--DES Northeast Asia

According to an emergency power supply-demand monitoring report released on May 1 by the Organization for Cross-Regional Coordination of Transmission Operators (OCCTO) in Japan, the surplus power capacity (in kWh) for the period from May 16 to Jul 2 is expected to reach a low of 11.612 billion kWh in early June. According to OCCTO, this level is equivalent to approximately six times the average daily electricity consumption during the target period, and there is currently no risk of fuel inventories including LNG becoming tight. Concerns exist about labor strikes at the 8.9 mil mt/year Ichthys project in Australia, there has been no information of production stoppages so far.

--FOB Middle East, DES South Asia and the Middle East

Bangladesh's state-run Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Co Ltd (RPGCL) issued a DES-based buy tender closing on May 7 for three cargoes for Jun 8-9, 9-10, and 14-15 delivery. Bids are valid until May 11. In addition, Pakistan LNG (PLL) also issued a DES-based buy tender closing on May 7 for a total of two cargoes for May 12-14 and May 24-26 delivery.

--FOB Atlantic, DES Europe and South America

ENARSA awarded only one cargo for May 20-21 delivery out of the three cargoes sought in its additional buy tender for May delivery closed on Apr 29. The tender drew offers from three companies including British BP, European Vitol and PetroChina, but the winner was not immediately known. The remaining two cargoes for May 25-26 and May 31 delivery were apparently unawarded.