LNG Development Across Europe: Infrastructural and Regulatory Analysis

Abstract

In this paper a cross-section infrastructural and regulatory analysis of the European LNG sector is presented. The LNG chain is maintained as being a good tool to enlarge the number of natural gas exporters to Europe, adding in this way to competition and to the achievement of the targets of the liberalisation process, that is a decrease in price for final customers and security of supply. The main reason for this is to be identified in the minor specificity of the regasification plant related investment compared to pipeline transportation. As a matter of fact, as the infrastructural analysis will show, the construction of new LNG receiving terminals is likely to bring about an increase in the number of importers fostering competition among them and shrinking their margins among the value chain. In this context regulation is meant to play a key role in promoting investments without hindering competition. Nevertheless it is questionable whether LNG will be able to introduce competition beyond the European border (that is among producers) according to the forecasted supply and demand balance that is leading to a seller's market in the upstream sector. In this case a huger part of the rent would go to the exporters leaving minor scope for competition down the European border.

Keywords: Economics of regulation, gas utilities, tariffs

JEL Classification: L51, L95, Q48