills gas in the offshore Browse basin in the Timor Sea and pipes it to the city of Darwin for liquefaction, had planned to start striking from 27 May, protesting what the OA said was slow progress on pay and conditions agreements.

Japan's Inpex, which holds 1.1mn t/yr of offtake from the plant, has been contacted for comment.

Japanese companies hold around 5.9mn t/yr of publicly disclosed long-term supply deals for the project, which can also produce 1.65mn t/yr of LPG and about 100,000 b/d of condensate at peak rates.

By Tom Major

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25/05/26

Australia’s Amplitude to buy 50pc of Artisan gas field

Adelaide, 25 May (Argus) — Australian-listed gas company Amplitude Energy will buy fellow domestic independent Beach Energy's operatorship and a 50pc stake in the Artisan gas field in Victoria state's offshore Otway basin. The firm will spend A$58.3mn ($41.8mn) on the VIC/L35 permit southwest of Victoria's capital Melbourne, it said on 25 May, while the remaining 10pc of Beach's holding will be purchased by Israeli energy firm OG Energy which already owns a 40pc interest. The payment is equivalent to A$2/GJ ($1.51/mn Btu), fully funded through existing funds, while a A$3.75/GJ royalty payment will be capped at 62PJ gross, or 31PJ net to Amplitude, Amplitude said. The transaction is expected to be completed in July-September. "Artisan development costs will significantly benefit from leveraging the existing east coast gas supply project (ECSP) program and our readily available infrastructure," Amplitude chief executive Jane Norman said, referring to the Casino-Henry-Netherby pipeline which Artisan wells could tie-in to. Along with the Annie field, Artisan will provide the base resource for Amplitude and OG's ECSP, a 50:50 joint venture which it now plans to make a final investment decision for in the coming months, Norman said. Drilling the Juliet-1 well is now expected to start in late July or early August, to be followed by the Annie-2 well. Amplitude received an offshore gas production licence for Annie earlier this month . The ECSP is targeting increases in output by the Amplitude-operated Athena gas plant of between four- and seven-times of current output of about 14 TJ/d (370,000 m³/d), against nameplate capacity of 150 TJ/d. Australia's east is facing a gas supply shortfall later this decade as existing gas plants associated with the Gippsland basin joint venture close due to declining feedstock. LNG imports, greater storage, local production and a gas reservation policy may reduce this deficit. Beach to cancel drilling Meanwhile, Beach's La Bella-2 well will no longer be drilled as part of the Equinox phase 2 campaign , the company said today, allowing it to redirect capital to other priorities. Offloading Artisan and not drilling La Bella will unlock over A$500mn in planned spending between the 2025-26 and 2028-29 fiscal years to 30 June, chief executive Brett Woods said, with the money to be directed to opportunities with stronger returns and lower development costs. Beach will seek large-scale opportunities due to the relatively expensive nature of developing Otway basin assets, Woods said in August last year . Beach drilled the A$61mn Hercules-1 exploration well in the Otway basin in September 2025, which failed to locate significant hydrocarbons and was plugged and abandoned . The Adelaide-based firm recently acquired a 25pc share in a 750km² exploration permit in the onshore Taroom trough of Queensland state, a jurisdiction seeking to increase its oil and gas output, indicating it sees growth opportunities in the region. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Dutch govt formalises renewable gas blending obligation

21/05/26

Dutch govt formalises renewable gas blending obligation

London, 21 May (Argus) — The Dutch government has formally submitted its renewable gas blending obligation bill to parliament, requiring suppliers to reduce a certain amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually by supplying biomethane to their end users. The bill allows for imports from other EU countries. Under the system, suppliers must submit green gas units — groengaseenheid (GGEs) — to a central registry managed by the Dutch Emissions Authority, with each unit representing 1 kg of CO2 equivalent emissions saved. Suppliers can meet their obligation — which is based on their market share of supply — by converting renewable gas guarantees of origin (RGGOs) and Proofs of Sustainability (PoS) into GGEs. To be eligible for conversion, the renewable gas must be unsubsidised and comply with RED III sustainability and GHG reduction criteria, verified through EU-recognised certification schemes such as ISCC. A key feature of the bill is that renewable gas produced in other EU member states can count towards the obligation, including gas injected into the interconnected European gas grid, provided it meets the same requirements as Dutch renewable gas. In practice, compliance would be demonstrated through the use of RGGOs and an accompanying PoS. Foreign GOOs can be transferred into the Dutch system via the Association of Issuing Bodies hub. The scheme will be aligned with the Union Database once it becomes operational for biomethane. The blending mechanism allows suppliers to pay a buyout price to cover all or part of their annual obligation not met by the provision of renewable gas, providing a ceiling price in the event of supply shortages. The proposed price is €450/t, but a sliding scale could be applied, whereby the price rises the more that a supplier uses the mechanism to cover its obligations. The proposal gives gas suppliers the option to carry over GGEs into the following calendar year, up to a maximum 10pc of the total quota, to "prevent unwanted market distortions". The overarching target of the blending obligation is to achieve a CO2 chain-emission reduction of 2.85mn t in 2031, estimated to correspond to 0.84bn m³ of production. This would be achieved through increasing annual targets, starting with a 0.63mn t CO2 chain emission reduction in 2027, corresponding to roughly 0.16bn m³ of green gas (see table) . To support long-term investments, the obligation will continue until 2035, with specific targets for 2031-2035 to be revised based on green gas production at the time. The bill will now go through the Dutch legislative process in Parliament, including the development of secondary legislation to set more detailed rules. By Giulio Bajona Green gas obligation annual targets CO₂ reduction (mn t) Year Target 2027 0.63 2028 0.92 2029 1.33 2030 1.91 2031 2.85 2032 2.85 2033 2.85 2034 2.85 2035 2.85 — Ministry of climate policy and green growth Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

UN backs ICJ climate ruling, key oil nations opposed

21/05/26

UN backs ICJ climate ruling, key oil nations opposed

Edinburgh, 21 May (Argus) — The UN general assembly has adopted a resolution welcoming an International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on the obligations of countries to protect the environment from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with only eight countries opposing — including the three largest oil producers the US, Saudi Arabia and Russia. Pacific island nation Vanuatu put forward the resolution to the UN general assembly, saying "the ICJ advisory opinion confirms that the protection of the climate system is a matter of legal obligation not political discretion". It was adopted on Wednesday, 20 May, with 141 votes in favour, including the world's largest GHG emitter China, eight against and 28 abstentions. Belarus, Iran, Israel, Liberia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the US and Yemen voted against. The ICJ last year determined in an advisory opinion that all countries have an obligation to contribute to cutting emissions. This is not legally binding but could open door for more climate litigation . ICJ advisory opinions "carry significant legal and moral authority — helping to clarify and develop international law by defining states' legal obligations", the UN said. The UN resolution adopted calls on UN member states "to take all possible steps to avoid causing significant damage to the climate and environment, including emissions produced within their borders, and to follow through on their existing climate pledges under the Paris Agreement". Adoption "sends a strong message that tackling the climate crisis is a legal duty under international law, and not just a political choice," the UN said. The US opposed the resolution, with its representative saying the country has many concerns about the court's opinion. The US noted the resolution includes "inappropriate political demands relating to fossil fuels". Countries such as India, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Algeria said the resolution failed to address the obligations on the provision of finance to developing countries, saying the focus was "disproportionally" on mitigation. India, Iraq and Algeria abstained. Russia said the resolution is an attempt to make ICJ opinion "mandatory in nature". It added the resolution "selectively cites the conclusion of the advisory opinion" and the outcomes of the UN climate conferences Cops, ignoring finance and adaptation — adjusting to the effects of climate change where possible. Algeria said the resolution is excessively "highlighting and rewriting" decisions from previous Cop outcomes. The text urges members to implement measures to keep the global temperature increase to 1.5°C, including tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency by 2030, transitioning away from fossil fuels and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies which were agreed at Cop 28 in Dubai. The UAE voted in favour of the resolution. Brazil, the Cop 30 president, also adopted the resolution, while Turkey, which will host Cop 31 in Antalya later this year, abstained. Australia, which will preside on negotiations of Cop 31, supported the resolution but said it should not be "interpreted as our agreement with every element of the advisory opinion". By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Japan decides not to issue summer power saving request

21/05/26

Japan decides not to issue summer power saving request

Osaka, 21 May (Argus) — The Japanese government has decided not to request electricity conservation this summer, because the country has secured sufficient supply capacity and fuels to meet expected peak demand despite a hotter-than-normal weather forecast. All of Japan's 10 service areas are projected to maintain reserve margins of more than 3pc in July-September, above the minimum 3pc level needed to cope with emergencies such as spikes in demand and unexpected power plant outages, even if the country experiences its hottest summer in the past decade, Meti said on 20 May. The capital Tokyo region, Japan's biggest power consuming area, is now expected to post reserve margins of 3.5pc in the first half of August and 3.7pc in the second half. The ratio rose from the previous estimate of 2.4pc made in March for the entire month, given the capacity addition through the public tender. Tepco Power Grid secured 976MW, including 18MW of demand response, at an average contract price of ¥299/kW ($1.88/kW) through an open call for 1.2GW held in April, with the capacity required to be available over 1 July-18 September. Jera, the country's largest power producer, won the tender with its 1GW Sodegaura No.2 gas-fired unit, which has been mothballed since 1 April. Power demand in Japan is expected to remain firm this summer. Northern areas face a 60pc chance of above-normal temperatures in June-August and other regions a 70pc chance, according to a Japan Meteorological Agency forecast released on 19 May. Along with output capacity, power producers have so far secured sufficient fuel for generation, despite concerns over disruptions to crude and LNG shipments through the strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israel war with Iran. Japan's main power utilities held 2.04mn t of LNG as of 17 May, broadly in line with the average level for the past five years, Meti said. Thermal coal inventories also remained stable as of mid-May, while power producers generally maintain stocks equivalent to about one month's consumption, or around 7mn-9mn t, according to Meti's hearings with companies. Power producers also operate oil-fired plants during peak summer and winter demand periods. They held more than 500,000 kilolitres (3.15mn bl) in inventory as of the end of January, well above monthly consumption levels, while company hearings confirmed that stock levels remained stable as of mid-May, Meti said. By Motoko Hasegawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Gas flows recover on key Haynesville pipeline

20/05/26

Gas flows recover on key Haynesville pipeline

Houston, 20 May (Argus) — Natural gas flows on DT Midstream's 2.1bn ft³/d LEAP pipeline, a key intrastate conduit to Louisiana's LNG export corridor, recovered on Wednesday after recipient pipelines reported the end of quality issues in the gas stream. Shippers nominated to deliver 1.1bn ft³ of gas on 20 May onto select interstate pipelines from LEAP, a 221-mile pipeline system running from northwest Louisiana to the Gillis hub north of Lake Charles, pipeline data show ( see chart ). Flows fell to just 590mn ft³ on 18 May, down from the average 1.3bn ft³/d over 1-17 May, because of excessive water vapor in the gas stream. The Williams-operated Transco pipeline told customers on 19 May that the quality issue was resolved and that receipts from LEAP would resume that evening. US LNG producer Cheniere, which operates the 33mn t/yr Sabine Pass LNG export facility and the Creole Trail pipeline, issued a similar notice on 20 May. LEAP is a crucial pipeline connecting gas from the Haynesville shale with LNG export terminals on Louisiana's Gulf coast. About 690mn ft³/d of Sabine Pass LNG's 4.7bn ft³/d of feedgas from 1-17 May originated on LEAP. The terminal's Creole Trail pipeline also has other less-utilized connections with pipelines at the Gillis hub, such as Enterprise Products' Acadian pipeline, Energy Transfer's Trunkline, Enbridge's Texas Eastern Transmission and Transco. Sempra's 15mn t/yr Cameron LNG export terminal also receives gas from LEAP via the Cameron Interstate pipeline, but flows have been minimal since the terminal began maintenance on one of its three liquefaction trains on 30 April. Cameron received about 25mn ft³/d of gas from LEAP over 1-17 May, down from about 100mn ft³/d in April. By Tray Swanson Select pipeline receipts from LEAP bn ft³ Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Union pauses strike plans at Australia’s Ichthys LNG

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