Natural Gas: Recovery Beyond the Pandemic
A recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) entitled “Gas 2020: Analysing the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Global Natural Gas Markets” was published June 2020. The lengthy report emphasises supply, demand and trade. The report states:
“After a four percent drop in 2020, natural gas demand is expected to progressively recover in 2021 as consumption returns close to its pre-crisis level in mature markets, while emerging markets benefit from economic rebound and lower natural gas prices. The impact of the 2020 crisis is, however, expected to have repercussions on the medium-term growth potential, resulting in about 75 bcm of lost growth over the forecast period, 2019 to 2025. This forecast expects an average growth rate of 1.5 percent per year during this period.
The Asia Pacific region accounts for over half of incremental global gas consumption in the coming years, driven principally by the development of gas in China and India. While the prospects of natural gas remain strong for these two markets, the outlook is highly dependent on China’s and India’s future policy direction and recovery path in the post-crisis environment. In spite of the current economic headwinds and uncertainty, natural gas still benefits from strong policy support in both countries, with ongoing reforms to increase the role of gas in the energy mix. Future growth in the industry sector, which constitutes the main driver of incremental gas demand in both countries, will however highly depend on the pace of economic recovery, both for domestic and export markets for industrial goods.”
In a time of uncertainty, it is certain that natural gas will be of utmost importance in the near future. Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) will be key in the global energy recovery. However, geopolitics, infrastructure development, regulatory policies and investment will be very challenging.
The documentary film The Grand Energy Transition (The GET), released in 2012, is based on the book of the same name by Robert A. Hefner III, founder and owner of GHK Exploration, who pioneered deep and ultra-deep natural gas exploration, primarily in western Oklahoma. In the book, which Ted Turner deemed important enough to buy for members of Congress and Fortune CEOs, Hefner forecasts the continuing decline of coal and oil, and predicts the coming “age of energy gases.”
America’s abundant natural gas will serve as the major bridge to this new energy age, along with wind and solar power, to create a new, hydrogen-based economy. Academy award-winning producer Gray Frederickson, Mei Li Hefner and I served as producers.
Natural gas is an energy answer that is available today. We should definitely be putting it to use now. For years I have voiced my belief that natural gas reserves are critical to a strong U.S. economy and extremely important for America’s energy security. Natural gas is an abundant, clean fuel that has many domestic uses: from heating our homes to serving as an alternative to gasoline. It is the bridge fuel to our country’s energy sustainability. Future generations are depending on us to keep the American dream alive.
Mark A. Stansberry is chairman of the GTD Group, an award-winning author and Energy Advocate. Visit Facebook: National Energy Talk
