عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Shell to Acquire Singaporean LNG firm Pavilion Energy from Temasek

Dredger Vox Maxima is anchored in the waters as workers clean up an oil slick at Siloso Beach in Sentosa, Singapore June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Dredger Vox Maxima is anchored in the waters as workers clean up an oil slick at Siloso Beach in Sentosa, Singapore June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su
TT
TT

Shell to Acquire Singaporean LNG firm Pavilion Energy from Temasek

Dredger Vox Maxima is anchored in the waters as workers clean up an oil slick at Siloso Beach in Sentosa, Singapore June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Dredger Vox Maxima is anchored in the waters as workers clean up an oil slick at Siloso Beach in Sentosa, Singapore June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Shell has agreed to buy Singaporean liquefied natural gas (LNG) company Pavilion Energy from global investment company Temasek in a move the oil major said will strengthen its leadership position in LNG, according to statements on Tuesday.
The announcement confirmed a Reuters' report last Thursday saying Singapore's Temasek was finalizing the Pavilion Energy sale to Shell in the coming days in a deal worth hundreds of millions of US dollars.
Shell and Temasek did not disclose financial details of the sale in their statements.
The deal will provide Shell, already the world's top LNG trader, with access to gas markets in Europe and Singapore as it aggressively expands its LNG footprint after raking in billions in profits last year.
It includes Pavilion Energy's 6.5 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG supply contracts from suppliers such as Chevron, BP and QatarEnergy sourced from US liquefaction facilities such as the Corpus Christi Liquefaction, Freeport LNG and Cameron LNG.
Pavilion's long-term regasification capacity of approximately 2 mtpa at UK's Isle Grain LNG terminal, its regasification access in Singapore and Spain, and its LNG bunkering business in Singapore, the world's largest ship refuelling port, are also included in the deal, Shell said.
Zoë Yujnovich, Shell's integrated gas and upstream director, said that the purchase will bring material volumes and additional flexibility to its global portfolio.
Shell said the acquisition will be absorbed within its cash capital expenditure guidance, which remains unchanged.
"The deal is in excess of the internal rate of return hurdle rate for Shell's integrated gas business, delivering on its 15-25% growth ambition for purchased volumes, relative to 2022," Shell said in its statement.
Shell planned to expand its LNG business by 20% to 30% by 2030, compared with 2022, and this deal is expected to help deliver these targets, it added.
Shell expects global demand for LNG to rise by more than 50% by 2040 as coal-to-gas switching gathers pace in China, South Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
The deal came just over a decade after Temasek established Pavilion Energy to address the growing demand for energy in Asia and support the energy transition.
"We believe Shell is well positioned to grow Pavilion Energy's business and strengthen its global LNG hub in Singapore," Juliet Teo, Temasek's head of portfolio development group and head of Singapore market, said in its statement.
Temasek will retain its wholly owned unit Gas Supply Pte Ltd (GSPL), which imports piped natural gas from South Sumatra in Indonesia, Temasek's statement showed.
Pavilion Energy's pipeline gas contracts with customers in the power sector are also not part of the transaction and will be novated to GSPL, prior to completion, according to both statements.
Moreover, Pavilion Energy's 20% interest in Blocks 1 and 4 in Tanzania will not be included in the deal.
The transaction is expected to complete by first quarter of next year, subject to regulatory approvals, according to both statements.
Pavilion will continue to operate as a separate and independent business until the transaction is completed, according to a Temasek spokesperson.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Urgent Financial Tasks Await Lebanon’s Emerging Government

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)
TT
TT

Urgent Financial Tasks Await Lebanon’s Emerging Government

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)

A broad internal consensus, encompassing both political and economic dimensions, is taking shape to adopt the principles outlined in the presidential inauguration address as the foundation of the new government’s program and ministerial statement. This approach aims to sustain Lebanon’s immediate and strong positive momentum, which is reinforced by widespread support on both Arab and international levels.

Economic bodies and professional unions representing business sectors have openly expressed their relief and full support for the strategic directions set by President Joseph Aoun following his election. However, they have made it clear that maintaining this positive momentum depends on the formation of a reform-oriented rescue government, composed of competent, experienced, and honest ministers. This government must also collaborate constructively with the president.

According to a senior financial official, the rescue mission will be challenging due to years of governmental inaction and constitutional voids, which led to a deterioration in public sector operations and the accumulation of economic, financial, and monetary crises over the past five years. These challenges were further compounded by a devastating war, which inflicted severe human and financial losses estimated at approximately $10 billion, thereby worsening the country’s financial gap, now estimated at $72 billion.

Economic and banking circles are looking to the new government to swiftly capitalize on extensive international support by restoring trust and reestablishing financial channels between Lebanon and its regional and international partners. Key to this effort are explicit and transparent commitments to combating illegal economic activities, corruption, smuggling, money laundering, and drug trafficking. In parallel, the government must prioritize strengthening judicial independence and implementing strict controls over land, sea, and air borders.

The national consensus evident in the presidential election, according to Mohammad Choucair, head of Lebanon’s economic associations, paves the way for constructive collaboration among political factions. This collaboration is crucial for addressing challenges, rebuilding the state, and benefiting from renewed international and Arab—particularly Gulf and Saudi—interest in Lebanon. Choucair emphasized the importance of normalizing relations with Gulf nations, supporting Lebanon’s recovery, and providing resources for reconstruction efforts.

One of the urgent tasks for the new government, according to the financial official, is revisiting the draft 2024 state budget, which was previously submitted to parliament. Adjustments are necessary to address fundamental discrepancies in expenditure and revenue projections, taking into account significant changes brought about by the Israeli war.

Ibrahim Kanaan, chairman of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, described the budget as “unrealistic, if not entirely fictitious,” particularly in its revenue estimates. He pointed out that revenue increases were based on income and capital taxes, internal duties, and trade-related fees, all of which have been severely impacted by the war.

Reassuring depositors, both domestic and expatriate, who have suffered massive losses over recent years, is another pressing issue. These losses were exacerbated by the inability of successive governments to implement a comprehensive rescue plan addressing the $72 billion financial gap fairly. The situation was worsened by mismanagement in the electricity sector and the squandering of over $20 billion in central bank reserves following the onset of the financial crisis.

In response to Aoun’s commitment to a fair resolution for depositors, the Association of Banks in Lebanon welcomed his emphasis on safeguarding deposits. It also expressed its readiness to collaborate with the central bank and the government to protect depositors’ rights, citing a recent State Council ruling that prohibits any financial recovery plans from including measures that would erode depositors’ funds.

In its final session, the caretaker government addressed long-standing creditor issues by unanimously agreeing to suspend Lebanon’s right to invoke statutes of limitations on claims by foreign bondholders under New York law. This suspension, effective until March 9, 2028, aims to facilitate future negotiations.

With this decision, the caretaker government tacitly acknowledged Lebanon’s pending debt obligations, including over $10 billion in suspended interest payments on Eurobonds and approximately $30 billion in principal debt. The resolution now awaits direct negotiations under the new administration, which faces the challenge of resolving a nearly five-year-old crisis triggered by the previous government’s uncoordinated decision to halt payments on all Eurobond obligations through 2037.

Caretaker Finance Minister Youssef Khalil emphasized that despite the difficult circumstances, “Lebanon remains committed to reaching a fair and consensual resolution regarding the restructuring of Eurobond debt.”