The Golden Pass LNG project
US LNG expansion bolsters Europe, but risks remain
The US continues to play an increasingly pivotal role in the LNG market, but short- and medium-term risks and uncertainties persist
The US is the world’s largest LNG exporter, and that liquefied gas has become a lifeline for Europe since the Ukraine invasion and the resulting slump in Russian pipeline flows. Europe has successfully and rapidly built up its regasification infrastructure, but risks persist for this coming heating season. And the US’ role in the LNG market will only grow in the coming years, although the exact pace of capacity expansion remains open to debate. "The US will max out its LNG export capacity this winter,” said Ira Joseph, senior research associate at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, speaking at the recent Petroleum Economist webcast, ‘US LNG ambitions reforging the glo
Also in this section
5 March 2026
Gas is a central pillar of Colombia’s energy system, but declining production poses a significant challenge, and LNG will be increasingly needed as a stopgap. A recent major offshore gas discovery offers hope, but policy improvements are also required, Camilo Morales, secretary general of Naturgas, the Colombian gas association, tells Petroleum Economist
4 March 2026
The continent’s inventories were already depleted before conflict erupted in the Middle East, causing prices to spike ahead of the crucial summer refilling season
4 March 2026
The US president has repeatedly promised to lower gasoline prices, but this ambition conflicts with his parallel aim to increase drilling and could be upended by his war against Iran
4 March 2026
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed following US-Israel strikes and Iran’s retaliatory escalation, Fujairah has become the region’s critical pressure release valve—and is now under serious threat
