MENA – Could intra-regional gas trade be refocussed as a result of the ongoing global crises?
Over the last three decades, several studies have been conducted into the elusive development of regional or sub-regional natural gas networks to encourage gas trade within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. However, due to commercial and non-commercial factors, the trade of natural gas within the region or sub-regions remains either limited or non-existent. In the short to medium term, could the unprecedented multi-dimensional crisis situation of oil and gas price collapses combined with the highly damaging coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, lead MENA gas exporters to focus more on their domestic markets? With a gas demand/price meltdown in Europe and Asia, intra-regional gas sales could be interesting to consider.
