Qatar is set to become a dominant force in the supply of LNG into a fast growing global market, Pricewaterhouse-Coopers said.

The LNG market is expected to nearly double in size between 2005 and 2010, accounting for about 40 per cent of global gas growth, the company said in a report on the sector.
Rapid expansions in Qatar are set to establish it as the top producer with exports forecast to grow between 2005 and 2015 to 115 billion cubic metres of LNG a year, up from 27.1 billion in 2005.
“The expected increased capacity in Qatar is spectacular, accounting for two thirds of the increase in LNG exports between 2005 and 2015,” PWC said.
LNG supply growth is also expected to come from Nigeria, which is forecast to boost annual output to 33.7 billion cubic metres, up from 12 billion, between 2005 and 2015 and Australia, is set to jump to 26.4 billion cubic metres from 14.8 billion.
Over the same period annual imports into the US are expected to rise to 75 billion cubic metres from 17.9 billion, while China’s imports are forecast to climb to 12 billion from nothing.
PWC says the market for LNG is becoming increasingly globalised with the entry of new countries bringing greater volume and dynamism to the market.
While there is no global uniform price for LNG, PWC said the regional nature of the trade is breaking down and the Henry Hub price in the US is emerging as a global benchmark.
“Provided the US can continue to attract LNG volumes, LNG purchasers elsewhere increasingly need to demonstrate that their market is an attractive market compared with the US,” PWC said.