Total boasts world #2 LNG player title after acquisition of Engie’s upstream LNG unit

French oil and gas company Total has closed the acquisition of Engie’s portfolio of upstream liquefied natural gas (LNG) assets for an overall enterprise value of $1.5 billion.

Total signed a deal with its compatriot Engie to buy  Engie’s of upstream LNG business in November 2017.

Additional payments of up to $ 550 million could be payable by Total in case of an improvement in the oil markets in the coming years, Total said on Friday upon completion of the deal.

Following the closure of the deal, Total emphasized that it has become the number two LNG player in the world.

This portfolio includes participating interests in liquefaction plants, notably the interest in the Cameron LNG project in the US, long term LNG sales and purchase agreements, an LNG tanker fleet as well as access to regasification capacities in Europe.

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Total, said: “Acquiring Engie’s LNG business is a real step change for Total allowing us to leverage size and flexibility in the fast growing and increasingly commoditized LNG market. This transaction makes Total the second largest global LNG player among the majors with a worldwide market share of 10% and the Group will manage an overall LNG portfolio of around 40 Mt per year by 2020. It also helps us to build a position in the US LNG market, with the 16.6% stake in the Cameron LNG project.”

Following the transaction, Total takes over the teams in charge of the upstream LNG activities at Engie.

By 2020, Total’s LNG portfolio will have a total volume of LNG managed of 40Mt / year and a liquefaction capacity portfolio of 23 MT/year, well distributed among the major LNG production areas: Middle East, Australia, Russia and the United States.

Furthermore, the company’s portfolio will have a worldwide LNG trading contracts portfolio of 28 MT/year to supply each LNG market with competitive and flexible resources; a role of a key supplier for the European market with regasification capacities of 18 MT/year; and, a fleet of 18 LNG carriers, of which two FSRUs (floating storage and regasification units).