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Chevron/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Strikes end at Gorgon, Wheatstone LNG operationsUnions, Chevron accept proposals from industrial umpireUnions pushed Chevron to match Woodside pay dealSYDNEY, Sept 22 (Reuters) - An Australian union alliance on Friday called off strikes at Chevron's (CVX.N) two major local liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, agreeing to resolve disputes that had threatened to disrupt around 7% of global LNG supplies. The union alliance and Chevron accepted proposals on pay and conditions from the country's industrial arbitrator for the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG facilities, and workers suspended strikes that began two weeks ago. "The Offshore Alliance will now work with Chevron to finalise the drafting of the agreement and members will soon cease current industrial action," Offshore Alliance spokesperson Brad Gandy said in a statement. YEARS-LONG CAMPAIGNThe deal caps a years-long campaign by the Offshore Alliance for higher pay and better conditions at major Western Australian LNG sites. A 2022 agreement with Japan's Inpex at its Ichthys LNG operation set a benchmark for subsequent talks with Shell, Woodside and Chevron.

Persons: Brad Gandy, Japan's, Saul Kavonic, Yin, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Alasdair Pal, Florence Tan, Shri Navaratnam, Sonali Paul Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Unions, Woodside, SYDNEY, Offshore Alliance, Woodside Energy, Shell, Energy, North West Shelf, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Australian, Chevron's, Woodside, Chevron, Australia, Sydney, Singapore

[1/2] A general view of Chevron's Wheatstone LNG facility in Pilbara coast, Western Australia, as seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on September 8, 2023. The union alliance and Chevron accepted proposals on pay and conditions from the country's industrial arbitrator for the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG facilities, and workers were set to end strikes that began two weeks ago. "The Offshore Alliance will now work with Chevron to finalise the drafting of the agreement and members will soon cease current industrial action," Offshore Alliance spokesperson Brad Gandy said in a statement. No LNG shipments were disrupted by the industrial action, even after a fault at the Wheatstone plant. Energy analyst Saul Kavonic said the deal should see an end to most industrial action offshore Western Australia with union agreements, which last for around four years, now in place for most offshore LNG sites.

Persons: Brad Gandy, Saul Kavonic, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Alasdair Pal, Florence Tan, Shri Navaratnam, Sonali Paul Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Unions, Woodside, SYDNEY, Offshore Alliance, Woodside Energy, Energy, North West Shelf, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Australian, Chevron's, Australia, Sydney, Singapore

"We've certainly seen Australia's reputation being affected as some existing buyers expressed interest in diversifying their suppliers for long-term supply," said Ryhana Rasidi, LNG analyst at analytics firm Kpler. "Australia is the closest gas supplier we can get. By far, Australia, U.S. and Qatar are the three pillars in LNG supply chain. As well as its political stability, its proximity to Asia might be Australia's saving grace, industry analysts say. "Ties are very strong between North Asia and Australia as a legacy supplier, so many participants are keen to continue the relationship," said Kaushal Ramesh, LNG analyst at Rystad Energy.

Persons: Inpex, Resources Madeleine King, We've, Ryhana, Jane Liao, Kaushal Ramesh, Emily Chow, Yuka Obayashi, Muyu Xu, Andrew Hayley, Joyce Lee, Lewis Jackson, Florence Tan Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Workers, Japan's Kyushu Electric Power, Chevron's, Woodside Energy, West Shelf, South, Resources, Taiwan, Tohoku Electric Power, Kyushu Electric Power, Osaka Gas, Rystad Energy, Thomson Locations: Chevron, Barrow Island, Australia, Rights SINGAPORE, TOKYO, Qatar, United States, Western Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, Oman, U.S, Asia, Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Sydney

A general view of Chevron's Wheatstone LNG facility in Pilbara coast, Western Australia, as seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on September 8, 2023. If there is still no deal by then, the unions will completely stop work for two weeks. Australia was the world's largest LNG exporter last year, shipping out 80.9 million metric tons of the fuel in 2022 versus 79 million tons in 2021, according to the International Gas Union. A prolonged strike could disrupt exports and raise prices of LNG, which is used for electricity generation. The same union alliance also secured agreements last year with Shell (SHEL.L) and Inpex (1605.T) at their LNG facilities in Western Australia.

Persons: Chevron, Wheatstone, Baden Moore, NAB's Moore, Emily Chow, Lewis Jackson, Florence Tan, Tony Munroe, Miral Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, NEXT, Unions, International Gas Union, National Australia Bank, NAB, Woodside Energy Group, WHAT'S, Woodside, North West Shelf, Shell, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Rights SINGAPORE, SYDNEY, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Asia, Europe, Ukraine, Inpex, Woodside

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Chevron is seen at the company's office in Caracas, Venezuela April 25, 2018. Australia is the world's biggest LNG exporter and its main buyers are in Asia. "Unfortunately, following numerous meetings and conciliation sessions before the Fair Work Commission, we remain apart on key terms," a Chevron spokesperson said. Brad Gandy, a spokesperson for the Offshore Alliance, said the union coalition had agreed "in good faith" to the mediated talks, "but after five days Chevron has barely budged". Energy analyst Saul Kavonic said the strikes appeared to be designed to put more pressure on Chevron to cut a deal rather than substantially affect production.

Persons: Marco Bello, Brad Gandy, ratcheting, Saul Kavonic, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Leslie Adler, Jamie Freed, Miral Fahmy, William Mallard Organizations: Chevron, REUTERS, Rights, Woodside Energy, North West Shelf, Offshore Alliance, CHEVRON, Australian, South, Taiwan . Energy, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Australia, U.S, Asia, British, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Western Australia, Sydney

☆ Chevron begins mediation talks to avert Australia LNG strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Chevron logo is pictured after the U.S. government granted a six-month license allowing Chevron to boost oil output in U.S.-sanctioned Venezuela, in Caracas, Venezuela, December 2, 2022. Reuters first reported on Friday that Chevron had filed a request for mediation with the FWC. Any industrial action would disrupt Australia's LNG exports and increase competition for the super-chilled fuel, forcing Asian buyers to outbid European buyers to attract LNG cargo. Reuters GraphicsGorgon, Australia's second-largest LNG plant, has an export capacity of 15.6 million tonnes a year and Wheatstone 8.9 million. A similar dispute between the union alliance and Woodside-operated (WDS.AX) North West Shelf LNG facility, Australia's biggest, was resolved last month after workers approved a deal.

Persons: Gaby Oraa, Australia's, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Chevron, U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Offshore Alliance, South, Wheatstone, West Shelf, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Caracas, Australia, Western Australia, Perth, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Woodside, Sydney

Chevron's Gorgon and Wheatstone projects account for more than 5% of global LNG capacity, and news of the possible strikes sent European natural gas prices surging. "It's set to cost Chevron their LNG exports as (the industrial action) starts to bite," said the alliance that groups together the Maritime Union of Australia and the Australian Workers' Union. The unions last week warned that work stoppages could cost Chevron billions of dollars. "Ten hour work stoppages: it is a harsher initial industrial action than what the unions contemplated for Woodside," he said. Last week, Offshore Alliance and Woodside (WDS.AX) resolved worker disputes at North West Shelf, Australia's largest LNG facility, after negotiating higher wages, job security and employee-friendly rosters, averting industrial action.

Persons: Gaby Oraa, Wheatstone, Saul Kavonic, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Florence Tan, Alasdair Pal, Chris Reese, Shri Navaratnam, Tom Hogue Organizations: Chevron, U.S, REUTERS, SYDNEY, Workers, Reuters, Offshore Alliance, Maritime Union of Australia, Australian Workers ' Union, Shell, Energy, Woodside, North West Shelf, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Caracas, SINGAPORE, Australia, Woodside, WDS.AX, Asia, Chevron, Sydney, Singapore

A 3D printed natural gas pipeline is placed in front of displayed Chevron logo in this illustration taken February 8, 2022. Workers on Thursday voted to authorize the Offshore Alliance of unions to call a strike at Chevron's Gorgon and Wheatstone projects. In a Facebook post on Friday, the union alliance said of Chevron's senior management team: "Their stupidity is about to cost them $billions in lost production and profit." The Offshore Alliance, which combines the Maritime Union of Australia and Australian Workers' Union, must give Chevron seven working days' notice before a strike. The Offshore Alliance announced on Friday that workers had "overwhelmingly endorsed" the draft agreement in a meeting the previous evening.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Wheatstone, Saul Kavonic, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Cynthia Osterman, Kim Coghill Organizations: Chevron, REUTERS, Rights, Workers, Offshore Alliance, North West Shelf, Maritime Union of Australia, Australian Workers ' Union, South, Taiwan . Energy, West Shelf, Woodside, Thomson Locations: Chevron's, Australia, Woodside, Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Woodside's, Dutch, Sydney

"It's pleasing that Woodside has made our members a strong offer without industrial action being taken," Gandy added in a statement. The project in Western Australia, along with the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG facilities of Chevron Corp (CVX.N), account for about one-tenth of global supplies. Workers at Chevron's facilities are also considering industrial action, and the combined threats had supported LNG prices over the past few weeks. The Woodside workers unions had threatened to strike as early as Sept. 2 unless their demands for better pay and conditions were met. Asia spot LNG prices remained supported at above $14 per million British thermal units at Wednesday's close, with traders still cautious about LNG supplies from Australia.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Brad Gandy, Woodside, Gandy, Warren Patterson, Saul Kavonic, Renju Jose, Florence Tan, Sonali Paul, Stephen Coates, Miral Organizations: Woodside Energy, REUTERS, Rights, Woodside, North West Shelf, Workers, Chevron Corp, Chevron, North West, Australia . Energy, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, Rights SYDNEY, SINGAPORE, Western Australia, Woodside, Asia, Wednesday's, Australia, Sydney, Singapore

It's likely that workers at the Chevron (CVX.N) plants will join their Woodside colleagues in authorising industrial action, which could then be launched with a seven-day notice period. The worst-case scenario is that industrial action is prolonged and forces a total shutdown of the three plants. The most likely outcome for the time being remains limited industrial action, ongoing negotiations and an eventual settlement that sees the unions get some of what they want, most likely in exchange for some longer-term guarantees. LNG imports by Asia, Europe vs spot Asia priceASIA IMPORTS RISINGAsia's imports for August are expected to lift to 22.86 million metric tons, according to data compiled by commodity analysts Kpler. This would be up from 21.61 million metric tons in July and would be the strongest month since January's 23.37 million.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, It's, Europe's, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Woodside Energy, West, Offshore Alliance, Chevron, Woodside, Kpler, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Woodside, Western Australia, Asia, Europe, North Asia, ASIA, Japan, South Korea, South, Russia, Ukraine

REUTERS/Florence Tan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Unions at Woodside Energy Group's (WDS.AX) North West Shelf offshore gas platforms on Sunday announced plans to strike as early as Sept. 2, which could eventually disrupt shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from top global exporter Australia. The strike threat escalates a long-running dispute between Woodside and workers over pay and conditions on its North West Shelf gas platforms, which feed Australia's biggest LNG plant. Unions in Australia are required by law to give companies seven working days' notice before any industrial action but can elect to call off any action before then. "Offshore Alliance members don’t take industrial action lightly, but Woodside is really leaving them with little choice here." Workers there on Friday began voting on whether to grant unions permission to call for strike action, with the first results due by Thursday.

Persons: Florence Tan, Woodside, Brad Gandy, Alasdair Pal, Lewis Jackson, Sonali Paul, William Mallard Organizations: Woodside Energy, World Gas, REUTERS, Rights, West, Sunday, Australia, North West Shelf, Unions, Offshore Alliance, Maritime Union of Australia, Australian Workers ' Union, Woodside, Workers, Thomson Locations: Daegu, South Korea, Woodside, Australia, Sydney

Chevron and Woodside negotiated with unions on Tuesday to avert potential industrial action over pay and conditions at Australian facilities that supply about 10% of the LNG market. Meanwhile, workers at three Chevron facilities, Gorgon, Wheatstone platform and Wheatstone downstream, will vote on potential industrial action after the industrial umpire approved the ballots. Even if members vote for industrial action, the unions will still have discretion over whether to call for any. Possible industrial action could range from 30-minute work stoppages all the way to complete strikes. Employers must be given seven days' notice before industrial action.

Persons: Florence Tan, Saul Kavonic, Lewis Jackson, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Woodside Energy, World Gas, REUTERS, Chevron, Woodside Energy Group, Woodside, Reuters, Workers, West Shelf, Offshore Alliance, Credit Suisse, Thomson Locations: Daegu, South Korea, Woodside

A general view shows a special ship, "Neptune", the floating liquefied natural gas terminal, during the inauguration of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal 'Deutsche Ostsee' in the port of Lubmin, Germany January 14, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File PhotoLAUNCESTON, Australia, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The comfort that had characterised natural gas markets in Asia and Europe in recent months was shown to be a mere illusion by the threat of strike action at three major Australian liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants. Benchmark Dutch natural gas prices jumped 28.3% from the close on Aug. 8 to the finish on Aug. 10 as reports of the looming strike action spooked the market. Woodside and Chevron are engaging in talks with labour unions at the LNG facilities, and it's not yet clear what form any strike action would take, assuming no agreement can be reached. Europe's LNG imports in contrast have been trending lower as the continent's natural gas storages remained elevated and demand shifts structurally lower as countries move to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Persons: Annegret, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Woodside Energy, Chevron, West Shelf, Benchmark, South Korea, China, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Lubmin, Germany, LAUNCESTON, Australia, Asia, Europe, Western Australia, North Asia, Woodside, Chevron, Ukraine, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, United States

☆ Chevron, Woodside in talks to avert strikes at Australian LNG operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Concerns over potential industrial action at three Australian LNG operations - North West Shelf, Gorgon and Wheatstone - sent European gas prices to a nearly 2-month high on Wednesday. Any industrial action would disrupt Australia's LNG exports and increase competition for the super-chilled fuel, forcing Asian buyers to outbid European buyers to attract LNG cargoes. About 99% of workers at offshore platforms that supply gas to the Woodside-operated North West Shelf LNG plant, Australia's biggest LNG plant, have voted in favour of a planned strike. Chevron said it was reviewing the applications from the union to Australia's independent Fair Work Commission (FWC) over planned strikes at its Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG plants. Gorgon, the country's second largest LNG plant, has capacity of 15.6 million metric tons a year and Wheatstone 8.9 million.

Persons: David Gray, Gorgon, Wheatstone, Brad Gandy, Woodside, Renju Jose, Jacqueline Wong, Sonali Paul Organizations: Woodside Petroleum, REUTERS, Northwest Shelf, Chevron, Woodside Energy Group, North West, North West Shelf, LNG, West Shelf, Offshore Alliance, Shell, Wheatstone, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, SYDNEY, Japan, Woodside, Chevron

☆ Natural gas prices are spiking again. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Natural gas prices have spiked again this week, just as Europe prepares for the heating season. The price of Dutch natural gas, the European benchmark, has jumped 24% to €40 ($44) per megawatt hour since Tuesday on news of potential industrial action at liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Australia. US natural gas prices have climbed 18% so far this month. “As much of the spare LNG supply comes from the US, natural gas prices there have also jumped higher,” he added. The sudden rise in gas prices follows a recent run-up in oil prices, driven by production cuts by major exporters such as Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Persons: Brad Gandy, Tom Marzec, ”, Russia —, Bill Weatherburn, Brent, Weatherburn, Massimo Di Odoardo, Wood Mackenzie, “, Woodside, — Hilary Whiteman Organizations: London CNN, Offshore Alliance, Chevron, North West, Woodside Energy Group, Facebook, CNN, —, Capital Economics, European Union, Asia —, Reuters Locations: Australia, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Norway, LNG, United States, Qatar, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, Marzec, “, Asia, Asia — Japan, —, Brisbane

☆ BP agrees to buy Shell's stake in Australian Browse gas project
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Samuel Mckeith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Woodside, BP and Shell are also all stakeholders in the North West Shelf LNG plant. "BP believes development of the Browse gas resources could make a significant contribution to energy security in Australia and to the Asia Pacific region," a BP spokesperson said. The company said it supported the concept of using carbon capture for the project and processing Browse gas in the North West Shelf LNG plant. Credit Suisse analyst Saul Kavonic said it was likely "very modest" given "the risks and ongoing spend required at the Browse project". Woodside last week played down concerns over the status of Browse project and told Reuters talks had resumed with the North West Shelf LNG joint venture about a processing deal for Browse.

☆ Australian contractor Clough's collapse leaves more than $8 bln of projects in limbo
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Sonali Paul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It said the goal is to source "immediate interim funding to be able to continue work on as many projects as possible as quickly as possible". Clough is also handling construction of the A$768 million ($515 million) Waitsia Stage 2 gas project, owned by a unit of Japan's Mitsui & Co (8031.T) and Australia's Beach Energy (BPT.AX). The Waitsia Stage 2 project was due to start producing gas for export through the North West Shelf liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in late 2023. "Given that an administrator has only just been appointed for Clough, it would be premature to speculate on the precise impacts for the Waitsia Gas Project Stage 2," Mitsui E&P Australia said in a statement. TransGrid said it would continue to work with Clough's partner Elecnor to deliver the A$2.3 billion project.

☆ Woodside ships first Australian LNG cargo direct to Europe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MELBOURNE, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Woodside Energy Group (WDS.AX) said on Monday it has shipped a liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to Europe from Australia's North West Shelf project for the first time, which the buyer Uniper said would help make up for supply lost from Russia. The 75,000-tonne cargo, equivalent to 100 million cubic metres of gas, was delivered on Nov. 27 to Uniper Global Commodities SE (Uniper) at the Gate Terminal on Maasvlakte, Woodside, Australia's top independent gas producer, said. Almost all LNG from Australia goes to Asia, with rare shipments going to South America. In August, amid Europe's hunt for gas to replace Russian supply, an Australian cargo was transferred onto a ship in Malaysian waters to go to Britain. Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Subhranshu SahuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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