The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) has highlighted Qatar’s pivotal role in shaping the future of the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. Dr. Philip Mshelbila, secretary-general of the GECF, emphasized Qatar’s contributions during remarks made on the sidelines of the forum’s 8th Summit of Heads of State and Government, which took place in Moscow, Russia.
Mshelbila underscored Qatar’s strategic importance in enhancing global energy supply security, noting its active participation in the summit and its ongoing support as the host country for the organization’s headquarters. According to Mshelbila, meeting the anticipated rise in global natural gas demand will require an estimated $12 trillion in investment over the next 30 years. Demand is expected to increase by 31%, further solidifying natural gas’s significant role in the global energy mix and its contribution to the development needs of emerging economies.
Highlighting the challenges ahead, Mshelbila pointed out that around 80% of gas production three decades from now will have to come from new sources and projects due to the natural decline of existing fields. This projection places a premium on investments in resource development and energy infrastructure to ensure continued supply stability.
The GECF forecasts global gas demand to reach approximately 5.417 trillion cubic meters by 2055, with natural gas’s share of primary energy rising to 26%. The growth is expected to be led primarily by the Asia-Pacific region, accounting for about 43% of the increase, followed by the Middle East with 23%. Mshelbila stressed the evolving role of natural gas in the global energy system, describing it not only as a transitional fuel but as a long-term element essential for supporting renewable energy expansion and meeting the increasing power needs of data centers and artificial intelligence technologies.
In addition to supply and demand considerations, Mshelbila emphasized the need to advance technologies focused on reducing emissions and developing carbon capture solutions. He also advocated for strengthened dialogue and cooperation between gas-producing and consuming countries, particularly in light of the ongoing uncertainties affecting global energy markets.