QatarEnergy Names Shell Partner for LNG Expansion Project

Qatar's Energy Minister, Saad al-Kaabi, and CEO of Shell, Ben van Beurden, gesture after a singing agreement at a press conference in Doha, Qatar, October 23, 2022. (Reuters)
Qatar's Energy Minister, Saad al-Kaabi, and CEO of Shell, Ben van Beurden, gesture after a singing agreement at a press conference in Doha, Qatar, October 23, 2022. (Reuters)
TT
20

QatarEnergy Names Shell Partner for LNG Expansion Project

Qatar's Energy Minister, Saad al-Kaabi, and CEO of Shell, Ben van Beurden, gesture after a singing agreement at a press conference in Doha, Qatar, October 23, 2022. (Reuters)
Qatar's Energy Minister, Saad al-Kaabi, and CEO of Shell, Ben van Beurden, gesture after a singing agreement at a press conference in Doha, Qatar, October 23, 2022. (Reuters)

QatarEnergy's chief executive on Sunday named Shell a partner on the Gulf Arab state's North Field South expansion, part of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

Shell will have a 9.3% share of the project and QatarEnergy will keep 75%, Saad al-Kaabi, who is also state minister for energy, said at a news conference.

The development contract for North Field South would be awarded in the first quarter of 2023, Kaabi said.

QatarEnergy was open to discussing working with Shell in all energy sectors, he added.

The North Field is part of the world's biggest gas field that Qatar shares with Iran, which calls its share South Pars.

State-owned QatarEnergy earlier this year signed deals for North Field East, the first and larger phase of the two-phase North Field expansion plan, which includes six LNG trains that will ramp up Qatar's liquefaction capacity from 77 million tons per annum to 126 million tons by 2027.

TotalEnergies, Shell, Exxon, ConocoPhillips and Eni took stakes in the North Field East expansion phase, and last month TotalEnergies was named as the first partner in the North Field South project.

QatarEnergy had said partners for the North Field South would be selected from those already involved in the first phase.



UN's FAO: World Food Prices Dip in May

A woman sells dried foods at a street market in Hanoi, Vietnam, 06 June 2025. EPA/LUONG THAI LINH
A woman sells dried foods at a street market in Hanoi, Vietnam, 06 June 2025. EPA/LUONG THAI LINH
TT
20

UN's FAO: World Food Prices Dip in May

A woman sells dried foods at a street market in Hanoi, Vietnam, 06 June 2025. EPA/LUONG THAI LINH
A woman sells dried foods at a street market in Hanoi, Vietnam, 06 June 2025. EPA/LUONG THAI LINH

Global food commodity prices declined in May, driven by marked drops in cereal, sugar, and vegetable oil prices, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization said on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in a basket of internationally traded food commodities, averaged 127.7 points in May, reflecting a 0.8% decrease from the April figure.

The May reading was up 6% from a year earlier but over 20% below a March 2022 peak following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine that started a devastating war between two of the world's leading grains producers.

The FAO cereal price index fell 1.8% month-on-month, led by a sharp drop in global maize prices. Strong harvests and ample supplies in Argentina and Brazil, along with expectations of a record crop in the United States, weighed on prices, Reuters reported.

Wheat prices edged lower due to improved crop conditions in the northern hemisphere.

By contrast, rice prices rose 1.4%, supported by firm demand for fragrant varieties and currency movements.

Vegetable oil prices declined 3.7% from April, with declines across all major oils. Palm oil prices fell due to seasonal output increases in Southeast Asia. Soy oil prices dropped on higher South American supplies and weak demand for biofuel.

Rapeseed oil eased on improved European Union supply prospects, while sunflower oil declined amid weak global demand.

The FAO sugar price index decreased by 2.6%, reflecting concerns over the global economic outlook, weaker demand from food and beverage industries, and expectations of a production recovery next season.

Meat prices rose 1.3% from April. Beef, pork and sheep meat prices increased, with beef reaching a record high. Poultry prices declined, pressured by surplus supplies in Brazil following import restrictions linked to a bird flu outbreak.

The FAO dairy price index rose 0.8%, supported by strong demand from Asia. Butter prices remained at historic highs, while cheese and whole milk powder prices also increased.

In a separate report, the FAO forecast record global cereal production of 2.911 billion metric tons in 2025, up from 2.848 billion in its previous estimate and 2.1% above 2024.

With production expected to surpass consumption, global cereal stocks are anticipated to grow by 1.0%, partially recovering from last year's contraction.