Global gas consumption has doubled since 1990

DOHA


The first structural change in international gas markets included the shifting from a “managed era” dominated by state-owned oil and gas firms and large energy utilities. “In the 1990s and early 2000s, there has been integration of large international gas players (ExxonMobil for example). There are large electricity and gas groups, a focus on downstream integration and the emergence of spot sales and short-term transactions,” said Ouki.

Since 2004 or so, there has been increasing demand for gas even as there has been a tightening of gas supplies. “There has been a move away from gas trading to negotiated deals. There has been a shift in price expectations. Oil price increases have directly and indirectly had an impact on gas prices,” said Ouki.

Protectionism in the EU looms as there are proposals for tightening of electricity and gas regulations regarding supplies to the EU’s single energy market, said Ouki.

The Peninsula