Occidental Petroleum and natural gas plays EQT and Cheniere Energy are rising as crude oil and natural gas prices start the year with momentum.

Liquefied natural gas producer and the largest U.S. exporter of LNG Cheniere Energy Inc (LNG) said on Monday that the first train (Train 1) of the firm’s Corpus Christi Stage 3 Liquefaction Project (CCL Stage 3) witnessed its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. The firm’s shares rose by 0.4% in Friday’s pre-market trade.

Global natural gas demand (NGZ24) is bouncing back, with a 2.5% rise expected this year and similar growth next year, driven by booming Asian markets and Europe’s industrial recovery. The U.S. is playing a pivotal role, positioning natural gas as a key “bridge fuel” as alternative energy sources scale up. This shift in market dynamics opens up enticing opportunities for dividend-seeking investors, and Cheniere Energy, Inc. (LNG) is set to capitalize.

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) +1% in Monday's trading after saying it produced liquefied natural gas for the first time from Train 1 of its Corpus Christi Stage 3 Liquefaction Project, and expects substantial completion of Train 1 to be achieved by the end of Q1 2025, six months ahead of the anticipated completion date.

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