Natural Gas Pricing Policies

Natural gas resembles oil in fulfilling a wide variety of uses as both a source of energy and a feedstock, but the proportion of world production that is traded internationally is very much lower, and insufficient for a world price of gas to be established. This book addresses the issues of how the economic price of gas is determined. These are illustrated with estimates of the costs of exploration and production of gas, and of the benefits to be derived from its use in various economic sectors for a number of Third World countries.

Natural gas pricing should be as critically important to the general public as it is to industry specialists. Pricing is the basis of balancing the interests of European and Asian consumers of power and electricity with those of the limited number of potential suppliers of natural gas. Given that natural gas is a foundational transition fuel source that will not be supplanted by renewals for many, many years, the consequences of market failure from incorrect pricing mechanisms could result in the industry missing the new investment cycle. In addressing the critical balancing role of natural gas pricing, ‘Foundations of Natural Gas Price Formation’ presents an in-depth analysis of the fundamentals of natural gas price formation and outlines the distinctive characteristics of natural gas that make it a unique commodity by examining the specific factors underpinning gas pricing that result in a hybrid pricing system special to natural gas. The book argues that the patrons of spot pricing through gas hubs are promoting an incorrect understanding of gas markets that will lead to market failure and to potential critical supply shortages in the near future. ‘Foundations of Natural Gas Price Formation’ defends the system of oil-indexed pricing as an accurate, market-based mechanism that has stood the test of time.