LNG trading significantly higher in fourth quarter
Austrlia plant outages weigh on output
Shell to pay additional 2 bln in windfall tax

LONDON, Jan 6 Reuters Earnings from Shell39;s liquefied natural gas LNG trading operations are likely to have been significantly higher in the fourth quarter of last year despite a sharp output drop owing to plant outages, it said on Friday.

Europe39;s largest oil and gas company39;s update ahead of its fullyear results on Feb. 2 also said it expects to pay about 2 billion in additional 2022 taxes related to the European Union and British windfall taxes imposed on the energy sector.

Fourthquarter LNG liquefaction volumes are expected to be the lowest since the company acquired BG Group in 2016 for 53 billion, dropping to between 6.6 million and 7 million tonnes as a result of prolonged outages at two major plants in Australia.

But Shell, the world39;s top LNG trader, said its LNG trading results are set to be significantly higher than in the previous quarter.

Shell shares rose nearly 1 as the market opened.

Shell39;s thirdquarter results were dented by weaker refining performance and a slump in LNG trading.

The LNG trading division recorded a loss of nearly 1 billion in the third quarter after traders were caught out by a sharp rally in European gas prices when Russia halted supplies.

Yet Shell remained on track for record annual profit in 2022, having posted earnings of 30 billion in the first three quarters, just shy of the…