Testing times for the European gas sector
The market was already enduring a difficult 2020—and the Covid-19 outbreak will test it to its limits
The gas industry was already facing a quandary at the start of 2020—when it still seemed the Covid-19 outbreak could be contained to China. Through 2019, the world had begun to struggle to absorb the volume of new gas supply coming to market, as LNG facilities commissioned in response to a long-faded price signal continued to come onstream. Europe helped soak up much of this new supply as it built up storage inventories to guard against a potential flare-up of tensions between Russia and Ukraine over the renewal of their transit arrangements. But even then, these shipments into Europe were only defraying the losses of the offtakers from these new facilities, with delivered prices failing to
Also in this section
10 December 2024
Sector at economic and strategic crossroads, but clear path ahead for midstream additions
30 November 2024
Decades of turmoil have left Iraq’s vast energy potential underutilised, but renewed investment and strategic reforms are transforming it into a key player in the region
29 November 2024
The country's fifth and sixth oil and gas bid rounds have attracted a range of new players with gas as well as oil ambitions—and there’s a seismic shift in the contracting process
28 November 2024
Iraq is charting a new path for its indigenous resources and its youth, hoping to electrify the future with a mix of reforms and modernisation to fuel growth