2025 at a glance: LNG wave sweeps across global gas markets

January 1, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

With energy security still at the forefront, several liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects have been given the green light to proceed to production mode across the globe, with the United States (U.S.) running the show. As a result, 2025 marked the start of the next wave of LNG projects that are anticipated to enrich the global energy mix.

North Field East (NFE) LNG expansion project will raise Qatar’s LNG export capacity from the current 77 mtpa to 110 mtpa; Source: QatarEnergy

While multiple developments were recorded across the global LNG scene, Offshore-Energy.biz has decided to spotlight two projects that came online last year. The first major LNG project on this list is LNG Canada, developed by a joint venture company involving Shell, Petronas, PetroChina, KOGAS, and Mitsubishi.

This project achieved its first LNG carg o in 2025 and started producing LNG from its second train, enabling Train 1 and Train 2 to be operational on Canada’s west coast. Described as the country’s first large-scale LNG project in Kitimat, the project’s greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity is said to be about 60% below the global average.

The two trains have a combined capacity of 14 million tonnes per year (mtpa) of LNG. Shell and its joint venture partners are looking into a Phase 2 expansion that could add two additional trains.

JGC and Fluor cheer handover of second train at Canada’s mega LNG export project

Business Developments & Projects

The second project that made it to this list is Eni’s Congo LNG Phase 2, which was launched in the final weeks of 2025. This project saw the FLNG Nguya join the FLNG Tango that has been in operation since late 2023. This project exploits the gas resources of the Marine XII project, thanks to the installation of two FLNG units at the Nenè and Litchendjili fields.

The second phase entails three production platforms, the Scarabeo 5 unit dedicated to gas treatment and compression, and the FLNG Nguya for liquefaction and export, bringing the overall project’s capacity to 3 million tonnes per annum, equivalent to 4.5 billion cubic meters per year.

Eni also received the go-ahead for its Coral Norte/North FLNG project last year, which allows the exploration of natural gas resources from the Coral Eocene 441 deposit in Area 4 concession, covering the Coral Sul/South FLNG facility, the approved second FLNG development, and the Rovuma LNG onshore facilities.

Saipem cheers first gas milestone on rig-turned-FPU at Eni’s African project

Exploration & Production

Many projects are anticipated to be brought online by 2030, joining those such as Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG Phase 1 in Louisiana, which sent off its first LNG cargo at the end of December 2024, strengthening the U.S. Gulf Coast as a global LNG hub.

The developer revealed plans in March 2025 to expand its Plaquemines plant’s previously envisaged capacity of 27 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by more than 18 mtpa, which brings the total to over 45 mtpa by adding 24 trains, estimated to requires an additional $18 billion investment.

This is not the only project the firm is developing in the United States, as it is working on several projects, including the CP2 LNG for which the company disclosed a $15.1 billion project financing at the end of July 2025. The first LNG exports are targeted for Q3 2027.

$15.1 billion financing in the bag for first phase of Venture Global’s $28B LNG project

Business & Finance

Some of the major LNG undertakings that are being developed across the globe encompass QatarEnergy’s North Field expansion projects, including the North Field East (NFE), the North Field South (NFS), and North Field West (NFW), to raise Qatar’s LNG production capacity from 77 to 142 million tons per annum (mtpa) in 2030.

Other giant projects are Woodside’s $17.5 billion Louisiana LNG production and export project, formerly known as Driftwood LNG, under construction in Louisiana; Glenfarne’s $44 billion Alaska LNG in Alaska; and the $50 billion Argentina LNG project.

While Asia and Europe as seen as primary demand centers for new LNG supply, as the latter seeks to sever all ties with Russian fossil fuels, North America and Qatar are the dominant supply growth regions. However, Africa is fast emerging as a new LNG frontier.