UK to import rare Australian gas cargo in latest sign of desperation

UK to import rare Australian gas cargo in latest sign of desperation

The UK is about to receive liquefied natural gas from far-off Australia for the first time in at least six years, highlighting the European region’s desperation in grappling with its worst energy crisis in decades.

The LNG tanker Attalos is on its way to the UK with a cargo that originated at Australia’s North West Shelf project, according to energy intelligence firm Kpler. The vessel will arrive at the Isle of Grain terminal east of London on Aug. 22, ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show.

The UK and continental Europe typically import LNG from nations such as Qatar, the US and even Peru, on the western side of South America. Deliveries from the Asia-Pacific region are rare because of the economics of lengthy journeys and usually high demand from Asian buyers.