LNG facilities on Australia’s Curtis Island
Australia’s LNG flashpoint
Scapegoating foreign buyers will not solve country’s gas shortages
LNG exports have once again become a flashpoint in Australia’s national debate over gas shortages. This time, however, the focus is not on how much gas is leaving the country but on what happens to it after it does. Thinktank the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) released a research note in May alleging that Japanese firms resold around half the Australian LNG they purchased in 2024 to third countries. The report cast this as opportunistic trading amid Japan’s sustained efforts to influence Australian policy and ensure uninterrupted export flows. The media quickly amplified the implication that Japan was gaming the system. Nevertheless, that reading—while politica
Also in this section
6 February 2026
The long close relationship between key supplier Qatar and pivotal buyer Japan becomes even deeper following new landmark deal
6 February 2026
Partnerships across the LNG value chain have evolved over time, growing in both complexity and importance, according to panellists at LNG2026
6 February 2026
Nigeria's mega-refinery is still trying to solve many challenges, all while its owner talks up expansion
5 February 2026
While broadly supportive of EU efforts to tackle methane emissions, representatives of the gas industry warn it could deter supply contracting if timelines and compliance requirements are not made more pragmatic
