Asian LNG buyers seek more flexible terms

Countries including Japan and India are venting their frustration at the hefty premiums and inflexible terms they face in the global liquefied natural gas market. While there are signs things are beginning to change, participants say any further shifts are likely to come gradually over time. By Gillian Carr

Politics and economics make uneasy bedfellows in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. On the eve of the LNG Producer-Consumer conference in Tokyo on September 10, representatives from the Japanese and Indian trade ministries circulated a statement supporting the formation of a multilateral joint study group on LNG. The group, which other big LNG importers could yet join, is intended to study and share information about the LNG market, the statement said. Specifically, Japan and India