THE recent LNG World Shipping Ship/Shore Interface Conference Europe in London focused on financing, new markets and infrastructure.
This is a critical time for Liquefied Natural Gas because it appears that world shipping will depend on it for fuel because of environmental regulations. Low-sulphur oil blends, exhaust scrubbers are in the running, but LNG is one of the big three, reports London's LNG World Shipping.
Said London's CS LNG managing director Keith Bainbridge: 'Shipping is a key player. Shipping always delivers. As soon as anyone suggests there might be a shortage of ships, owners go out and build new ships and will do so in 2019.'
Said Norton Rose Fulbright partner Nick Prowse: 'The main LNG players are trying to create new gas markets. We have seen a surplus of LNG supply in the last few years. Now there are more long-term buyers, we may find the LNG sellers less keen to create new markets and invest in mid-stream and down-stream gas infrastructure.
'The takeaway is consolidation,' he said. 'Those industry players that are staking their future on gas are going big on gas. So, we have seen the BG/Shell merger and others and we are seeing a consolidation. This consolidation on the buy side will drive where projects will happen. We will see a much smaller number of key players going forward,' Mr Prowse said.
WORLD SHIPPING
This is a critical time for Liquefied Natural Gas because it appears that world shipping will depend on it for fuel because of environmental regulations. Low-sulphur oil blends, exhaust scrubbers are in the running, but LNG is one of the big three, reports London's LNG World Shipping.
Said London's CS LNG managing director Keith Bainbridge: 'Shipping is a key player. Shipping always delivers. As soon as anyone suggests there might be a shortage of ships, owners go out and build new ships and will do so in 2019.'
Said Norton Rose Fulbright partner Nick Prowse: 'The main LNG players are trying to create new gas markets. We have seen a surplus of LNG supply in the last few years. Now there are more long-term buyers, we may find the LNG sellers less keen to create new markets and invest in mid-stream and down-stream gas infrastructure.
'The takeaway is consolidation,' he said. 'Those industry players that are staking their future on gas are going big on gas. So, we have seen the BG/Shell merger and others and we are seeing a consolidation. This consolidation on the buy side will drive where projects will happen. We will see a much smaller number of key players going forward,' Mr Prowse said.
WORLD SHIPPING