Cheap gas key to unlocking new markets
Weaning poorer regions off coal means gas needs to be abundant and competitive longer term
Ensuring gas is cheap enough to broaden access to the fuel is the key to unlocking more demand in price-sensitive emerging markets in Africa and Southwest Asia, with supportive government policy essential for entrenching the fuel and assuring investors of its longevity, industry executives said at the World Gas Conference in Beijing in May. The cost of gas across all key markets in 2024 declined significantly year-on-year, but European and Asian spot prices remained well above their historic averages. The front-month TTF price last year was more than double the five-year average over 2016–20, while the Platts Japan-Korea Marker averaged nearly twice as high, according to the IEA. “We d

Also in this section
25 July 2025
Mozambique’s insurgency continues, but the security situation near the LNG site has significantly improved, with TotalEnergies aiming to lift its force majeure within months
25 July 2025
There is a bifurcation in the global oil market as China’s stockpiling contrasts with reduced inventories elsewhere
24 July 2025
The reaction to proposed sanctions on Russian oil buyers has been muted, suggesting trader fatigue with Trump’s frequent bold and erratic threats
24 July 2025
Trump energy policies and changing consumer trends to upend oil supply and demand