McKinsey Energy Insights: LNG oversupply to 2024

McKinsey Energy Insights (MEI), the data and analytics specialist that provides distinctive analysis, insight and support to the energy industry, predicts in its latest research that LNG oversupply could last until 2024. As a result, this could mean that few LNG projects will reach final investment decision (FID) in the next 12 to 18 months.

MEI’s research shows that the current global LNG supply glut is exacerbated by the 100 million tpy of new export terminal capacity currently under construction in the United States and Australia. Furthermore, by 2019 oversupply will peak at 60 million tpy.

MEI has modelled 10 upcoming LNG projects at FID stage – including Coral FLNG and Mozambique LNG – against its Energy Insights LNG cost curve.

James Walker, specialist at MEI said: “Our research shows that the current market oversupply is creating challenging conditions for operators hoping to take FID on projects in the near term. For these projects to be viable they would require an assumption of either a sustained high LNG price post-2024 or a cost optimisation strategy to reduce projected capital expenditures.

“Many projects will struggle to secure enough firm buyers in an oversupplied market. Even if projects do manage to progress to construction, the LNG supply will be hitting the market at a bad time.”

The research highlights that the market will remain oversupplied unless today’s low prices can stimulate a demand recovery. However, to date the demand response to the low LNG prices seen in the past two years has been limited.

The research was modelled using MEI’s Global Gas Model software, which provides clients with McKinsey’s global reach and local insights to develop their own view of the future.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/21062016/mckinsey-energy-insights-lng-oversupply-to-2024-3555/