Beyond LNG?

摘要

Technological development is in the spotlight. The industry in general and the shipping industry in particular are subject to sustained pressure from the green lobby who want to see a concerted effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly over the coming decades. Currently the maritime industry's best hope in the short term has been the evolution of LNG as a fuel and the uptake of this fuel in certain regions is gathering pace, but LNG will not provide the answer to the industry's problems in the long term. The sharp decrease in the price of oil has exposed the gas industry to new and unexpected pressures as demand for gas has tumbled in the face of crude oil's travails. Whether the reduction in oil price is the result of the slow-down in global economic activity or coordinated efforts by producers to limit investment in the fledgling shale gas industry, thereby nipping the budding competition, the effect is already being felt as shale gas rigs are shut down in North America.