The Australian: Australian gas producers warned over US export threat

The former associate deputy secretary of the US Department of Energy, Randa Fahmy Hudome, has warned Australian gas producers that the US is emerging as a competitive threat in the gas export market, and that Australia risks losing out significant future revenue streams if it fails to develop its resources to their potential.

Ms Fahmy Hudome, speaking at the Australian Domestic Gas conference yesterday, said the US viewed Asia as its biggest market and it was increasing LNG export approvals to fill future demand from that region.

"We are looking carefully at Australia's ongoing LNG projects -- are they too big, cost prohibitive? And what kind of policies will your government implement? Will they help, or will they hinder your production?" she said.

"In Australia you have a saying, 'no worries mate', well I would say 'be worried mate' because the US is coming at you full steam ahead, and I say let's have a healthy competition on this going into 2020."

The energy expert outlined that in the US both sides of politics were supportive of providing a framework to expedite natural gas development and to capture the increasing export market.

"We have a very helpful regulatory environment," she said. MORE

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