LNG’s buoyant brave new world

The industry’s big players remain optimistic despite the headwinds of the last two years

The LNG industry has long had a propensity to spring surprises. But perhaps the biggest surprise today is how optimistic industry players remain about their future, despite 2020’s acceleration of the transition to a net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions world, a pandemic-induced collapse in capital investment, unprecedented price volatility, growing buyer concern about LNG’s carbon intensity, and a slow-down in commoditisation of LNG trading. Recent weeks have seen Shell and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) publish their annual long-term gas and LNG outlooks, as well as the CeraWeek conference. The consensus has been clear: the industry will continue to adapt to whatever challenges