Evergreen gas problem
After years of decline, the continent's demand is rising again, creating a new battlefield for exporters
The cold weather that enveloped much of Europe in January has set the tone for what energy suppliers and traders expect will be another improving year for energy demand across the continent. The strength of that recovery, though, depends largely on Europe's economic growth remaining steady. Several pitfalls could derail that hope. The freezing spell, which saw temperatures in southeast Europe fall to -9° Celsius, compared with a 10-year average of 1.5° C, immediately boosted demand for liquefied natural gas in Europe, which is battling Asia for supplies. Naturally, this pushed up spot prices. On France's southern hub they reached a record $11.40 per million British thermal units, according t
Also in this section
18 February 2026
With marketable supply unlikely to grow significantly and limited scope for pipeline imports, Brazil is expected to continue relying on LNG to cover supply shortfalls, Ieda Gomes, senior adviser of Brazilian thinktank FGV Energia,
tells Petroleum Economist
17 February 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 26–30 April 2026, will bring together leaders from the political, industrial, financial and technology sectors under the unifying theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All”
17 February 2026
Siemens Energy has been active in the Kingdom for nearly a century, evolving over that time from a project-based foreign supplier to a locally operating multi-national company with its own domestic supply chain and workforce
17 February 2026
Eni’s chief operating officer for global natural resources, Guido Brusco, takes stock of the company’s key achievements over the past year, and what differentiates its strategy from those of its peers in the LNG sector and beyond
