LNG market set for Thai demand surprise
Could the sudden jump in energy demand from Thailand make it the surprise LNG buyer this year?
Thailand is sitting on a newly commissioned, barely utilised LNG-import terminal and may be in the market for nearly 40 cargoes after forecasting increased natural gas consumption in 2012 to rebuild after last year’s flooding. Forecasts from the Thai energy ministry see the country’s overall energy demand for 2012 rising by almost 5% over 2011, to 1.94 million barrels of oil equivalent a day (boe/d). The government predicts gas consumption will increase by 7.4%, to 51.4 billion cubic metres (cm). This forecast was based on the economy growing by 4.5-5.5% in 2012, and included extra government spending to repair businesses after last year’s devastating floods, which took hundreds of lives and
Also in this section
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
