Letter from Qatar: Greater purpose and direction for LNG

The global gas industry is no longer on the backfoot, hesitantly justifying the value of its product, but has greater confidence in gas remaining a core part of the global energy mix for decades

The prevailing mood at the LNG2026 conference, held on 2–5 February in Doha, was one of renewed confidence—both in the gas industry’s sense of purpose and in its long-term direction. This marked a clear shift from the atmosphere at LNG2023 in Vancouver three years earlier, when the industry appeared uncertain about its priorities and future role. At that time, soaring energy prices—driven by Russia’s weaponisation of gas supplies to Europe and years of underinvestment—had pushed energy security to the forefront. Yet there was far less clarity about the durability of gas demand. Industry leaders stressed the urgent need for new supply, but there was greater doubt about how long that supply wo