The present high prices of natural gas coupled to high demand for electricity and the inherent flexibility offered by LNG, have led to a considerable increase in the number of offloading terminals that will be required.
LNG demand is forecast to continue to rise by about 7 percent a year and go from 138.5 million tonnes in 2005 to 196-232 million tonnes in 2010 and 310-375 million tonnes by 2020.
Keven Dunphy
Only 3.8 percent of liquefied natural gas trading was on spot or short-term contracts in 1999, rising to 12 percent at the last estimate and to a probable 33 percent by 2011.
In having long-term supply contracts, the delivery transactions can be defined by mutual agreement.