Buyer-seller tieup key to maintaining balance in LNG market: RasGas CEO

Al-Muhannadi:‘Voice of gas’ is increasingly being heard.

The recent decline in liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices and the introduction of new players to the “LNG Club” will require a collaborative effort from both suppliers and buyers to adopt a long-term view for maintaining a sustainable LNG market, RasGas chief executive officer, Hamad Mubarak al-Muhannadi said at the Gastech recently concluded in Singapore.  
At a suppliers’ panel debate entitled, “What will be the impact of lower oil and LNG prices on LNG buyers and sellers over the next five years?” on the inaugural day of the four-day event, al-Muhannadi highlighted the long-term nature of the LNG business.
He said, “LNG buyers are currently comfortable with the availability of LNG and have a general wait-and-see attitude towards making new longer-term commitments. However, if LNG suppliers fail to develop resources required to meet forecasted longer-term demand growth – at the right time and place - there will be a supply and demand imbalance with longer term implications for LNG prices. It is therefore vital that we work together and not lose sight of the fact that LNG is a long-term business.”
Speaking on the “growing positive” role LNG will play in the global fuel mix, al-Mohannadi pointed out that the ‘voice of gas’ is increasingly being heard supporting the further penetration of natural gas in the energy supply mix.
“To help this vision along, we - as an industry - need to encourage the  implementation of both market  and  policy-focused  reforms that facilitate natural gas’ increased penetration. Both buyers and sellers need to work together to honour contractual commitments and to jointly influence and enhance the role of gas by providing appropriate support for initiatives promoted by governments and regulatory agencies,” he added.
The Gastech conference and exhibition is held approximately once every 18 months. This is RasGas’ 10th consecutive participation in the industry event. The country’s delegation at the prestigious event was led by Qatar Petroleum.