Could North American LNG Construction Headwinds Impact Natural Gas Prices and Outlook?

An increasing number of construction-related issues at major LNG projects this year has kept a demand-hungry natural gas market wary of delays, but analysts say price and production forecasts remain mostly intact – so far.

Nine North American liquefied natural gas export projects are inching along on varying construction schedules at the same time. Two major projects, Golden Pass LNG and Plaquemines LNG, expect to initiate start-up activities as early as the end of this year, creating a critical question mark in production and price forecasts.

“Golden Pass and Plaquemines should add either side of 5 Bcf/d of natural gas feed gas demand when both facilities are fully functional,” NGI’s Pat Rau, senior vice president of Research & Analysis, said. “That’s roughly 5% of current Lower 48 dry gas production.”