Facilitating Long-Term Pacts, Investments and All Possible Measures in LNG Critical to Energy Security, Economic Stability, Decarbonization: GIIGNL

As energy security is of increasing concern in the world, GIIGNL, an international association of 84 companies involved in more than 90% of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade, issued the following statement:

The potential reduction or disruption of Russian natural gas supplies to Europe and the growing volatility of energy prices observed in the last few months have become major issues which could jeopardize economic stability in the European continent, with knock-on effects in other regions.

Without supportive policy and regulatory frameworks creating an adequate environment for long-term agreements and investments, many countries will be at risk of energy shortages and will be forced to burn increasing amounts of coal and oil, compromising the attainment of net-zero ambitions.

Since the first LNG exports from Algeria to the UK and France in 1964 and 1965, commercial LNG trade has expanded to involve 44 importing markets and 20 exporting countries at the end of 2021, with a fleet of 640 LNG vessels.

LNG now accounts for more than half of the international natural gas trade. LNG's safety, reliability and flexibility are widely recognized, and LNG has become an indispensable energy to support the world's decarbonization by enabling the integration of renewables and the substitution of coal and other traditional fuels in power and hard-to-electrify sectors.

LNG cargoes can be shipped or redirected to destinations where they are most needed based on price signals, allowing importing countries to quickly and flexibly meet their various energy requirements. Following the Great Earthquake of 2011 in Japan, nuclear power fell to zero in 2014, but the country was able to make up the shortfall by importing more cargoes from the global LNG market in order to increase natural gas-fired generation.

The flexibility provided by LNG diversions helped keep the power sector reliable. As contractual conditions in LNG become more flexible and as liquidity increases, the free play of LNG market forces combined with stable political support will contribute to energy supply security and diversification.

Jean Abiteboul, President of GIIGNL said, "The recent Russia-Ukraine conflict is highlighting the importance of energy supply security and diversification. The LNG market is growing quickly and the recent price hikes indicate a structural imbalance between demand and supply growth. On the pathway to a decarbonized world and in the face of looming energy shortages, cooperation between importers, governments and producers is urgent in order to fast-track investments in all stages of the LNG supply chain and to implement all possible measures to guarantee reliable LNG supplies."