Role Signal Board — May 18, 2026
ORIGINATION
Alaska LNG signed 30-year gas supply deal with ConocoPhillips for North Slope Phase One; now has agreements with all major producers for FID. Read This: Reuters
BOTAŞ–Argent LNG signed MOU for US-origin LNG delivery into Türkiye including onward transmission into neighboring markets. Read This: Press Release
Karpowership signed 3-year deal to deploy powership and FSRU in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Read This: Bloomberg
Seapeak signed contracts for three 174,000 cbm LNG carriers at Samsung Heavy ($756M); 10-year charters secured with unnamed energy company. Read This: Splash
Kansai Electric approved Himeji No. 1 renewal — 1,442 MW to 1,950 MW LNG-fired CCGT; commercial operation FY2033+. Read This: Press Release
PORTFOLIO
QatarEnergy heat signature detected at Ras Laffan South Train 2 (3.3 mtpa) — first activity at South facility since March 19 attack. Read This: @WoodMackenzie via X
China LNG imports fell 23% YoY in April to 3.55 Mt — eight-year low; Jan-Apr down 10.3% to 17.94 Mt. Read This: LNG Prime
Global LNG exports fell from ~1,900 Mcm/d in January to ~1,510 Mcm/d in May; Qatar and Abu Dhabi account for 90% of losses. Read This: @ira_joseph via X
US feedgas fell to 17 bcfd from 18.8 in April on maintenance at Golden Pass and Freeport; HH at $2.999 seven-week high. Read This: Reuters
PROCUREMENT
Ichthys 243 stoppages and work bans notified May 27–Jun 10 by three unions; 326 of 346 workers voted for action; negotiations May 25-26. Read This: Reuters
Japan first LNG cargo via Hormuz arriving Futtsu as early as May 18 — first since strait closure. Read This: Nikkei Asia
Onagawa No. 2 shut on unplanned steam leak; restart unclear; adds at least one LNG cargo/month to Japan's call. Read This: @SStapczynski via X
Pakistan received third consecutive Qatar cargo (Mahzam, 56,573 mt Ras Laffan to Karachi via Hormuz May 15). Read This: Bloom Pakistan
Europe gas prices rising again; imports down ~12% YoY; ~20% of global LNG supply trapped behind Hormuz. Read This: @SStapczynski via X
SHIPPING
Russia added four LNG tankers (Kosmos, Merkuriy, Orion, Luch) to Arctic LNG 2 dark fleet; ~20 total now active. Read This: Bloomberg
Hormuz gridlock persists — 10 transits Saturday, zero Sunday; CENTCOM diverted 78 ships; AIS interference widespread. Read This: Bloomberg
Iran struck bilateral arrangements with China, Iraq, Pakistan for oil and LNG; non-dollar settlement emerging; ~13th week of blockade. Read This: Reuters
Trump $40B Hormuz insurance programme has done zero business; Chubb confirms coverage only under escort that hasn't occurred. Read This: Financial Times
GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT
Ichthys strike threatens 9.3 mtpa from May 27; Inpex pulled its own ballot; unions describe proposed agreement as "sub-standard." Read This: OilPrice.com
Alaska LNG lawmakers scrambling in final five days of session; House proposes 15-cent volumetric tax, Senate 40-cent; governor wants 6-cent. Read This: Anchorage Daily News
Putin traveling to Beijing May 19-20 for Power of Siberia 2 pricing talks; one Russian official says no firm progress so far. Read This: Bloomberg
CAPITAL & INVESTMENT
Woodside considering pre-emptive rights on Inpex's Browse stake acquisition; Browse gas planned to supply NWS LNG plant. Read This: Australian Financial Review
NextEra–Dominion $66.8B merger; combined 110 GW generation, 130 GW data center pipeline; 12-18 month close pending FERC/NRC/state approvals. Read This: Reuters
Shell Australia chair Wake: country "urgently needs a lot more gas" to avoid domestic shortfall later this decade. Read This: Bloomberg
RISK
IEA warned commercial oil inventories depleting rapidly with only weeks left; global oil supply to fall 3.9 mb/d in 2026 versus prior 1.5 mb/d forecast. Read This: Reuters
Australia 20% federal gas reservation confirmed from July 2027; Shell warns of investment deterrence; Santos CEO says lower prices could "kill companies." Read This: Reuters
China thermal power up 3.1% YoY April but wind and nuclear output fell; coal stockpiling ordered ahead of summer; LNG imports at eight-year low. Read This: Bloomberg
Kharg Island 23 oil tankers spotted versus 4 on April 13 before US Navy blockade began; US interdicting and seizing ships. Read This: Bloomberg
POLICY & REGULATION
Western Australia set to win carve-out from federal 20% reservation; existing 15% state policy retained. Read This: Australian Financial Review
Alaska gas line bill not expected to pass before session ends; property tax exemption mechanism key to project economics. Read This: KTUU
Iran implementing "monitoring and control measures within international law framework"; conditioning Hormuz reopening on conflict end. Read This: Bloomberg