CHALLENGES OF CHINA'S AND INDIA'S EMERGING GAS MARKETS

摘要

During the last five years, there has been a lot of interest in the economic potential of China and India's emerging gas markets and their potential to become large LNG import markets. As a result, more than a dozen LNG import projects were planned in each country. But so far, fewer than ten projects have been developed or are being developed in both countries.rnThe paper focuses on the challenges of supplying LNG to China and India's emerging gas markets. These markets are presently characterised by relatively low/subsidised fuel and feedstock prices; financial constraints and affordability issues; a relatively limited gas infrastructure; coal's dominant position; and a lack of adequate gas policy/regulation.rnThe paper reviews the gas market situation; identifies the barriers to surmount to develop a sustainable gas market; and outlines how potential LNG supplies to China and India may evolve in an international LNG market presently focused on the high-priced opportunities offered by mature and liberalized gas markets in the Atlantic Basin and the Asia-Pacific region.