The recent lifting of the moratorium on Qatar’s North Field and the strategic goal to raise liquefaction capacity by almost 30% to reach 100 mega tonnes per annum is the right answer for the country to compete in global gas markets, HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah has said. 
The chairman of The Al-Attiyah Foundation was addressing a strategic roundtable discussion at The Centre for Global Energy Policy (CGEP), the research centre within the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University, New York, on Thursday.
“This new objective is essential to ensure the sustainability of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in the long term. With this new target, Qatar would retain its position as the largest LNG producer in the world,” HE al-Attiyah said. 
World renowned experts, including Jason Bordoff, a former special assistant to President Obama for Energy and Climate Change, a professor of professional practice in international and public affairs and founding director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University; and Charif Souki, chairman of Tellurian Inc, joined HE al-Attiyah to discuss global gas market developments; the influence of geopolitics; and the future for gas. 
The main objective of the roundtable was to facilitate open exchange of thoughts between the different participants in a closed-door setting. The group began their in-depth discussions during a welcome dinner at the University on Wednesday, and continued the dialogue in a more formal setting the following day.
The conversation was a great opportunity for HE al-Attiyah to share his insights on the future of gas in Qatar, LNG export opportunities and the country’s adaptation to the new competitive gas landscape. 
“Global natural gas demand is not growing at the same pace it used to, it has slowed to a pace of around 1.5% since 2010, whereas global LNG production capacity will increase by 100mn tonnes to reach 350mn tonnes per annum in a few years’ time,” HE al-Attiyah highlighted.
The majority of Qatar’s natural gas is located in the huge offshore North Field, which spans an area roughly equivalent to that of Qatar itself, he pointed out.
Regarding the impact on other LNG projects worldwide, HE al-Attiyah emphasised that Qatar’s gas resources enjoy a competitive cost base which is passed to customers; thus making Qatar’s gas very attractive for many importers.
Referring to the current geopolitical circumstances in the Gulf region, he clarified that it was not initiated by Qatar. Any exit scenario should be obtained through thorough dialogue between the countries involved and should not overlook the interest of any party at the expense of the other. However, energy security will of course remain very high on the agenda for every country.
HE al-Attiyah concluded by noting that the competition in global gas markets is set to intensify in coming years, and that a zero-sum competition should be avoided, as it is not in the interests any stakeholder.
SIPA was founded in 1946 to foster understanding of regions of vital interest and to prepare diplomats, officials and other professionals to meet the complexities of the post-war world.




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