While LNG buying patterns have shifted toward shorter-term contracts, US LNG developers insist that a mixture of contract lengths will be needed both to meet buyers' changing needs and to secure commitments for investment in new liquefaction capacity. "The death of larger contracts has not happened," Cheniere Energy's vice president of strategy, Andrew Walker, told delegates at an industry event in Amsterdam last week. "What we're seeing is the market environment reacting to more short-term needs and market uncertainty." He added that many buyers are still not sure whether they will need long-term volumes (NGW Oct. 16' 17).
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