Powering deals: QatarEnergy, the world’s largest LNG exporter, has signed a 20-year deal for experts from Louisiana. The company will purchase up to 3 million metric tons of LNG annually from Woodside Energy’s Louisiana export facility under construction in Calcasieu Parish, with deliveries beginning in 2030. The agreement follows deals with Cheniere Energy for up to 4 million metric tons annually from its Louisiana and Texas facilities as QatarEnergy diversifies amid Iranian missile damage to its own export infrastructure. The deals strengthen Louisiana’s role in the global LNG market and highlight growing demand for U.S. natural gas. The Center Square has the full story.
From pixels to parts: Automakers including Ford, Rivian and General Motors are expanding their use of 3D printing to produce vehicle components, assembly tools and testing equipment. The move helps reduce costs and speed up manufacturing. Rivian says its $5 million investment in the technology generates millions in savings by reducing supplier costs and cutting production times from weeks to hours or days. Ford plans to have 3D-printing labs at more than 23 plants by year-end, while GM is scaling its use across manufacturing facilities and specialty vehicles. CNBC has the full story.
Pipeline politics: U.S. officials are reportedly promoting a plan to resume Russian natural gas exports to Europe through pipelines crossing Ukraine, with a U.S. intermediary handling sales to bypass European restrictions. The proposal, discussed by U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff during September visits to Moscow and Kyiv, comes as European gas prices rise and the EU prepares to phase out Russian gas imports by 2027. Although the pipelines remain intact, the plan faces geopolitical hurdles, including continued Russian and Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure. Bloomberg has the full story.
