Shell Q3 LNG Sales at 4.88 Million Tonnes

Shell said that the company’s equity LNG sales volumes of 4.88 million tonnes for the third quarter 2013 were 2% lower than in the same quarter a year ago.

Shell-share Nigeria LNG volumes were some 0.28 million tonnes lower in the third quarter 2013 due to reduced feedgas supply, as a result of the deteriorated security situation onshore, and due to a blockade of Nigeria LNG operations by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency in July.

Excluding the impact of the challenging operating environment in Nigeria, equity LNG sales volumes were 4% higher than in the third quarter 2012, according to Shell.

Chief Executive Officer of Shell Peter Voser commented:

“Our cash flow pays for Shell’s dividends and investment in new projects to ensure affordable and reliable energy supplies for our customers, and to add value for our shareholders.

We are facing headwinds from weak industry refining margins, and the security situation in Nigeria, which continue to erode the near term outlook.

Shell has a strong project flow in place for 2014 and beyond. We have started up a series of new oil and gas fields in the last few months, in deep water, integrated gas, and in our longer-term plays such as Iraq. These new fields are part of a project flow that will drive Shell’s cash flow in 2014 and beyond, coming alongside a reduction in net spending next year as we work through a series of acquisitions, and increase the pace of asset sales.

The company is rich with new investment opportunities – in the next few quarters Shell’s capital discipline means we will need to make hard choices between the best new investment opportunities from this industry-leading portfolio.”

Voser concluded: “Shell’s sustained investment in new growth projects will drive our financial performance. Dividends are Shell’s main route for returning cash to shareholders. We have distributed more than $11 billion of dividends in the last 12 months. So far this year, we have repurchased more than $4 billion of shares, and we are on track for up to $5 billion of share buybacks in 2013. This underlines our commitment to shareholder returns.”

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LNG World News Staff, October 31, 2013; Image: Shell