Oman Said to Consider Importing LNG as Domestic Gas Use Surges - Bloomberg Business

Oman Said to Consider Importing LNG as Domestic Gas Use Surges - Bloomberg Business:



"Oman may start importing liquefied natural gas to meet surging domestic energy demand, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, a shift in trade that would make it the fourth Arab country in the oil-rich Persian Gulf to buy LNG.



Oman currently exports liquefied gas under long-term contracts to Spain and several Asian countries including Japan and South Korea. It’s now studying options to import LNG as well, to help generate power and for other uses, said the two people, who asked not to be identified because the plan isn’t public. Potential imports would arrive at the port of Sohar north of the capital city Muscat. Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas didn’t respond to calls for comment on Sunday.



LNG trade is expanding in the Middle East due to the growing regional use of electricity and the lack of cross-border pipelines for transporting natural gas. Combined imports of LNG by Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates increased 47 percent in 2014 from the previous year, according to the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers. Bahrain is building a receiving terminal for the fuel, while Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Pakistan also plan to buy LNG."



'via Blog this'