NGI’s Hub & Flow

NGI’s Christopher Lenton, senior editor for Mexico & Latin America, sits down with one of the leading voices in Mexico's energy sector and the former head of Comisión Reguladora de Energía, Guillermo García Alcocer. The two discuss what could be on the horizon as Claudia Sheinbaum takes the presidential office in Mexico on Oct. 1, including potential shifts in Mexico’s energy regulatory bodies. In addition, with the Sheinbaum administration’s plans for transitioning Mexico’s electric generation mix coming to a head with rising energy demand, García Alcocer explains what could be required of both domestic natural gas supplies as well as U.S. imports. How could Mexico’s electricity, exploration and production, and LNG sectors be impacted by nearshoring? How could Mexico’s relationship with the United States be impacted as the two work to build their economies?

With natural gas prices having hovered around $2/MMBtu through much of 2024, NGI’s Pat Rau, senior vice president for Research & Analysis, delves into what may happen with producer activity moving into next year. Publicly traded producers have been on a tight leash the last five years in terms of production growth, he notes. With new LNG export capacity around the corner, however, publicly traded Lower 48 exploration and production (E&P) firms may push annual gas production above 5% year/year growth in 2025. Rau highlights other key developments at the end of 2024, particularly for Permian Basin E&Ps.  Meanwhile, as discussions on artificial intelligence-driven data centers turned the tide on estimates for peak natural gas-fired generation earlier this year, Rau covers the latest prognostications for the emerging demand source.

From rising costs, construction delays and an increasing number of regulatory hurdles, U.S. LNG projects have seen a bevy of challenges this year, but how impactful really are the new obstacles? Baker Botts' Jason Bennett, department chair of global projects and co-chair of energy, discusses the near-term global natural gas market dynamics and domestic policies shaping the development of U.S. liquefied natural gas export capacity with NGI's Senior LNG Editor Jacob Dick.    Despite rising complications, there is still strong demand for LNG, according to Bennett. One way or another, buyers will seek to fill LNG demand – and the U.S. natural gas market remains a strong supplier.

Susan Sakmar, a visiting law professor at the University of Houston Law Center and board member at Flex LNG Ltd., discusses the turbulent state of the global LNG market. She delves into the impact of geopolitical tensions and supply security as winter approaches. The conversation highlights key events shaping the market, like recent legal challenges to Texas LNG projects. Sakmar and the host also explore the transition toward a more liquid market in Europe and how US exports are influencing pricing dynamics amid legal and environmental hurdles.

Halfway through the summer, U.S. natural gas prices have struggled to gain momentum. NGI's team of markets reporters discuss the supply and demand factors at play in the market, and where natural gas prices may be heading into the winter and beyond.

Poten & Partners LNG industry analyst Sergio Chapa sits down with NGI’s Christopher Lenton, senior editor for Mexico & Latin America, to survey the current North American liquefied natural gas industry scene. They talk through the impacts of former Hurricane Beryl on Gulf Coast infrastructure. Chapa and Lenton also discuss the state of the Biden administration’s pause on U.S.-based LNG export projects and the implications for international competitors. Has the pause given impetus to other projects? How are Mexico LNG projects advancing in the wake of the regulatory back-and-forth?

CEO Amy Andryszak of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America sits down with NGI's Carolyn Davis, managing editor of News, to share the opportunities and the concerns ahead for natural gas operators. Natural gas consumption is tracking higher, with industrial, commercial and residential use growing. Data centers are on the radar, as are expanded LNG exports. The question is, can natural gas pipeline capacity keep pace in light of the regulatory hurdles operators have to jump?

Join NGI's Patrick Rau, senior vice president of Research & Analysis, for his quarterly review of North American natural gas earnings calls as he discusses the possibility of EQT Corp. reversing output cuts. Other factors are expected to influence markets at the start of summer, including a slowdown in merger and acquisition approvals. Plus, the latest on data center opportunities and updates on Canada and Mexico.

Mexicans head to the polls this weekend in the biggest election in the country's history, with over 20,000 positions up for grabs and the near certainty that citizens will elect Mexico’s first female president. Claudia Sheinbaum of the establishment Morena party is the favorite against opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez. Each offers a distinct vision for the country's future. In this episode of Hub & Flow, NGI’s senior editor for Mexico and Latin America, Christopher Lenton, chats with natural gas expert Eduardo Prud'homme on both candidates' main policy positions. They also get into the energy deficits in Mexico, U.S.-Mexico natural gas trade, and what the country’s gas market could look like under the potential future administrations, along with a lot more.

Carson Kearl, lead analyst for Enverus Intelligence Research, discusses the projected energy usage and growth of data centers, emphasizing the role of natural gas. The conversation covers challenges and investments needed for expanding data center capacity, opportunities and obstacles for utilities, AI technologies in data centers, and collaboration for energy generation advancements.