LNG in Europe 2016/2017: An Overview of LNG Import Terminals in Europe

Overview of LNG in Europe -

Gas is a key source of energy supply to Europe, and plays a fundamental role in Europe’s energy supply mix. Europe is a net importer of gas, which enters Europe in one of two ways: as natural gas which is transported via pipeline, or as liquefied natural gas (LNG) which is regasified in an LNG import (or regasification) terminal. This report provides an overview of the large-scale LNG import terminals in Europe today – existing, under construction and planned – and the services provided at Europe’s existing LNG import terminals.

Europe’s Role in the Global LNG Market: Today and in the Future -

In 2015 Europe regained its position as a viable and commercial market for global LNG. Following five years of decline in LNG imports to Europe between 2009 and 2014, Europe’s net imports of LNG increased by 15.8% in 2015 to 37.6 million tonnes – slightly above their level in 2005. Almost half of this increase (2.4 million tonnes) is attributable to the lower number of reloads at Europe’s LNG import terminals – particularly in Spain. Other factors contributing to the increase were a dramatic slowdown of demand for LNG in Asia, the convergence of European LNG prices and the Asian LNG spot price, increased regional demand, and declining levels of domestic production across Europe. While the surge in LNG imports continued in many of Europe’s LNG import terminals across the first half of 2016, European LNG demand began to lag across much of Europe in the second half of 2016 – with France and Spain being notable exceptions – as Europe turned to increased imports of piped gas. Notwithstanding this overall slowdown in LNG imports to Europe in the second half of 2016, LNG is widely tipped to become Europe’s choice of fuel over the coming years, with some forecasts that LNG imports into Europe may double from 2015 levels.