The government of New Zealand has shortlisted proposals to have its first LNG import terminal operational by early 2028 as it looks to boost energy security amid falling domestic gas supply, Energy Minister Simon Watts said on Monday. New Zealand’s natural gas buffer has all but vanished in the past decade, as production has slumped and an offshore exploration ban was in place between 2018 and 2025. Last year, New Zealand reopened for oil and gas exploration, ready to receive applications for exploration projects after a seven-year…