Aethon energy’s acquisition of Mitsubishi LNG assets: energy control as a tool of geo-economic leverage and Russia’s displacement

On January 16, 2026, Japanese Mitsubishi announced that it would acquire shale gas assets in Texas and Louisiana from Aethon Energy Management for $7.53 billion.

After the deal’s completion, Mitsubishi will acquire a significant natural gas production business near the US Gulf Coast and the energy export terminals being built there.

The company’s CEO Katsuya Nakanishi stated that the assets being acquired include some of the largest gas reserves in the southern US and are characterized by “high productivity and competitiveness.”