Welcome to the 16th issue of the Global Voice of Gas magazine, an International Gas Union publication, produced in collaboration with Natural Gas World (NGW).
This issue explores several wide-ranging components of the energy trilemma, the much discussed balancing of energy sustainability, affordability and security, which combined with the need for innovation within the industry, was a focus of the IGU’s recent International Gas Research Conference 2024 (IGRC2024) held in Banff in mid-May. Over three days, IGRC2024, with the theme Fuelling the Innovation Agenda, presented nine plenary sessions for more than 500 delegates from over 30 countries. [To Download, Scroll Down]

In this issue our regional reports shed light on the current gas agenda in the North and South American regions. The issue further includes a feature on how the two largest natural gas markets in South America, Argentina and Brazil, are pursuing policies to maximise the economic and social benefits their respective gas sectors, including enhancing affordability, security and sustainability.
Reflecting on the environmental issues facing global energy, this issue offers a review of how US LNG can tackle emissions in Europe and Asia by replacing coal used for power generation. In a recent report using bottom-up emissions measurements methodologies, the Berkley Research Group estimated that coal supply chains for European and Asian power generation produce more than twice the CO2 emissions compared to US LNG.
In the same vein, Dr. Graeme Bethune, chairman of EnergyQuest and adjunct professor at the Centre for Gas and Energy Transition Research at the University of Queensland in Australia, checks in with a commentary on the role of LNG in helping Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei to reach 2030 emissions reduction targets.
We also look at the state of LNG bunkering and LNG’s value as a low-carbon fuel for the shipping industry, with more than a third of the current order book for new build vessels targeting the use of LNG as fuel. We also examine an incredibly important benefit of small-scale LNG providing access to clean energy in areas that are far removed from centralised power grids.
Meanwhile in Europe, we look at how recent EU elections have drawn attention to the EU Green Deal. In the UK, we look at the role of natural gas in the overall power market.
In this issue we also take a deep dive recap of the IGU’s recent Wholesale Gas Price Survey report, which highlights cooling global natural gas prices.

We hope you enjoy this issue and find it useful and informative.