“This milestone reflects the hard work and commitment of our project team, investors, and partners as we continue building a first-of-its-kind facility for Alaska’s North Slope,” said JR Wilcox, CEO of Alyeschem. “By producing methanol and ultra-low sulfur diesel close to the resources and operations that need them, Alyeschem is helping create new value from Alaska’s natural gas while supporting a stronger, more resilient industrial supply chain.
Alyeschem Construction Continues to Advance with Completion of Foundation Pile Installation
Construction of Alyeschem’s North Slope chemical and fuels manufacturing facility continues to make steady progress, with project officials reporting that the final foundation pile was installed over the weekend, marking another key milestone in the buildout of the facility.
Located in Prudhoe Bay on an existing AIDEA-developed gravel pad, the Alyeschem facility is designed to produce methanol and ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) using North Slope natural gas and captured carbon dioxide, with hydrogen used in the refining process. The project represents a significant opportunity to monetize stranded North Slope natural gas resources while expanding Alaska’s manufacturing capacity and strengthening the state’s energy infrastructure and inventory of Alaska’s diesel supply.
Alyeschem broke ground on the project earlier this year following AIDEA’s investment in the development. The facility is expected to support approximately 80 construction jobs and 15 permanent operations positions while generating new economic activity for the North Slope Borough and the State of Alaska.
BlueCrest Energy Inc. estimates it can extract 25 million cubic feet of natural gas per day once the new well comes online. That amounts to about 13% of the annual demand for Cook Inlet gas.
BlueCrest announces new Cook Inlet natural gas development
Ashlynn O’Hara, KDLL, September 15, 2026
BlueCrest says it will drill from an existing pad on the east side of Cook Inlet. The company owns all of the so-called Cosmopolitan Field near Anchor Point, which it has long said holds proven but undeveloped natural gas reserves.
“We know the gas is there,” BlueCrest CEO Benjamin Johnson told state lawmakers about the Cosmopolitan Unit in 2024. “There’s no question. It is a matter of getting the funding to develop that gas, and that’s what our main focus is.”
It’s been less than a month since the state Department of Natural Resources threatened to revoke the company’s leases. The department wrote the company a stern letter, giving BlueCrest 30 days to prove it could fund more development, or risk losing access to the unit.
In 2023, BlueCrest received a $30 million grant from Alaska’s state-run development agency to support its onshore drilling efforts in the Cosmopolitan Unit.
BlueCrest’s announcement comes as Southcentral Alaska’s largest natural gas utility says demand for gas could outpace supply as soon as this winter. ENSTAR Natural Gas says it could run 18 days short of supply if this winter follows typical temperature trends.
Cook Inlet’s largest developer, Hilcorp Alaska, has warned for years that it’s no longer economic to spend more money drilling for riskier gas in the state’s oldest basin. The advent of the Cook Inlet gas shortage has sent companies scrambling to secure enough resources for the region’s relatively small market.
With the new development, BlueCrest says it’s proud it will be part of the solution to that energy crisis. Johnson, the company CEO, declined to answer questions about the announcement, saying the company would prefer to let the news release speak for itself.
Australian LNG player Santos has signed two separate, non-binding LNG agreements that underscore the company’s growing global LNG portfolio position.
Australia’s Santos strengthens LNG portfolio with new deals – LNG Prime
LNG Prime Staff, Tuesday, September 16, 2026 (subscription required)
Santos entered into a non-binding heads of agreement to buy LNG from the Ksi Lisims LNG project in Canada and the company agreed key commercial terms with South Korea’s Posco Steel to supply the latter with LNG.
US energy firm and LNG terminal developer Glenfarne has promoted Texas LNG director Oliver Wood to global head of projects.
Glenfarne names Oliver Wood as global head of projects
LNG Prime Staff, Tuesday, September 16, 2026 (subscription required)
In this newly created role, Wood will guide all engineering and construction activities across Glenfarne’s North American LNG portfolio, according to a Glenfarne statement.
Wood will be part of Glenfarne’s executive team leading technical definition, development and contracting strategy, project execution and controls, safety, and operational readiness for the company’s LNG projects in Alaska, Texas, and Louisiana.
He brings 20 years of project experience in the oil and gas industry, including more than a decade in management positions.
Wood joined Glenfarne in May 2023 as construction and module director for Texas LNG and was appointed as project director of the planned 4 mtpa Texas LNG export project in the port of Brownsville last year.
“Oliver has been instrumental in successfully advancing our Texas LNG project and building our companywide project execution capabilities,” said Glenfarne CEO and Founder Brendan Duval.
“In his new role he will ensure that our projects are developed according to the strategic, commercial, and operational objectives that are central to Glenfarne’s long-term growth. His deep technical and commercial expertise and hands-on leadership make him the right choice to guide engineering and construction across our LNG projects,” Duval said.
Universities can receive up to $1M PROSPECT Prize to rapidly expand critical minerals education, training pathways
DOE launches $16M mining workforce prize
Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News, September 16, 2026
To help build the workforce needed to rebuild America’s critical mineral supply chains, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation is inviting universities across the nation to receive up to $1 million to accelerate mining and minerals education and training.
DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation on Sept. 14 opened the $16 million PROSPECT Planning Prize, a competition aimed at developing implementation-ready programs that substantially increase the number of graduates and other credentialed professionals prepared to produce, process, recover, and recycle critical minerals in the United States.
“Mining and critical minerals professionals are essential to America’s success in manufacturing, AI, energy, and national security – but this country isn’t producing enough of them,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson.
DOE says America’s 14 accredited mining schools graduate only about 170 mining engineers per year, well short of the 6,000 new engineers forecast to be needed over the coming decade.
The need, however, extends well beyond mining engineers.
Rebuilding U.S. mineral supply chains will also require geologists, metallurgists, mineral processors, materials scientists, automation and data specialists, equipment operators, electricians, welders, and other skilled workers needed to build and operate mines, processing plants, refineries, and recycling facilities.
DOE began addressing this human infrastructure challenge in August with the launch of its $100 million Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies initiative.
Aptly shortened to PROSPECT, the initiative has a near-term goal of doubling the number of graduates earning mining, minerals, and associated supply chain credentials across the U.S.
That broader initiative is one piece of more than $180 million in mining education, workforce development, technology commercialization, and materials training investments unveiled during an Aug. 7 critical minerals roundtable at the White House.
