Letter from China: Long-term LNG demand looks strong
Last year’s slip in gas consumption does not affect the outlook to mid-century
Speculation that China is nearing a new long-term LNG supply deal with Qatar—that would take cooperation through to the middle of this century—underlines how the long-term growth story for gas in the Asian giant remains intact as Beijing looks to back up its immense buildout of renewable energy. State-controlled CNPC is reportedly in talks with state-owned QatarEnergy to buy LNG from the latter’s 49mn t/yr North Field East (NFE) expansion programme on similar terms to the 27 year-long SPA for 4mn t/yr signed by domestic peer Sinopec last November. Sinopec’s contract will be met through the NFE expansion and marks the longest-duration contract ever signed by QatarEnergy. The first phase of th
Also in this section
8 December 2025
The Caribbean country’s role in the global oil market is significantly diminished, but disruptions caused by outright conflict would still have implications for US Gulf Coast refineries
5 December 2025
Mistaken assumptions around an oil bull run that never happened are a warning over the talk of a supply glut
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future






