The emergence of the US as a global LNG superpower
The US' meteoric rise as an exporter of the super-chilled fuel has redrawn the global energy map, with far-reaching implications
Less than a decade ago, the US was a net natural gas importer and sold hardly any gas overseas. But with the huge increase in US gas production—namely the meteoric rise of shale gas—along with the accompanying growth in LNG export terminal capacity, that narrative has been turned upside down. The US is now the world’s number-one supplier of the super-chilled fuel, has transformed the global LNG landscape and has the potential to redraw the global gas map indefinitely. The great shale gas rush The zero-to-hero story of US LNG exports begins with the huge technological breakthroughs in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in the mid-2000s, which were techniques that enabled access to,
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal






