The Indian state-owned firm is seeking the cargo for delivery in the second half of May, said one of the sources.

https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas/gujarat-state-petroleum-corp-seeks-lng-cargo-for-may-delivery-sources/120305108

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Green Gas Limited (GGL), the distributor, has also increased the price of PNG. The new rate stands at Rs 58.50 per standard cubic metre (scm), up from Rs 57.42 per scm earlier.

The revised rates came into effect from Wednesday morning.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/cng-png-prices-hiked-across-several-cities-in-uttar-pradesh/articleshowprint/120315105.cms

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 “Exploration-Production results should reflect this growth in production and the slightly more favourable price environment than in the fourth quarter of 2024,” Total added.

Total’s European refining margin marker stood at $29.4 per tonne, slightly up from $25.9 per tonne in the previous quarter.

Last week, British peer BP said it expected stronger refining margins to contribute between $100 million and $300 million to its first-quarter earnings, echoing earlier comments from U.S. firms Occidental and Exxon Mobil.

When it reported fourth-quarter results in February, Total said it expected higher gas prices, upstream production and power sales in early 2025.

In the liquefied natural gas business, Integrated LNG results should reflect higher LNG prices year-on-year, but with a slight decrease compared to the previous quarter, Total said on Tuesday.

The company is due to report first-quarter results on April 30. (Reporting by Anna Peverieri and Alban Kacher in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi)

https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas/totalenergies-sees-hydrocarbon-production-at-top-end-of-guidance-range-in-q1/120308989

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Verma also heard the problems of railway employees during the inspection and issued instructions to increase the washing line in Jind, which currently has 17 to 23 coaches. He said the renovation of the new railway junction will be completed by August or September. The work on foot overbridge is pending and will be completed soon. The foot overbridge will make it easier to go from platform number one to two at the railway station.

Meanwhile, the leaders of NRMU and DRMU submitted a demand letter to the General Manager in which they sought a hospital for the 4,000 serving and 1,000 retired employees of railways at Jind. The union leaders asked Verma to clear the file for setting up the hospitals.

https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!state/india-first-hydrogen-train-will-run-from-july-in-jind-trial-will-be-done-soon-enn25042004059

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International Energy Agency’s ‘Green Hydrogen Review 2023’ estimated that over 50 green hydrogen projects were using AI, involving some $500 million investment. In many pilot projects, AI usage has achieved efficiency gains of 5-15 per cent; this could go higher with more operational data, notes a June 2024 paper by Ashish Saxena, Master of Technology with Amazon, Seattle. He notes that Siemens Energy incorporated ‘reinforcement learning’ (RL), a type of ML, to enable online tuning of over 70,000 parameters for their electrolysis process to achieve 8-10 per cent enhancement. “The models used equipment control variables and performance measures to come up with the best control strategies,” says Saxena, noting that falling cost of software, sensors, and IoT connectivity is making AI affordable.

Experts such as Saxena underscore the value of AI in predictive maintenance and process optimisation. When run continuously, AI models feed on real-time data from the equipment’s performance to anticipate failures.

Catalyst finder

A bigger role AI could play is in identifying affordable catalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) in electrolysers. Catalysts, which speed up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process, help in hydrogen and oxygen evolution in electrolysers.

The performance of a catalyst is influenced by the interplay of the structure, composition, electronic configuration, adsorption site geometry, and so on of the alloying materials. Analysing the parameters of hundreds of materials to determine the right combination is a daunting task, but could be made easier by AI.

But this begs the question why catalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) thrown up by AI are not commonplace. Indeed, AI has suggested some interesting catalysts, as we will see later, but the problem is the cost and complexity of experimental data generation needed to feed the AI models.

Prof KE Vipin and Prof Prahallad Padhan of IIT-Madras are developing novel ML methodologies for predicting and designing high-performance, cost-effective intermetallic catalysts for HER and oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

They used a dataset extracted from the Catalysis-hub database, representing a significant compilation of alloy catalysis data for HER and OER. It involved 16,226 distinct data points, with 8,856 entries focused on HER catalysis and 7,370 entries dedicated to OER catalysis, they say in a paper, which is yet to be peer-reviewed. Vipin and Padhan created a “systematic, data-driven approach to catalyst design that can overcome the limitation of traditional trial-and-error methods”. Incidentally, the model is good for designing any catalyst, not just for hydrogen evolution.

Using regression algorithms such as Random Forest, XGBoost, and Support Vector Regression, the model can “accurately predict the Gibbs free energy of hydrogen adsorption on bimetallic alloy surfaces — a key descriptor for catalytic activity,” Vipin told Quantum. Gibbs free energy is a thermodynamic quantity that tells us whether a chemical process can happen spontaneously, without needing extra energy.

 “While we haven’t experimentally validated new catalysts yet, we are using the trained model to screen and predict promising new bimetallic candidates,” Vipin said. These predictions are further evaluated through density functional theory simulations to confirm their potential theoretically before going for experimental testing.

AI-driven catalyst design has already led to several candidates emerging, including a ‘nickel-incorporated carbon quantum dots’ (based on a Bayesian genetic algorithm); a ruthenium–manganese–calcium–praseodymium mixed oxide catalyst; and a copper-aluminium catalyst.

First key step

It must be noted that designing a catalyst is only the first (but indispensable) step — it must cross the ‘valley of death’ between research labs and industry. It must work fine for long years and not collapse after a burst of performance. It should integrate seamlessly with existing systems.

AI is helping win this major part of the battle. Once you have systems that help increase the efficiency of electrolysers (indeed the entire value chain of green hydrogen, including renewable energy assets), and an affordable catalyst, then green hydrogen can come within the reach of commerce.

“The path to a sustainable hydrogen economy is complex and multifaceted, requiring innovative solutions that transcend disciplinary boundaries,” write Vipin and Padhan.

 “Through advanced machine learning approaches, we stand at the cusp of a potential breakthrough that could revolutionise green hydrogen production, bringing us significantly closer to a decarbonised, sustainable global energy system,” they add.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/business-tech/how-ai-can-cut-green-hydrogen-cost/article69472130.ece

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The project is led by researchers Sagar Kanekar, Bharat Kale, Anand Kulkarni, prof Niraj Topare, Santosh Patil, Dev Thapa, Biswas and Ratnadip Joshi.

As per the information given by the research team, the university has developed a unique process to generate hydrogen from sugarcane juice using microorganisms, which also convert carbon dioxide into acetic acid, making it more sustainable. A patent has already been submitted for this technology. This project proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy (MNRE) for funding.  

Dr Bharat Kale, emeritus professor and director of Material Science [COE]s said, “The university’s bioprocess operates at room temperature using sugarcane juice, seawater, and wastewater, contributing to global efforts to reduce hydrogen costs to $1/kg. We are seeking industry partners for lab-scale development and eventual technology transfer.”

“The work on hydrogen storage is also in progress using Metal-Organic Framework (MOF). The MOFs for hydrogen storage and CO2 capture have been focused on intensely. The university aims to support industries in scaling up the technology, which could be commercially viable within a year,” said Sagar Kanekar.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/pune-news/mit-researchers-develop-hydrogen-from-sugarcane-juice-101745348847738.html

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Recent research is focused on leveraging BIEFs at the interface of different electronic environments to improve hydrogen production. Therefore, analysing and correlating parameters such as the work function, BIEF, and Gibbs free energy (a thermodynamic potential that can be used to calculate the maximum amount of work) is crucial for understanding the reaction mechanism. The difference in work functions between two materials is what drives the initial charge redistribution, which in turn sets up the built-in potential across the junction. BIEF directly affects the dynamics of proton adsorption/desorption, which was evaluated by Gibbs free energy of adsorption.

Scientists of Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, grew CuWO4 (Copper tungsten oxide) nano-particles precursor over Cu (OH)2 (Copper hydroxide) and fabricated CuWO4-CuO hetero-structure and studied its physical and electrochemical properties. They examined the Gibbs free energy profile for proton adsorption of different regiones and found that near the depletion region and along the interface, the proton adsorption energy shows contrasting behaviour as compared with bulk area. This induces a gradient in Gibbs free energy across and near the depletion region, thereby promoting an improved hydrogen adsorption and desorption.

Interestingly, Scientists from INST, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), demonstrated that the interplay between the built-in electric field (BIEF) and Gibbs free energy in the proposed catalyst gives rise to a favourable regime, where hydrogen bonding to the catalyst is optimized, facilitating efficient hydrogen evolution. They also found that along the heterojunction interface, the ∆G indicates high adsorption affinity of protons toward the CuO phase and significant desorption at the CuWO4 phase. The CuO-CuWO₄ catalyst unveils an excellent example of ‘negative cooperativity,’ in which the binding of one molecule decreases the affinity of other binding sites for additional molecules. With more and more proton coverage, the affinity of the catalyst’s surface towards the proton adsorption decreases, and promotes alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by enhancing desorption.

This research published in Adv. Energy Mater. 2025 helped understand the typical proton adsorption behaviour at the surface of the catalyst, which can help others to design and construct similar electrocatalyst which can give robust activity to produce green hydrogen. Improving in electrocatalytic hydrogen production can lead to sustainable environment with advance green technologies.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2124882

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Venture Global will now sell LNG to its long-term customers at lower prices rather than test cargoes to the highest bidders in the red-hot global market.

Just a startup five years ago, Venture Global is the country’s second-largest LNG producer, helping the U.S. lead the world in LNG exports.

Commissioning, or making sure a new plant’s systems are functioning as designed, takes months at many LNG facilities but the process dragged on at Calcasieu Pass due to several unforeseen circumstances.

These included the global pandemic, two hurricanes, and a force majeure event triggered by issues with the facility’s power island, the company based in Arlington, Virginia, said on Tuesday.

“Having completed a multi-year rectification and remediation of key components of the facility that underpin the redundancy features inherent in the project’s design, Calcasieu Pass is now ready to operate safely and reliably,” Venture Global said in a statement.

Shell (SHEL.L), opens new tab, BP (BP.L), opens new tab, Orlen (PKN.WA), opens new tab, Edison (EDNn.MI), opens new tab and Repsol (REP.MC), opens new tab filed arbitration claims saying Venture Global LNG deliberately failed to fulfill their supply contracts, dragging its feet to commission the plant so it could profit from higher spot prices. Venture Global argued that a faulty power system delayed normal operations.

The Gaslog Wellington tanker is the first vessel to receive LNG from the Calcasieu Pass plant and was at its port loading 170,000 cubic meters of the supercooled gas, according to LSEG cargo flows.

It was not immediately clear which of Venture Global’s long-term customers would get the first shipment but Orlen has said it expects its first cargo on April 23, with Shell expected to receive its cargo at the end of the month, a person familiar with Shell’s timeline told Reuters.

Shell and BP declined to comment.

Venture Global’s stock price was down by 1%, at $8.38 in late-afternoon trading. It has declined by 66% since the company went public in January.

The move to commercial operations is unlikely to stop ongoing arbitration cases brought by the long-term customers against Venture Global as Shell, Orlen and Repsol have all said they will pursue their legal battle with Venture Global even after they start receiving cargoes.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/venture-global-lng-starts-commercial-operations-calcasieu-pass-plant-2025-04-15/

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So far, however, the parties have not been able to agree on the terms of gas deliveries.

According to TASS news agency, which cited Chinese customs data, Russia’s LNG exports to China rose last year by 3.3% to 8.3 million metric tons.

It said Russia was, after Australia and Qatar, the third-largest supplier of LNG to China, which is the world’s largest buyer. Malaysia and the United States are also major exporters of LNG to China.

Reuters reported last week that Chinese buyers of LNG are re-selling U.S.-sourced cargoes as tit-for-tat tariffs drive up import costs.

China imported no U.S. LNG during March, data from Kpler and LSEG show. The U.S. accounted for about 5% of China’s LNG last year, according to Chinese customs data.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/china-is-set-import-more-russian-lng-2025-ambassador-says-2025-04-15/

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This landmark SPA marks a crucial step forward for NextDecade, as it signifies sufficient commercial agreements are now in place to support a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) on Train 4. The LNG will be purchased on a free-on-board (FOB) basis at a price indexed to the Henry Hub natural gas benchmark, contingent upon a positive FID being reached for the fourth liquefaction train.

The 1.5 MTPA commitment from TotalEnergies brings the total contracted capacity from Train 4 to 4.6 MTPA on a long-term basis. NextDecade believes that its existing long-term commercial agreements are now sufficient to underpin a positive FID for the fourth train at the Brownsville, Texas, facility.

The Rio Grande LNG project is a key undertaking for NextDecade, aiming to provide cleaner energy solutions to global markets. The facility is designed to have a total export capacity of 27 MTPA across five liquefaction trains. Phase 1, consisting of the first three trains, has already secured significant commercial backing and is currently under construction.

Achieving a positive FID on Train 4 will unlock the next phase of development for the Rio Grande LNG project. However, NextDecade clarified that reaching this crucial decision is contingent upon several factors, including securing adequate financing for the construction of Train 4 and the associated infrastructure.

Matt Schatzman, NextDecade’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, expressed his enthusiasm about the expanded partnership with TotalEnergies. “TotalEnergies has been a key contributor to the success of Rio Grande LNG Phase 1, and we are pleased to be expanding our strategic partnership with TotalEnergies with the execution of this Train 4 SPA,” said Schatzman. He further emphasized the significance of this agreement, stating, “This SPA completes the commercial support we need for Rio Grande LNG Train 4, and we are now focused on progressing Train 4 toward a positive FID.”

The expansion of the partnership with TotalEnergies, a major player in the global LNG market, underscores the strategic importance and commercial viability of the Rio Grande LNG project.

https://www.chemanalyst.com/NewsAndDeals/NewsDetails/nextdecade-and-totalenergies-ink-20-year-lng-supply-deal-for-rio-grande-lng-35923

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In particular, long-haul transportation and logistics operators are turning to LNG commercial vehicles for their range and efficiency, while CNG vehicles are dominating urban and regional distribution due to their affordability and widespread fuel availability. Governments across the globe are actively supporting this shift through subsidies, policy reforms, and infrastructure investment, further boosting adoption.

The global CNG & LNG commercial vehicle market is experiencing robust growth, driven by mounting environmental regulations and a rising demand for sustainable transportation. Key sectors fueling this expansion include logistics, public transport, and waste management-sectors that rely heavily on heavy-duty and light commercial vehicles.

Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs) lead the segment in terms of volume and value. LNG, due to its higher energy density, is especially well-suited for long-distance travel, making it the preferred choice for freight transportation. On the geographical front, Asia-Pacific dominates the market and is anticipated to maintain its lead throughout the forecast period. Countries such as China and India are driving the demand owing to their expanding infrastructure, government-backed clean energy initiatives, and growing logistics networks. The adoption of green mobility solutions in these densely populated countries has placed APAC at the forefront of the CNG & LNG commercial vehicle revolution.

The CNG & LNG commercial vehicle market can be segmented based on vehicle type and fuel type, each playing a crucial role in shaping the market landscape. On the basis of vehicle type, the market is segmented into Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs). LCVs, such as vans and minibuses, primarily operate in urban areas and are widely adopting CNG technology due to its affordability and sufficient driving range for short-distance transport. In contrast, HCVs like long-haul trucks and intercity buses are increasingly leaning towards LNG fuel systems, offering extended mileage and reduced refueling frequency, ideal for logistics and freight services.

Based on fuel type, the segmentation includes Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). CNG vehicles are generally less expensive to convert and operate, making them popular in regions with an existing natural gas infrastructure. These vehicles are predominantly used for public transport and city logistics. LNG, on the other hand, offers a higher energy density and is best suited for long-distance haulage, with reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel. The LNG segment is gaining traction rapidly, particularly in industrialized nations where long-range commercial transport is a major contributor to CO2 emissions.

In North America, the CNG & LNG commercial vehicle market is evolving rapidly, driven by increasing investments in natural gas infrastructure and a surge in demand from the freight and logistics sectors. The United States and Canada are leading the charge, backed by federal and state-level policies encouraging cleaner fuel alternatives. Public transit authorities are also adopting CNG buses at scale to meet stringent environmental mandates.

Meanwhile, Europe is seeing robust adoption, fueled by strict emissions regulations and a strong focus on sustainability. Countries like Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are witnessing significant growth in LNG truck fleets. In Asia-Pacific, China is at the forefront, with aggressive government mandates, a well-established natural gas supply chain, and widespread adoption across public transport and logistics. India is also ramping up its CNG infrastructure, especially in metro cities, positioning the region as the most lucrative market globally.

The shift toward sustainable and low-emission transportation remains the primary driver of the CNG & LNG commercial vehicle market. Growing awareness about the environmental impact of diesel and petrol-based vehicles has led to strong demand for cleaner alternatives. Natural gas vehicles, especially those powered by CNG and LNG, emit significantly fewer pollutants and greenhouse gases. Government support in the form of subsidies, tax benefits, and infrastructure investment is also propelling the market forward. Additionally, advancements in engine technology and improved fuel efficiency are attracting fleet operators to transition from diesel-powered vehicles.

Market Restraints

Despite the optimistic growth prospects, the market faces several challenges. Lack of infrastructure, particularly in developing regions, is a major constraint. A well-connected network of refueling stations and distribution centers is essential for the widespread adoption of CNG and LNG vehicles, which is still underdeveloped in many areas. High initial investment costs associated with LNG trucks and the limited number of OEMs offering natural gas variants in some regions further restrict market growth. There is also the issue of public perception and familiarity with natural gas technology, which can influence adoption rates.

Market Opportunities

The future holds promising opportunities for players in the CNG & LNG commercial vehicle market. The transition toward net-zero emissions is accelerating demand for alternative fuel solutions. Emerging markets, especially in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, offer untapped potential due to growing urbanization and increased infrastructure development. Additionally, partnerships between natural gas suppliers, logistics providers, and OEMs are expected to create integrated ecosystems that simplify adoption. Innovations such as hybrid CNG-electric vehicles and improvements in LNG storage technology also offer lucrative opportunities for growth and differentiation.

https://www.openpr.com/news/3978200/cng-lng-commercial-vehicle-market-poised-for-rapid-expansion

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Galp Energia (GALP.LS), opens new tab said earlier on Wednesday that it had lifted its first cargo from Calcasieu Pass, signaling the start of the 20-year supply agreement signed in 2018 for 1 million tonnes per annum of LNG from the plant.

Galp’s cargo was loaded onto the Gaslog Wellington, LSEG data showed.

The two cargos are the first since Venture Global finished commissioning Calcasieu Pass on April 15.

Shares of Venture Global jumped more than 10% in early afternoon trading.

Venture Global is the second largest LNG producer in the U.S. and has helped make the U.S. the world’s largest exporter of the supercooled gas.

Venture Global’s years-long delay in providing cargoes to contracted customers of the Calcasieu Pass led to a contentious battle with companies including BP, Galp, Shell (SHEL.L), opens new tab, Orlen (PKN.WA), opens new tab, Edison (EDNn.MI), opens new tab and Repsol (REP.MC), opens new tab. They accused Venture Global of dragging its feet to commission the plant so it could profit from higher spot prices.

Venture Global has blamed the global pandemic, two hurricanes and a force majeure event triggered by issues with the facility’s power island for the extended commissioning.

Commissioning, or making sure a new plant’s systems are functioning as designed, takes just months at many LNG facilities.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/bp-begins-loading-its-first-lng-cargo-venture-globals-calcasieu-pass-plant-2025-04-16/

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This initial LNG shipment of 174,000 cu m was transferred to the British Sponsor carrier vessel from the GTA’s FLNG Gimi, positioned 10 km offshore. A second LNG carrier is already at the hub terminal in preparation for the second cargo lifting.

Phase 1 of the GTA development, in water depths of up to 2,850 m, should deliver about 2.4 MM metric tons/year for export to global markets, with some gas volumes also to be allocated to Mauritania and Senegal once their reception infrastructure is in place.

Andrew Inglis, CEO of bp’s partner Kosmos Energy, said, “We continue to work with bp, SMH and PETROSEN to safely ramp up the project to its full capacity as well as deliver expansion that leverages the infrastructure put in place for this initial phase.”

https://www.offshore-mag.com/regional-reports/africa/news/55284121/bp-first-lng-transferred-from-deepwater-gta-gas-project

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“This first cargo from Mauritania and Senegal marks a significant new supply for global energy markets. Starting exports from GTA Phase 1 is an important step for bp and our oil and gas business as we celebrate the creation of a new production hub within our global portfolio.

 “This is the culmination of years of work from the entire project and operations teams – congratulations to all who were involved in safely reaching this landmark. I would also like to thank the governments of Mauritania and Senegal, and our partners – Kosmos Energy, PETROSEN and SMH – for their ongoing support and collaboration,” said Gordon Birrell, EVP production & operations.

The first shipment of LNG was transferred to a carrier from the project’s floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel located 10 kilometres offshore, where the natural gas had been cryogenically cooled, liquefied and stored.

GTA is one of the deepest offshore developments in Africa, with gas resources in water depths of up to 2,850 metres, and has been declared “a project of strategic national importance” by the governments of Mauritania and Senegal. Once fully commissioned, GTA Phase 1 is expected to produce around 2.4 million tonnes of LNG per year to feed into global energy needs, with an allocation of gas volumes also to be made available to the domestic markets in both countries when they are ready to receive it.

 “This is a very proud day for Mauritania and Senegal. Throughout the development of this project, we have built strong relationships with the project’s host governments, local communities and our partners, and we look forward to strengthening these in years to come as we continue ongoing operations,” said Dave Campbell, SVP Mauritania and Senegal.

bp entered Mauritania and Senegal in 2017. GTA construction activities have generated more than 3,000 local jobs, and the project has engaged with around 300 local companies across Mauritania and Senegal.

https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/news-and-insights/press-releases/bp-completes-loading-first-cargo-from-greater-tortue-ahmeyim-lng-project.html

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The US-to-Asia arbitrage window emerged following a series of production outages in Asia that have shrunk short-term supplies in the Pacific Basin, including in Malaysia, Brunei and Australia. Meanwhile, European gas prices have eased on storage refills and subdued demand.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-22/us-lng-to-asia-fetches-more-than-fuel-to-europe-for-first-time-in-seven-months?srnd=homepage-uk

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