Natural Gas Imports Research Articles

ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ЕНЕРГОЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ ЕКОНОМІКИ: МОЖЛИВОСТІ ІМПЛЕМЕНТАЦІЇ ЗАРУБІЖНОГО ДОСВІДУ

The author’s definition of energy efficiency of the economy has been proposed in the article. The main indicators of energy efficiency, which determine the rating of Ukraine among other countries of the world, have been analyzed. It is emphasized that the introduction of martial law in Ukraine and the full-scale war significantly affected the energy efficiency of Ukraine’s economy due to the destruction of many energy infrastructure facilities. Attention is focused on the need to organize a systematic and standardized increase in the efficiency of the use of energy resources in domestic production systems. Based on the use of statistical information of the World Economic Forum, the indicators of energy saving efficiency of the countries of the world and their rating have been given. The foreign experience of using modern smart technologies and the main tools for ensuring energy efficiency of the economy have been studied. The authors stress that energy efficiency contributes to the reduction of energy consumption. The growing world population and rapid economic growth lead to increased energy consumption. However, many countries face challenges related to limited resources and growing energy dependence. Energy efficiency can help reduce dependence on energy imports and provide a more sustainable and efficient economy. The expediency of implementing modern technologies and tools of ensuring energy efficiency as a factor in the future revival and development of the economy of Ukraine has been proven. It has been substantiated that in modern conditions, Ukraine needs to change the policy of energy consumption and energy supply as soon as possible, maximizing the consumption of fuel and energy resources, which the country is rich in (coal, nuclear fuel, renewable sources), and accordingly reducing the consumption and import of natural gas - the most expensive and scarce resource. It is noted that in order to ensure the energy efficiency of residential construction, it is necessary to lay down energy-saving technologies and new energy-saving methods at the design stage. The introduction of martial law and full-scale war significantly affected the energy efficiency of Ukraine’s economy due to the destruction of many energy infrastructure facilities. A decrease in energy efficiency can have serious consequences for the country’s economy, in particular, an increase in the cost of energy resources, a decrease in the competitiveness of enterprises, and a threat to the stability of electricity supply to the population and industry. The destruction of energy infrastructure facilities, such as power plants, transformer substations, gas pipelines and oil pipelines, can lead to a decrease in energy production capacity and a deterioration in the quality of supply. This can cause problems with electricity supply, heating, education, maintenance of industrial enterprises and infrastructure. In connection with the explosion by the russian occupiers of the Kakhovskaya HPP, the Ministry of Energy initiates the decision to increase electricity imports from the EU to 2 GW. On the other hand, military actions on the territory of Ukraine may lead to a decrease in investments in the field of energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources, priority is given to military needs and the restoration of damaged infrastructure.

Transmission Mechanism and Extreme Time-Varying Spillover Effects between China and International Gas Markets

This study uses the quantile connectedness model to study the transmission mechanism between China and the international natural gas market from August 2017 to February 2024. The time-varying spillover effects under extreme market conditions. The empirical results emphasize the following key points: (a) China mainly acts as an information receiver in the overall market. (b) The spillover effect of the European natural gas market is significantly stronger during the extreme downturn, indicating that the spillover effect is asymmetric. (c) The natural gas futures market plays a central role in market dynamics that affect upward return shocks. (d) System connectivity is highly sensitive to market conditions and increases significantly under extreme market conditions. According to the research results, we should make more efforts to promote the liberalization and marketization of the domestic natural gas market, and strive to improve the bargaining power in the international market to reduce the import premium level. Improve energy efficiency and reduce China ’s dependence on natural gas imports; from the perspective of the global natural gas market, risk contagion between markets should be alleviated under different market conditions and a differentiated risk early warning mechanism should be established.

Increasing impacts of China's oil and gas demands on global CH4 emissions

The energy sector stands out as a main contributor to increasing global methane (CH4) emissions. Given China's heavy dependence on energy imports, a closer examination of its oil and gas-related CH4 emissions becomes imperative. This study conducts an in-depth analysis of China's contribution to global CH4 emissions stemming from its consumption of crude oil and natural gas since 2000. The results indicate that CH4 emissions from crude oil and natural gas imports rose from 614 Gg in 2000 to 7692 Gg in 2019. When considering domestic production, the demand-induced CH4 emissions in 2019 increased to approximately 10754 Gg (equivalent to 320 Mt CO2-eq and 887 Mt CO2-eq based on global warming potential (GWP) values at the 100-year and 20-year time period), of which 72 % were related to crude oil and natural gas imports. The primary contributor to this increase in CH4 emissions was the expansion of the trade scale. The growth trend of crude oil imports-induced CH4 emissions was also positively influenced by emission intensity and trade structure, but these two drivers had a negative impact on the growth of natural gas imports-induced CH4 emissions. The virtual transfer of CH4 emissions via international oil and gas trade requires urgent policy attention. In collaboration with its trading partners, China should take aggressive actions to achieve meaningful mitigation in CH4 emissions associated with the oil and gas trade.

Assessing fossil energy supply security in China using ecological network analysis from a supply chain perspective

Fossil energy plays a critical role as a global energy source, underscoring the utmost importance of ensuring its supply security. As a prominent global energy consumer, China possesses vast coal resources; however, it heavily depends on oil and natural gas imports. Given the formidable challenges posed by environmental constraints and resource scarcity, investigating the security of China's fossil energy supply emerges as a pivotal research concern. This study adopts an innovative energy supply chain perspective, dividing the energy supply system into distinct links, including upstream energy supply, midstream energy conversion, and downstream energy consumption. Through ecological network analysis, the safety levels of China's coal, oil, and gas supply systems were meticulously assessed, considering network structure, sustainability, and network utility. The research findings indicated a relatively stable security level for China's fossil energy supply system during the period from 2010 to 2020, focusing on key aspects such as coal processing and conversion, oil inventory, and foreign-sourced natural gas supply. Moreover, scenario analysis results offer valuable insights and recommendations to bolster the security of China's fossil energy supply. The application of the ecological network model as a comprehensive assessment tool provides a fresh approach to evaluating the energy security of countries from the perspective of energy supply chains.

The impact of energy imports on green innovation in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war

This research paper examines the implications of energy imports on green innovation within the context of the Russia-Ukraine war. It utilizes panel data spanning EU countries from 1999 to 2022. Initially, the study explores the influence of natural gas and oil imports on the advancement of green innovation. Specifically, it reveals that the importation of natural gas facilitates progress in this area, whereas the importation of oil can impede such advancement. Following the Russia-Ukraine war, the role of gas imports in fostering green innovation within EU countries has grown, simultaneously exacerbating the adverse effects of oil imports on green innovation. Secondly, by employing a panel threshold model, the study identifies that higher energy prices make natural gas and oil imports unfavorable for the progress of green innovation in EU nations. Thirdly, an analysis of heterogeneity demonstrates that, as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, natural gas imports have a more significant detrimental effect on the development of green innovation in EU nations with a natural gas dependency ranging from 10% to 90%. In the case of oil imports, EU nations with a dependence on Russian oil exceeding 50% experience a more pronounced negative impact on the development of green innovation. Fourthly, a mechanistic study elucidates that natural gas imports indirectly stimulate green innovation through the mechanism of energy transition, while oil imports hinder the development of green innovation by exacerbating carbon emissions. The empirical findings of this paper carry substantial policy implications for EU nations, urging the acceleration of energy transition in response to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on green innovation. Moreover, these findings have broader implications for global environmental management and the collective endeavor to combat climate change.

The theoretical approach of the solar organic Rankine cycle integrated with phase change material for the Hungarian region

AbstractHungary is not only dependent on imports of natural gas and fossil fuels, but Hungary is also the lowest in renewable energy utilization; otherwise, only 11.3% compared to other Central European countries in renewable energy utilization, above 13%. The percentage of renewables in power generation quadrupled from 8% to 16% between 2010 and 2020, with most of the gains coming from the rapid expansion of solar energy, particularly after 2016. Regarding solar energy resource potential, Hungary has a daily total of around 3.2–3.6 kWh/m2 and a yearly total of about 1168–1314 kW.h/m2. This makes it a suitable location for putting solar thermal collectors in conjunction with an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system. In this study, the authors analyzed solar thermal as a heat source to generate electricity with ORC using two types of working fluids (R245fa and R123). Hungary's weather data for a whole year is used as primary data to look for solar radiation characteristics and ambient temperature. Based on the general solar collector equation, the parabolic tube collector was selected as the best solar collector to utilize solar radiation by producing a maximum heat of around 654.68 kW. Therefore, the evacuated flat plate collector was selected as the solar collector that can produce the maximum outlet temperature of around 372.15 K with a similar size aperture area. Producing a temperature output from the solar collector for heat transfer in the ORC system and from the performance showed that R245fa resulted in better Wnet performance compared with R123 with values of 45.82 and 28.17 kW, respectively, under the same solar collector. Meanwhile, the material suitable for the thermal energy storage‐evaporator combination is organic phase change material using N‐Octacosane, which in the same temperature range (350–375 K) has the smallest ζ(T) value (1.08–1.103), so the mass required for the system is very efficient.

Influence of LNG supply on gas market flexibility: Croatia case study

The analysis of natural gas consumption trends shows that gas consumption in Croatia is extremely seasonal, with high fluctuations during peak consumption. The objective of the research was to show the importance of each part of the system in providing flexibility. By analyzing the movement of gas flow, data was obtained on the contribution of each part of the system to the overall flexibility. The flexibility factor of natural gas imports at interconnection points, based on flexible supply contracts, was negative due to higher imports in the summer months. Additionally, production has been steadily declining, so this source of flexibility has less opportunity to provide a significant amount of flexibility. The LNG terminal as a new gas import point into the system, has not yet been considered a possible source of flexibility. The LNG volumes from the new terminal were analyzed using an analogous methodology. The results of the research showed the analysis of the flexibility of each segment of the gas system and the movement of flexibility before and after the introduction of LNG into the market. Finally, the novelty of this research could be described as the definition of flexibility calculations for each part of the natural gas system.

Role of biomethane to offset natural gas

The use of biomethane, produced through anaerobic digestion of organic waste, holds promise as an energy source for mitigating climate change. This study quantifies the technical potential of biomethane, considering neither socio-economic nor political constraints, and then compares it to worldwide natural gas use and imports. Furthermore, it calculates the potential emission reduction achieved by substituting natural gas with biomethane. We find that biomethane can offset 29% of natural gas use and two-thirds of natural gas net-imports worldwide. Considering the European energy crisis arising from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, we analyze the potential for each European country to generate enough biomethane to decrease their reliance on imported Russian natural gas. Our estimates indicate that almost one-third of European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Romania, Greece, Sweden, and Portugal, have the potential to completely replace their natural gas imports from Russia by utilizing domestic biomethane production. Our study also evaluates how biomethane can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by substituting fossil natural gas, while considering methane leaks in both biomethane and natural gas supply chains and carbon emissions from fossil natural gas combustion. Our results indicate that replacing fossil natural gas with biomethane will decrease emissions from natural gas systems by 11%, equivalent to 1.1 Gt CO2-eq per year. These findings illustrate the potential of biomethane in reducing our dependence on fossil natural gas and mitigating its emissions.

Europe's energy crisis: Are geopolitical risks in source countries of fossil fuels accelerating the transition to renewable energy?

This paper provides first empirical evidence on the effect of geopolitical risks in fossil fuel supplier countries on renewable energy diffusion in fossil fuel importing countries and the mediating roles of rising electricity prices and high import dependence. For this end, aggregate measures of geopolitical risk that countries are exposed to through fossil fuel imports are determined. This is done by combining detailed data on bilateral trade patterns for coal, oil, and natural gas of 37 countries in Europe with that on geopolitical risks in supplier countries. Using an instrumental variable approach, the study reveals that geopolitical risks in supplier countries tended to foster renewable energy diffusion in Europe during the period 1991–2021. The effects are especially pronounced for geopolitical risks related to coal and natural gas imports, while the importance of risks related to particular fossil fuels differed for the build-up of the individual renewable energies, i.e. wind, solar, and biomass. Rising electricity prices and high import dependence, particularly for coal, partially amplified the effects on renewable energy diffusion. Despite the high import dependence, natural gas appears to have played in part a role as a bridging technology for energy transition.

The Impact of the 2020–2022 Crises on EU Countries’ Independence from Energy Imports, Particularly from Russia

The main objective of this article is to evaluate the repercussions of the crises resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine on changes to the European Union’s reliance on energy raw material imports, particularly from Russia. Furthermore, several specific objectives are outlined: to ascertain the EU’s energy balance and any alterations therein, to identify changes in the concentration of energy raw material imports among EU countries during the crises, to determine the level and fluctuations in energy raw material import dependence within the EU and individual member states throughout the crises, and lastly, to assess changes in the concentration of energy raw material imports from Russia in EU countries during the crises. The research encompassed all 27 EU member states as of 31 December 2022, and the examination period spanned 2010 to 2022. The information sources include relevant literature on the subject and data sourced from Eurostat. In conducting the analysis and presenting the data, several methodologies are employed, including descriptive, tabular, and graphical techniques. Additionally, quantitative measures such as the Gini structure concentration coefficient and concentration analysis via the Lorenz curve are utilized. In the initial phase, an analysis of changes to the energy balance of the entire EU in the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine was carried out. Changes to the concentration of energy imports in EU countries during crises are also shown. Secondly, dependence on imports of individual energy resources for the entire EU was identified. Various changes in this relationship during crises are shown. If the dependence of the entire EU on the import of individual groups of energy resources from Russia were identified, changes in individual EU countries in this respect are indicated. Finally, the changes in the concentration of energy imports from Russia in the EU countries during the crises are shown. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU experienced a slight reduction in dependence on energy raw material imports. However, this reduction was short-lived and mainly attributed to the decrease in energy demand caused by the pandemic. Conversely, the war in Ukraine had a substantial impact, leading to a notable surge in energy raw material imports as a result of stockpiling efforts and the need to safeguard against further disruptions in the energy market. Notably, the EU’s reliance on energy imports from Russia was already considerable. Following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, imports of oil, petroleum products, and solid fossil fuels experienced significant decline due to imposed sanctions. Nonetheless, restrictions on natural gas imports were comparatively less severe. In 2023, imports of crude oil instead of petroleum products practically ceased, while restrictions in the case of natural gas were not so drastic.

Trade Relations in the European Gas Market Before and after the Russo-Ukrainian War: From a Game Theory Perspective

Europe is increasingly dependent on Russian natural gas imports. As Ukraine is the main transit country for gas trade between the two sides, the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which started in 2014 and has not stopped yet, has led to Europe's gas trade with Russia receiving an impact. Due to the importance of natural gas and the fact that this war was the largest in Europe since World War II, the trade relations between the European and Russian natural gas markets before and after the Russo-Ukrainian war and the diversification of natural gas in Europe have been studied by many scholars. This paper uses a review to summarize and sort out the relevant literature based on game theory to study the gas market trade relations in Europe before and after the Russo-Ukrainian War. According to these scholars, the trade relations between Russia and Europe in the gas market will continue to cooperate despite the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian war. The interruption of gas exports to Ukraine and the construction of pipelines bypassing Ukraine are acceptable to Russia and Europe. Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iraq, along with the United States, should actively invest in expanding their gas export capacity to have the opportunity to serve as an alternative to Russian gas and make Europe less dependent on Russian gas imports. This paper provides an understanding of the implications of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict for the world in terms of gas trade. This paper provides a reference for related studies, and to understand the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict on the world from the perspective of the gas trade.

Europe: Well-positioned to get through next winter without major gas shortages

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 and resulting international sanctions, natural gas imports from Russia to Europe declined drastically to well below their historical averages. This reduction raised concerns about Europe’s energy supply, given its dependence on Russian gas.

GEORGIA’S ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

Every country wants to be energy independent. It is quite diffi cult to achieve or someƟ mes prac-Ɵ cally impossible. Georgia has declared its desire to have energy independence so that external poliƟ cal or eco-nomic factors will have less infl uence on the country's domesƟ c markets. Georgia was able to open up the energy trains of Russia as much as possible. Therefore, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine had less impact on Georgia compared to other European states. Achieving energy independence requires developing a well-thought-out plan and successfully achieving the milestones outlined in that plan. Georgia does not import electricity more than 8-10% each year, but thermal power plants that use natural gas as the main resource generate about 20-25% of electricity. Therefore, there is necessary to import natural gas from neighbouring countries for electricity generaƟ on. Today, there is a need to use renewable and abundant hydro resources, for which state support and appropriate measures are required.

The Demand for Energy Imports from Non-Renewable Resources in EU-27 Economy

Energy imports and the transition to renewable energy sources are of critical importance in the current geopolitical context, which necessitates concrete actions to tackle the energy crisis at the European Union level. This study aimed to explore the impact of imported non-renewable energy resources on the EU-27 economy. It examined the correlations and causal relationships between the GDP, the GVA, R&D investments, and energy imports from 2000 to 2021. Data normality was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, while Pearson’s test identified correlations between variables. Linear and multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the effects of changes in independent variables on dependent variables. The study found a strong association between natural gas imports and the GDP, with increases in GDP leading to a more-than-fourfold rise in imports. Furthermore, a multiple regression analysis indicated that a 1% increase in R&D investments results in a 2.21% decrease in fossil fuel imports in 91.7% of cases. This suggests that R&D investments contribute to improved efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.

Consideration of liquefied natural gas as an alternative source of gas supply to Ukraine

The object of research is the energy sector of Ukraine, specifically the gas supply system of the national economy. One of the most problematic places is the dependence of the Ukrainian economy on the import of natural gas (NG). Ukraine is rich in various natural resources, in particular, in natural and associated gas. However, own wells for NG extraction are not enough for gas supply to industrial enterprises and the population. Therefore, part of the necessary gas is imported. In the course of the study, methods of alternative supplies were analyzed, namely, liquefied natural gas (LNG), options for its supply with subsequent regasification were analyzed. The global market for liquefied natural gas (LNG) was studied and it was shown that the production and consumption of LNG is constantly increasing. Since Ukraine is part of Europe, and the main suppliers of LNG for European countries are the USA and Norway, one of the options for gas supply for Ukraine considered the supply of LNG to the territory of Poland by sea transport, its regasification and subsequent transportation to consumers through existing pipelines. The second option is the supply of LNG to the Ukrainian coast of the Black Sea. To do this, it is necessary to study prospective transportation routes, build logistics and terminals for receiving and regasifying LNG. Since the depth of the channels from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea is small, the option of supplying natural gas from Central Asia by pipeline to the Black Sea coast of Georgia, its liquefaction, transportation by sea and regasification is proposed. This option requires significant capital expenditures for the construction of a natural gas liquefaction plant on the territory of Georgia and a regasification complex on the Ukrainian coast or a floating terminal. In the course of the work, LNG quality criteria used in the world were studied, and it was noted that for the purchase and use of LNG in Ukraine, it is necessary to develop own standards for controlling its composition. Because the technology of providing the consumer with natural gas using LNG is more flexible than pipeline transport. Its implementation will make it possible to provide Ukraine with natural gas in the required quantities and, if necessary, to promptly change the volume of deliveries.

A baseline long term technoeconomic electricity supply model for highly regulated fuel importing countries prone to shortages: Case of Jordan

Jordan, like other fuel-importing countries, is highly susceptible to fuel shortages and price fluctuations due to global events. Political turmoil in the region has frequently disrupted Jordan's energy supply, including the recent cessation of natural gas imports from Egypt, which is examined in this study. To address these interruptions, Jordan signed a 15-year contract to import natural gas from the Leviathan gas field. Jordan has long term power purchase agreements with independent power producers. thus, creating a safe investment environment in the electricity production sector. In this research a long-term energy model was developed and implemented for Jordan with the Open-Source long-term energy modeling tool OSeMOSYS. The model is used to assess current policy and compare options moving forward. This study brings into focus the issues facing fuel importing countries prone to shortages. Contractual aspects were incorporated in the model and investigated. The need to diversify natural gas import contracts with relatively shorter durations was demonstrated. The impact of different fuel pricing projections was highlighted and needs to be considered when drawing up such contracts. It was also demonstrated that the current renewable energy outlook needs modification. potential of renewable energy needs added consideration from stakeholders and policy makers.

Economic Growth in the Era of Economic Openness in Indonesia

The global economy has entered economic globalization, where with this economic globalization there is an escalation of the openness of a country's economy to international trade, foreign investment and international capital flows. Economic openness in both the financial sector and trade relations can be used as a driver of economic growth. Indonesia is one of the countries that continues to strive to become a developed nation. Indonesia has experienced significant development, particularly in the economic sector. This progress is evident through a relatively good economic growth. The objective of this research is to examine the impact of petroleum and natural gas exports, petroleum and natural gas imports, foreign direct investment (FDI), and foreign exchange reserves on the economic growth of Indonesia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 1990 to 2022. In terms of methodology, this study employed quantitative descriptive approaches and utilized secondary data for analysis. The data collection method uses the documentation method or documentation study using multiple linear regression analysis methods. The findings indicated that the exportation of petroleum and natural gas had a notable adverse impact on the economic growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). While petroleum and natural gas imports, foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign exchange reserves make a positive and significant contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The implication of this study underscores the significance of considering the roles played by petroleum and natural gas export, petroleum and natural gas import, foreign direct investment, and foreign exchange reserves in shaping economic policies in Indonesia.

Перспективы китайско-российского сотрудничества в сфере газонабжения

Cooperation between China and Russia in energy area is an important cornerstone of cooperation between the two countries and a positive force for maintaining global energy security. The total volume of gas supply by 2030 will be at least 98 billion cubic meters plus 100 million tons of liquefied natural gas. The article refers to the market reforms of China’s natural gas market. A fair market competition mechanism has been implemented in natural gas exploration, production, and import. The article reviews the Chinese model of X+1+X marketization in the gas supply market. Conclusions are drawn on the positive trend of gas supply between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China and on the necessity of joint legal research in order to develop the legal regulation of gas supply.

ІNFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL ECONOMY ON ENERGY SECURITY

The article examines the main scientific-theoretical and methodological approaches to solving the problem of complex analysis of the state of energy security at the national level. It is found that the situation is influenced by three main aspects: critical dependence on energy imports, the existence of excessive transit capacities, and the energy intensity of the gross domestic product. One of the most serious threats to Ukraine's energy security is its significant dependence on energy imports, which brings with it the risks of economic and political influence from other countries and dependence on global market conditions. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has caused "the first truly global energy crisis," according to a report by the International Energy Agency, which operates within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. There is a tendency to gradually neutralise threats to energy security by reducing natural gas imports and diversifying supplies. The opinion that constant monitoring of energy security threats is necessary to protect Ukraine's national interests is well-founded and is the basis for ensuring energy security. Practical implications. It was noted that in recent years, scientists have focused more attention and efforts on overcoming the energy crisis through the use of alternative energy sources, and that real energy security can only be achieved by increasing investment in domestic renewable energy sources. The purpose of the article is to determine the nature and content of energy security as a functional component of economic security, to identify the main challenges and threats to Ukraine's energy supply. Results. According to the author, the use of the ideas of the Ukrainian school of physical economy is of great importance in addressing the above issues. Thus, the author's vision of energy security, as well as a social model of Ukrainian society that will not only save it from economic and environmental disasters, but also lead to sustainable development and prosperity. Methodology. The research used comparative and structural-functional research methods. The comparative method was used to compare similar problems and ways of solving them, which made it possible to see the specifics of the researchers' searches. The use of the structural-functional method helps to outline the structural components in the search system of a particular model and their functional interpretation. A comprehensive approach to the study of energy security was also applied, an economic and statistical analysis of Ukraine's ability to meet energy needs, a comparative analysis of the main conceptual scientific views of S. Podolinskyi, V. Vernadskyi and M. Rudenko were carried out.

Research on the evolution and influence mechanism of international liquefied natural gas import competition pattern

With the continuous expansion of the scope and scale of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade, global LNG import competition has become increasingly extensive and complex. However, there is currently a lack of research on the global LNG import competition pattern and its influence mechanism. This study first constructs a global LNG import competition network and uses the complex network method to analyse the global LNG import competition pattern and its evolution characteristics from 2000 to 2020. Then, an extended gravity model is established to explore the factors influencing the intensity of LNG import competition. The results show that the global LNG import competition becomes increasingly widespread and intense; the intensity of global LNG import competition is unevenly distributed and concentrated within Asia, within Europe, between Asia and Europe, and among a few large importers; large importers dominate the formation and evolution of the competition pattern; the position of Asian countries in the competition pattern has gradually improved, and the positions of European and American countries in the competition pattern have gradually declined, indicating that the centre of the competition pattern has gradually shifted to Asia; Japan has the most intense competition, but its position in the competition pattern has declined; and China has increasingly intense competition with other importers, and its position in the competition pattern has become increasingly important; The GDP and natural gas consumption of importers drive the competition intensity among importers, while the natural gas production, political risk, and technology level of importers and the distance between importers impede the competition intensity among importers. Finally, some policy recommendations are proposed to promote orderly and healthy competition in LNG.