The Global LNG Price Trend and the Role of LNG in Balancing the Gas Demand in MENA Region

Abstract

This paper analyses the role of LNG in balancing the natural gas demand in the MENA region. Natural gas is increasingly becoming a main energy source in the region due to several factors. The global LNG pricing mechanism is changing towards flexible market related methods that might encourage some countries in MENA to switch to LNG supplies. The growing requirements for natural gas as a fuel for electricity generation is estimated to be the driving force behind the growth in consumption of the hydrocarbon. Contrary to wide held belief several countries in the region could fall into deficit regarding their self-supply of gas which would require them to import it. The options of supply are either through pipeline networks or LNG. The study estimates the future demand of natural gas by country using multivariate regression and then compares it to the availability of gas as estimated by GEFC. Deficit is derived for each country and the study indicate how the deficit could be filled through pipeline or LNG.