Taking the lead

摘要

For years,the middle east has punched below its weight in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export industry.Despite holding nearly 41% of the world's proved gas reserves - estimated by BP at 71.72 trillion cubic metres at end-2003 - the region accounted for only a fifth of world LNG trade last year,shipping out 35.51bn cm from Oman,Qatar and Abu Dhabi.