OPINION: This week saw the release of a very upbeat assessment about prospects for the liquefied natural gas market in the latest annual report on the sector from Shell.

Overall global demand grew by 27 million tonnes per annum to 319 million tpa last year, according to the Anglo-Dutch supermajor's latest LNG Outlook.

It predicts a further 35 million tpa of LNG will enter the market from new schemes this coming year.