M&A: Oil majors jockey for position to ride an LNG boom
Firms are reshuffling their portfolios in favour of gas ahead of the looming energy inflection point
Although gas may not dominate energy supply for another 10-20 years or more, the industry is looking over the horizon. Following on from a series of liquefied-natural-gas-driven M&As that included ExxonMobil's acquisition of a 25% stake in Mozambique Area 4 and Shell's purchase of Chevron's position in Trinidad, Total and others have maintained the momentum. The latest round of deals reflects a continuing scramble for the whole working package-access to low-cost fields, transport, sales and purchase contracts, and regasification. In short, an investment that gets off to a quick and profitable start. Exxon, for instance, described its Mozambique acquisition as coming "at a cost of supp
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent






