McKinsey Energy Insights (MEI), the data and analytics specialist that provides insight to the global energy industry, has released itsNorth American Gas Outlook to 2030.
The company anticipates that demand for North American gas will grow steadily. However, the global LNG market will become oversupplied from 2021 to 2024, with no new North American projects required in that period.
MEI forecasts that demand for North American gas will increase at 2.9% p.a. until 2022 and grow at a slower pace of 1.3% p.a. afterwards. This will primarily be spurred by LNG exports which will account for 55% of overall growth in the period, in addition to shifting power generation and rising chemicals production. Mexico will continue to be another major contributor to this growth, with gas demand expected to increase by ~4 bcf/d by 2030, to fuel the country’s growing power and industrial sectors.
“In the near term, excess LNG capacity means buyers will have their pick of LNG suppliers…”
Yasmine Zhu, Senior Analyst at MEI
However, the addition of ~10 bcf/d LNG export capacity by 2021 means that the global LNG market will remain oversupplied until 2024. From 2025 onwards, MEI foresees a second wave of 6-7 bcf/d of LNG capacity needed online, encouraged by cost competitiveness of US LNG projects. As a result, it is unlikely that any new North American LNG projects will be required between 2021 and 2024, with current projects more than sufficient to meet demand.
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