Majority of North American midstream projects impacted by COVID-19 are in the US
Published by Will Owen,
Editor
LNG Industry,
According to GlobalData, over 70% of the total midstream projects that have been impacted by COVID-19 are to be found in the US. Consequently, several oil and gas companies with midstream operations have had to revisit their business strategies and CAPEX plans for 2020 amid dwindling revenues.
With LNG buyers’ preference shifting more towards short-term or spot contracts, bagging long-term supply contracts has become a challenge for LNG project developers. As most upcoming LNG supply projects secure financing through firm, long-term supply agreements, this has negatively impacted project finance, resulting in (final investment decision (FID)) delays in several LNG projects, says GlobalData.
Haseeb Ahmed, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, commented: “The mounting uncertainty around the current economic scenario is also deterring prospective investors. One of the go-to strategies for LNG operators has been downsizing overall CAPEX for 2020. For example, Royal Dutch Shell exited from the Lake Charles LNG project in the US in 2020 as part of its CAPEX reduction plans; while Phillips 66 Partners has suspended additional capital spending on its Liberty Oil Pipeline project and the project has been put on hold. Withdrawing CAPEX plans ensured that these companies had sufficient working capital, but it might dent their profitability in the long run.”
North American pipelines and LNG export projects have been the most impacted as their CAPEX requirements are generally higher. The US has the highest number of impacted projects in the region, including the Permian Global Access and Red Oak pipelines, as well as Driftwood and Rio Grande LNG projects.
Ahmed added: “The sector has undergone significant losses, pushing companies to take desperate measures such as reducing CAPEX or delaying FIDs. However, these can only be short-term solutions, and, to be able to ensure future business sustainability, midstream companies need to work on long-term strategies to tackle any such future challenge.”
Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/03122020/majority-of-north-american-midstream-projects-impacted-by-covid-19-are-in-the-us/
You might also like
EIA: US natural gas trade will continue to grow with the start-up of new LNG export projects
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s recently released Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasts that US LNG exports will continue to lead growth in US natural gas trade as three LNG export projects currently under construction start operations and ramp up to full production by the end of 2025.