All articles tagged with #natural gas
The U.S. is racing to expand natural-gas power to feed data centers, with 189 GW announced or under construction and 378 GW in development—doubling China’s pace in construction—while critics warn many projects are speculative or off-grid, potentially locking in fossil-fuel use and higher gas prices even as renewables and storage scale.
An opinion piece argues that the Nord Stream sabotage, tied to Ukraine and highlighted by a Ukrainian arrest in Croatia, offers a cautionary lesson for U.S. strategy: do not underestimate Ukraine and recognize the central role of energy geopolitics in global power moves.
A Global Energy Monitor study shows gas-powered projects for US data centers more than doubled to over 189 GW by mid-2026, as tech companies lean on private, behind-the-meter gas plants to meet AI energy demand. The shift speeds up gas-fired capacity while raising climate concerns due to emissions, especially from inefficient turbines, and carries long-term risks if these projects become locked-in infrastructure despite ongoing uncertainties about financing, opposition, and turbine supply.
Iran announced the discovery of more than 200 billion cubic metres of natural gas in Fars province, with over 160 bcm potentially recoverable, but any new production would likely take years amid disruptions to the energy infrastructure from US-Israeli strikes.
Cyprus' energy minister says gas from the Cronos field could begin flowing to Europe by March 2028 via a pipeline to Egypt for processing, with about 84.9 bcm available for export and roughly 20% reserved for Egypt's domestic needs; the development positions the Eastern Mediterranean as a new European energy source amid Ukraine war and Middle East tensions. The plan also involves Meridiam's financing of the Great Seas Interconnector to link Cyprus (and Israel) to Europe, though costs are under review and require additional private/EU funding.
A Bermuda-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker, Gaslog Shanghai, was struck by a missile near the Strait of Hormuz, damaging its engine room and leaving it inoperable off the Oman coast. UKMTO confirmed a strike in the same area overnight, and Bloomberg cited security sources. US embassies began urging Americans in the region to depart the Middle East as tensions rise, though Iran has not claimed responsibility for the attack, which followed threats of strikes on Iran.
Chronometer Partners’ Matt Smith argues a natural‑gas bottleneck could become the biggest constraint on AI infrastructure within 6+ months, potentially elevating gas costs for hyperscalers like Microsoft and Amazon and shifting leverage to producers and exporters such as EQT, Expand Energy, Williams, and Cheniere. The piece highlights five names and two gas ETFs (UNG and BOIL) as potential plays, but cautions about gas price volatility and ETF roll costs as investors size positions carefully.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright downplayed Europe’s record heat, arguing that winter deaths are higher, while urging Europe to buy more American natural gas as it grapples with climate-related heat and energy-security debates.
US and Qatar warn ahead of an EU energy ministers meeting that the proposed methane monitoring rules could trigger a Europe-wide gas crunch and higher prices, arguing exporters cannot meet the standards, even as Brussels signals a potential watering down of the rules; independent modelling has suggested there may be enough compliant gas, keeping the debate on energy security and prices ongoing.
Chevron will supply natural-gas-fueled power for Microsoft's new West Texas data center, Project Kilby, under a 20-year deal. The facility is expected to draw about 2.7 GW (roughly 2 million homes) via turbines from GE Vernova and Caterpillar, with power starting in 2028 as Microsoft expands AI-focused infrastructure.
A large explosion at Qatar’s Ras Laffan Barzan gas facility injured at least 54 people and left 18 missing as search-and-rescue operations continued; the blast hit a major natural gas export terminal, potentially disrupting supplies and highlighting regional tensions amid ongoing conflict and Iran-related attacks on energy infrastructure.
The Interior Department will pay $765 million to Invenergy to abandon four offshore wind leases off New York, California, and Maine, redirecting the funds to build at least five natural gas plants and geothermal projects, bringing total government wind-cancellation spending to about $2.6 billion. Democrats criticize the move as blocking renewables and potentially raising power bills, while supporters say it shifts funding toward more reliable energy and national security concerns; the deals follow prior arrangements with TotalEnergies and have drawn legal challenges from some states.
Qatar reportedly pursued covert talks with Iran to shield Ras Laffan gas complex from strikes, highlighting Gulf back-channel diplomacy as Iran’s attack threatened global gas supplies and energy contracts.
Dwindling global oil inventories, driven by the Iran conflict, could push fuel prices higher in the near term, with energy executives warning that prices may stay elevated even if hostilities end due to tight supplies and ongoing geopolitical risks such as the Strait of Hormuz.
A natural gas–fueled explosion destroyed a 23-unit Oak Cliff apartment building, killing at least three people (two women and a child) and sending four others to the hospital, as rescuers excavate rubble and search for more victims; the NTSB is launching an investigation into the gas incident, Atmos Energy notes a nearby pipeline damaged by a construction crew, and authorities have set up assistance centers and community aid as the incident remains active.