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Market Chatter: Japan's Mitsui Targets Investments in LNG Facilities

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Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co. is eyeing investments in liquefied natural gas projects in the Middle East, US and Australia amid an expected increase in global power demand from new data centers, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing chief executive officer Kenichi Hori.

The company was looking to pursue growth opportunities in LNG and gas chemicals, Hori told Bloomberg.

Noting that additional demand is being created for LNG by companies looking to power artificial intelligence infrastructure with clean energy, Hori said the company could consider equity stakes or securing offtake agreements.

The company will reserve some capital for the energy sector as it seeks new assets as part of a new mid-term strategy unveiled this month, the report said.

Mitsui, a stakeholder in Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's under construction Ruwais LNG export facility, could consider further investments in the Middle East, Hori said. The region will remain a key global energy supply source despite the disruptions caused to oil and gas flows by the Iran war, Hori added.

has reached out to Mitsui for comment.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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