March 2025, Vol. 252, No. 3
Global News
Global News March 2025
Taiwan Eyes Alaskan LNG Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Concerns
Taiwan has expressed interest in using Alaska natural gas and is looking into the reality of an agreement as it looks to cut its trade surplus with the U.S., according the government.
The imbalance, which reached 83% in 2024, has been driven by high-tech and semiconductors. Taiwan would like to head of the reciprocal tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Taiwan’s economic minister told Reuters that state-owned CPC is “indeed quite interested in Alaska's natural gas and will continue to assess the feasibility and is also willing to make additional purchases.”
Minister Kuo Jyh-huei added that Taiwan could follow Japan's example and import more U.S. energy.
Most of Taiwan’s LNG currently comes from Australia and Qatar, with U.S. imports making up 10% of supplies. Taiwan exported a record $111.4 billion to the U.S. last year.
In 2021, CPC began receiving LNG cargoes from Cheniere Energy under a 25-year deal signed with the U.S. company in 2018 shortly before then-Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visited the United States.
Howard Energy Acquires Interest in 200-Mile Midship Pipeline
Howard Energy Partners acquired equity interests in the 200-mile Midship Pipeline from a subsidiary of Cheniere Energy, significantly expanding its presence in Oklahoma.
The pipeline, which runs from Kingfisher County to near Bennington in the Anadarko Basin, connects natural gas production from the SCOOP and STACK plays to Gulf Coast and Southeast demand markets.
HEP will assume operatorship of the 36-inch pipeline, which currently has a capacity of 1.1 Bcf/d, expandable to 1.4 Bcf/d. This acquisition is part of a record-breaking year for HEP, with over $1.1 billion in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2024.
“We are excited about acquiring an interest in Midship, further expanding our footprint in the SCOOP/STACK plays in the Anadarko Basin,” said Howard Energy Partners’ Chairman and CEO Mike Howard.
India’s Gas Set to Double Need for LNG Imports, Says IEA
India’s natural gas consumption is expected to increase by 60% between 2023 and 2030, doubling the country's need for LNG gas imports, according to the International Energy Agency.
Rapid urban residential growth and increased industry have driven the thirst for LNG, the IEA said in a report.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited much of growth to new pipeline infrastructure that has gone into service in recent years, during an address at the India Energy Week conference in New Delhi.
Modi has set a target to boost the share of gas to 15% of the country's energy mix by 2030, from the current 6.2%.
By 2030, India's gas demand will rise to 103 Bcm/a by 2030 in the IEA's most-likely scenario. If the government provides additional policy support for the sector, annual demand could reach 120 Bcm by 2030, the IEA said.
Kinder Morgan, Entergy Agree to Golden Pass Supply Deal
Entergy Texas has reached a transportation agreement with Kinder Morgan to secure a steady natural gas supply, supporting industrial, commercial, and residential growth in Southeast Texas.
The 216-mile pipeline will transport natural gas from the Permian Basin and other sources at the Katy hub to the LNG and industrial corridor near Port Arthur, Texas. The project aims to provide reliable energy to a growing region facing supply constraints.
The agreement, developed with Golden Pass LNG, is part of Kinder Morgan's $1.7 billion Trident Intrastate Pipeline project.
“This strategic partnership demonstrates our commitment to delivering long-term value for our customers and communities,” said Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas.
The Trident Intrastate Pipeline is expected to be operational by early 2027, aligning with major industrial projects in Southeast Texas. It will initially transport about 1.5 Bcf/d, with potential expansion to 2.8 Bcf/d.
Williams Beats Q4 Profit Estimates on Acquisition Gains
Williams bumped up its dividend after beating estimates for its fourth quarter profit, buoyed by gains from acquisitions and expansion projects. The pipeline operator's quarterly adjusted core profit was up 10% over last year at $826 million.
In 2024, the oil and gas transportation firm made a series of acquisitions to boost its capacity, hoping to tap into an expected spike in demand for power-consuming AI data centers.
The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based company acquired natural gas storage assets in the U.S. Gulf Coast from an affiliate of Hartree Partners for $1.95 billion last year.
In January, regulators energy regulators reinstated the certificate for the company’s Transco pipeline to expand the project.
Williams increased the current dividend by 5.3% to $2.00.
Enagas Plans $4.18 Billion Investment in Hydrogen Infrastructure
Spain’s Enagas will spend $4.18 billion by 2030, with three quarters of the amount targeting for hydrogen infrastructure expansion.
Enagas has sold assets, reduced dividends and cut debt to fund plans to diversify into managing a network of hydrogen infrastructure. It is also targeting ammonia and CO2 capture, according to Reuters.
Hydrogen will be “the driving force to advance toward the Enagas of the future,” Chief Executive Arturo Gonzalo said.
Enagas is part of a consortium working on the Trans-European H2Med corridor, which is designed to connect northwest Europe with Iberia’s hydrogen infrastructure.
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