Thursday, January 1, 2026

The Plant News

US Natural Gas Falls Over 5% Ahead of Above Normal Temperatures

Credit: Adobe Stock/Kalyakan

U.S. natural gas futures fell over 5% on Tuesday, pressured by forecasts of above normal temperatures next week, though the market was set for a second consecutive yearly gain led by record gas flows to liquefied natural gas export plants. Front-month gas futures for February delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange traded 20.3 cents lower, or 5.1%, to $3.77 per million British thermal units. The contract was up over 4% so far this year. "The weather factor continues to dominate near-term price direction and with latest updates to the 1–2-week forecasts…

What just happened? Ten charts that will help you understand the market in 2025

The past year will not be forgotten soon. The conventional wisdom about investor behavior and economics was often challenged in 2025 as technology, energy, and geopolitics influenced markets in unexpected ways. Here are ten charts that explain what happened in the year 2025, and what this might mean for 2019. Donald?Trump’s "America First " agenda was a key driver of market growth in 2025, particularly during the first half. The U.S. President wasted no time in delivering on campaign promises to move?from "free" trade to "fair trade". The Baker-Bloom David model measures the uncertainty of U.S. Trade Policy.

The Dutch benchmark is expected to finish the year 40% lower than last year's price.

The Dutch and British gas wholesale prices were not much changed on Wednesday morning as wind power output curbed gas plant demand. However, the benchmark Dutch contract for the front month of 2025 is expected to be around 40% lower than it was at the beginning of the year. LSEG data shows that the benchmark Dutch front-month contract was up 0.32 euros at 28.12 Euros per megawatt hour or $9.66 /mmBtu at 0904 GMT. LSEG data shows that this is a 42% drop from the last transaction on December 31, 2020 of 48.40 eur/MWh. The Dutch benchmark fell despite Europe's?efforts to phase-out remaining Russian gas imports.

What just happened? Ten charts that will help you understand the market in 2025

The past year will not be forgotten soon. The conventional wisdom about investor behavior and economics was often challenged in 2025 as technology, energy, and geopolitics influenced markets in unexpected ways. Here are 10 charts to help you understand what happened in the year 2025, and what that might mean for 2019. Donald Trump's?America First? agenda was a key market driver for 2025, particularly during the first half of the calendar year. The U.S. President wasted no time in delivering on his promises made in his campaign to switch from "free" trade to "fair" trading. The Baker-Bloom David model measures the uncertainty of U.S.

US Natural Gas Futures Rise as Forecasts Predict Colder Weather

© Adobe Stock/SDF_QWE

U.S. natural gas futures rose on Friday in thin-volume trading and were on track for a weekly gain, ending a two-week losing streak, as forecasts pointed to colder weather and increased demand in the weeks ahead.Front-month gas futures for January delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange were up 4.4 cents, or 1% at $4.29 per million British thermal units. The contract was up 8.5% so far this week.Prices reached their highest level since December 11, at $4.593 in the previous session, before settling 3.8% lower for the day."There's going to be thinner volume on the holiday week…

Turkey claims that Russia provided $9 billion to it for the Akkuyu Nuclear Plant

The Turkish energy minister announced that Russia has provided $9 billion in new financing for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is being built by Rosatom, the state-owned nuclear energy company of Moscow. Ankara expects the 'power' plant to be operational by 2026. Rosatom will build Turkey's first nucleo power station in Mersin, a Mediterranean province. The agreement signed in 2010 is worth $20 billion. The plant had been expected to become operational this year but was delayed. This (financing), will be most likely used in 2026-2027.

Russia builds its first LNG tanker of the ice class and plans to build two more by 2026

Interfax, citing the CEO of the company, reported that 'Russia's leading tanker group Sovcomflot' received its first Russian-built Ice-class tanker built for liquefied gas from Zvezda Shipyard. It plans to order two more in the next year. Due to Ukraine-related sanction, Russia has difficulty in securing gas carriers. This is especially true for vessels that can?cut through thick Arctic ice?and serve LNG projects. Zvezda is Russia's most advanced shipbuilding facility. It specializes in building large?Arc7 tankers capable of breaking through up to 2 meter thick ice. These vessels were designed to transport LNG for Arctic projects.

US Natural Gas Futures Rise Alongside LNG Export Demand

© Adobe Stock/Evgenii Bakhchev

U.S. natural gas futures rose 4% on Tuesday, boosted by record gas flows to liquefied natural gas export plants and forecasts for more demand than previously expected over the next two weeks.Front-month gas futures for January delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 15.3 cents, or 4%, at $4.105 per million British thermal units by 08:59 AM ET. Priced ended 0.5% lower on Monday. "The demand for LNG is very strong and they're keeping those numbers near record high. So, that's definitely supporting the market right now," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst for Price Futures Group.Average gas flows to the eight large U.S.

Analyst: Myanmar to resume LNG imports following cargo received last month

Myanmar will resume LNG imports in 2019 after receiving half of a cargo of the super-chilled fuel last month. This marks an end to a four-year-long hiatus of shipments. After the civil war, shipments of LNG to Southeast Asia were stopped. Since then, Myanmar has experienced gas shortages and widespread blackouts. Analyst Nelson Xiong said that Kpler expected Myanmar to import 0.4 millions tons of LNG by 2026. Two'restarted' or upgraded LNG to power projects will ramp up to a total 500 megawatts. According to Kpler?data…

ComBio Brazil expects revenues to reach $430 million as corn ethanol customers increase production

Commercial director Ricardo Blandy, Brazil's biggest supplier of renewable thermal power for industrial clients, said that ComBio expects its revenue to triple to?about $430 million in five years due to the growing demand from corn ethanol producers. Blandy stated that there are?25 corn-ethanol plants in Brazil. Another 18 are currently under construction, and another 19 are still in the planning stages. Biofuel production is increasing, and biomass supply has become tighter. Blandy stated that in states such as Mato Grosso - Brazil's largest corn ethanol producer - the availability of biomass to feed steam boilers is a major issue…

The LNG tanker Kunpeng loads cargo at a Russian plant in violation of sanctions

Ship-tracking data showed that a liquefied gas tanker loaded a cargo at Russia's Portovaya?LNG plant, which is under Western sanctions due to Moscow's conflict in Ukraine. According to data provided by analytics firm Kpler, the Kunpeng arrived in Portovaya's LNG terminal on December 18, was unloaded on that day and left with a cargo of natural gas on December 21. LSEG data shows that the tanker arrived and left the terminal at the same dates. It is the first time that a vessel, Kunpeng, not subject to sanctions, has picked up LNG from a designated LNG project.

Japan's JERA receives government subsidy on US ammonia imports

JERA, Japan's largest power generator, has received a 15-year government subsidy to cover the?difference between coal and ammonia prices. It aims to import ammonia to its planned U.S. The government has agreed to provide a subsidy for 15 years, covering the?difference between ammonia and coal prices. JERA aims to import ammonia from its planned?U.S. plant in 2029. JERA, CF Industries, and Mitsui Trading formed a joint-venture in April to build the Blue Point Project, one of the largest ammonia plants with low carbon emissions in the world. The project is estimated to cost $4 billion.

Japan will increase public funding for nuclear power renewal

Japan has announced plans to increase public funding for its crippled nucleopower sector. This is essential, say experts, to kick-start an industry that was previously financed by utilities owned by shareholders. Japan closed all 54 reactors in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The public was concerned about safety standards and shut them down. Only 14 out of 33 reactors that were available to restart are operational due to stricter rules and in some cases opposition from locals. The recovery of the…

Woodside's new CEO must navigate LNG projects with high costs through glut risk

Woodside Energy is facing a leadership shake up after Meg O'Neill's unexpected departure for the top position at?BP. This comes at a time when the Australian company is trying to deliver on key projects in a?braced?for a glut of supply. Analysts say that the oil and gas company will continue to pursue its global growth strategy. This requires continued investment in new assets as well as continuity in mature fields. After project delays and rising costs, it will be important to advance the Louisiana LNG project. The Louisiana LNG project, valued at $17.5 billion, will be Woodside's key project.

What is Fusion Energy, the Quest that Trump Media is so enamored with?

Scientists and businesses have tried for decades to harness the fusion energy that powers the sun to produce electricity on Earth. The $6 billion merger announced on Thursday between U.S. president Donald Trump's Trump Media and Technology Group and?Google-backed TAE technologies is the latest development for an industry still a long way from commercialization. What is Fusion? The process of fusion energy that powers the sun and the stars occurs when light isotopes such as hydrogen are forced to fuse together under extreme temperatures and pressures to release enormous amounts of energy.

Woodside's new CEO must navigate LNG projects with high costs through glut risk

Woodside Energy is facing a leadership shake up after BP's?chief executive Meg O'Neill's unexpected departure for the top position at BP. This comes as the Australian 'firm' is trying to deliver key projects on a market that's braced for an oversupply. Analysts say that the oil and gas "producer" is expected to continue with its global strategy of growth, which requires sustained investment in both new assets and continuity within mature fields. After project delays and rising costs, it will be important to advance the Louisiana LNG project. The Louisiana LNG project, valued at $17.5 billion, will be Woodside's key project.

EUROPE GAS-European Gas Prices Rise on Colder Weather Demand

Dutch and British gas rates posted modest gains on Thursday, but it is expected that they will remain flat as the 'increased demand due to colder weather' can be easily met through pipelines and liquefied natural gas deliveries. LSEG data shows that the benchmark Dutch front-month contract was 27.57 euros per Megawatt Hour (MWh) or $9.48/mmBtu at 0907 GMT. This is an increase of 0.19 euros. The Dutch day-ahead contracts was up by 0.41 euros to 27.36 Euro/MWh. The British day-ahead price of gas was 0.90 pence higher at 71.00 pence/therm. Meanwhile, the front-month contract for gas was 0.62 pence higher at 72.90 pence/therm.

In Poland's 2030 climate plan, renewable energy will make up 51-53% of the power mix.

The energy ministry said that Poland aims to have 51%-53% of its electricity mix made up by renewable energy sources by 2030. This is according to a draft version of the national energy and climate plans, which Warsaw will submit to the European Commission. The range of policy scenarios is higher than the 30% Poland announced a year ago, but still slightly lower than the 56% Poland predicted a year ago, as natural gas will now be used to generate more electricity. By 2040, it is projected that the share of renewables will rise to between 65% and 68%.

Freeport LNG Export Plant in Texas will take in more natgas data shows

Data from the financial firm LSEG revealed that U.S. liquefied gas company Freeport LNG was'set to receive more natural gas in its Texas export plant on Wednesday. This implies a resumption of service by one of three liquefaction train after it had been shut down on Tuesday. It is one of the U.S. LNG facilities that are closely monitored in the world, as changes in its operation can lead to a?price spike in global gas markets. Gas prices in the U.S. typically?decline due to lower demand from the export plant. Prices in Europe are usually higher because there is less LNG available for global markets. The futures price in the U.S.

EUROPE GAS-European gas prices rise due to a colder and less windy climate, LNG shortage

Gas prices in the Netherlands and Britain rose on Wednesday, supported by an improved weather forecast and an interruption at the Freeport Liquefied Natural Gas?plant. Storages are still 'below previous years' levels. LSEG data shows that the benchmark Dutch front-month contract was 27.50 euros per Megawatt Hour (MWh) or $9.44/mmBtu at 0941 GMT. This is an increase of 0.60 Euro. The February contract increased by 0.45 euros to 27.19 Euro/MWh. The British day-ahead gas prices increased by 1.40 pence to 70.50 pence a therm.