This week in energy: Asia drives LNG growth, co-firing momentum and Singapore and South Korea team up

The Asia Natural Gas and Energy Association (ANGEA) regularly compiles a selection of 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.?

Asia driving global LNG growth

GIIGNL - International Group of LNG Importers released its annual LNG report this week and it makes for some very interesting and meaningful reading.

Firstly, it's clear that Asia is driving much of the global growth in LNG imports. Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh and China all increased their LNG import levels by more than 10 per cent in 2023, while India was close to that mark.

Secondly, data shows 41 per cent of all LNG shipments originate from the US and Australia - which makes policy uncertainty in those countries a concern for any region (or country) that relies on gas imports.

You can access the full report here or read a summarised article at LNG Prime : https://bit.ly/4aOBFVa

Celebrating a co-firing world-first

ANGEA CEO Paul Everingham enjoyed the opportunity to be in Japan over the past week, including attending the official launch of the ammonia co-firing project at the Hekinan Power Station, near Nagoya over the weekend.

ANGEA member company JERA Co., Inc. is at the forefront of global efforts to decarbonise power generation and the world-first commercial demonstration of co-firing at Hekinan is an exciting milestone.

Being able to achieve significant emissions reductions from coal-fired power is important for Asia because of the quantity of thermal generation facilities in the region that are some time away from retirement.

Paul's agenda in Japan also included participating in the Japan Energy Summit and Exhibition , where he spoke on a panel discussion about the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Asia.

It was an excellent opportunity for honest dialogue about both the opportunities and challenges of CSS and aligned well with ANGEA's ongoing Carbon Certification for Cross-Border CCS Study.

MHI and EGAT team up for hydrogen co-firing

Building on the co-firing theme, it was pleasing to see our member company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand enter into an agreement to collaborate on hydrogen co-firing at gas-fired power generation facilities in Thailand.

The partnership will start with a feasibility study before moving to a pilot project, and will add to Thailand's credentials as a regional leader in low-carbon energy solutions.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4bJDeVD

Taiwan boosts energy security with long-term LNG deal

There have been some significant long-term gas supply deals for Asia in 2024 - and now Taiwan has joined the list, with state-owned CPC signing a 27-year deal with QatarEnergy .

Taiwan has been targeting generation of 50 per cent of its electricity from gas by 2025, which would see coal replaced as the country's biggest source of power.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3Vu1Zzr

Japan supports major Australian gas project

Japan continues to make strong endorsements of the importance of Australian gas, with Japan Bank for International Cooperation agreeing to a $1 billion loan for the development of the Scarborough Project.

The agreement follows an MOU between Woodside Energy (operator of Scarborough) and JBIC in 2022, aimed at securing a stable supply of energy for Japan and to assist in achieving decarbonisation goals.

Scarborough is scheduled to ship its first LNG cargo in 2026.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4aFnwtr

Singapore and South Korea forge new LNG tie-up

Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) and South Korea's KOGAS have signed an MOU to collaborate on LNG procurement and supply chain management.

Given Singapore's growing use of LNG to support its gas-based economy and South Korea's vast experience with LNG, there are some clear and strong synergies to this partnership.

Singapore's focus on energy security saw the EMA enter into a similar agreement with ANGEA member company JERA earlier this year.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4aM13Lm

Margaret Rogacki joins the ANGEA Board

ANGEA recently had the privilege of welcoming Margaret Rogacki to our board as 埃克森美孚 's representative.

As this video outlines, Margaret is excited to contribute to the work ANGEA is doing to help nations in Asia realise a lower-carbon energy future.

Indonesian CCS industry continues to take shape

Very encouraging to see an article in Nikkei Asia this week, profiling the development of Indonesia as a CCS hub - and, in particular, the contributions made by ANGEA member companies bp and 埃克森美孚 .

As the article points out, CCS offers Indonesia opportunities to decarbonise domestic industry, as well contributing to regional net zero aspirations as a receiver (and storer) of CO2 captured elsewhere.

Serving as a hub will also open up new economic opportunities for Indonesia.

Read more: https://s.nikkei.com/4cnsdcT

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.