OGEL Special Issue on "Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)" - Introduction
Article from: OGEL 4 (2017), in Editorial
Introduction
LNG can play a central role in ensuring the transition to more secure, clean and reliable energy supply by replacing fossil fuels, providing a flexible alternative to renewable energy production, and reducing the risk of energy dependence. International LNG markets are set for major change, with substantial new liquefaction capacity coming on stream in the period to 2020. Atlantic and Pacific basin markets react to price developments under the pressure of swing producers in the Persian Gulf leading to converging LNG prices globally, while more flexible patterns of trading, including spot transactions and short-term contracts, increase the liquidity and flexibility of the global LNG market.
It is against this background that addressing the legal parameters of LNG production and trading is of crucial importance for seizing the opportunity to create a more flexible and well-functioning global LNG market. This Special Issue aims precisely at addressing the most topical legal matters relating to LNG production and trading, covering a wide range of topics, from domestic regulations in LNG producing and consuming countries, to contracts for the trading of LNG and the disputes arising from the different types of contracts.