• Shell to prioritize LNG as core energy focus for next decade
• Global LNG demand forecast to rise 60% by 2040, Shell says
• Company plans 12M-ton capacity boost via projects in Canada, Qatar

Anglo-Dutch multinational Shell plans to place Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at the core of its energy strategy for the coming decade, a decision the company justifies by its long-term forecast for global energy demand.

Speaking at the Economic Club of New York on Tuesday, Shell CEO Wael Sawan affirmed that LNG will be "Shell's single biggest contribution to the energy industry" over the next 10 years.

The company anticipates global LNG demand will grow by nearly 60% over the next 15 years, according to its Shell LNG Outlook 2025, published in February 2025.

Industry data supports the strong growth trend. The International Gas Union's (IGU) World LNG Report 2025 showed global LNG trade reached 411.24 million tons in 2024, marking a 2.4% increase from 2023.

Shell estimates that LNG currently accounts for approximately 13% of global natural gas trade. Driven by projected growth, this share could reach 20% by 2040, the company predicts.

In response to this outlook, Shell plans to add up to 12 million tons of additional LNG capacity by 2030 from projects already under development. These projects target key regions including Canada with the LNG Canada project in British Columbia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Nigeria.

Globally, Shell forecasts that over 170 million tons of additional capacity will come online by 2030, primarily driven by projects in the United States and Qatar.

Abdel-Latif Boureima