Europe’s Natural Gas Market Exposed to Global LNG Dynamics: Consequences for Consumers

Since the 2022-disruption the European natural gas market has been going through a major change process with implications on supply routes, prices and security of supply. The closing of the Strait of Hormuz end of February 2026, which has caused heavy turmoil on the global markets, is another example for global uncertainties affecting the European gas markets. For natural gas, this is only the most recent chapter of geopolitical events with massive impact on the international supply routes. For Europe, that has just switched large parts of its gas import structure from Russian pipelines to LNG, this situation raises many questions:



The long-term perspective

  • Is gas supply competing for Europe or, rather, is Europe competing for gas supply?

  • What does the supply situation mean for European industrial competitiveness?

  • Which Impact do demand uncertainties have on supply strategy of Member states and gas importers?

  • How does EU Regulation on Methan Emissions and CSDD impact on LNG imports?

  • What are the options for policy makers in Brussels and Berlin?

  • Will we see a comeback of Russian gas imports into the EU?

The short-term perspective

  • How does the supply and demand situation for next winter given the new risk structure will look like?

  • Will gas storage capacities be filled sufficiently before the heating period?

  • How urgent is a call for new storage regulation (“strategic gas storage”)?



In this summer interview, industry experts Ludwig Möhring and Ulf Heitmüller will analyse these and many more aspects of the current (geo-)political and gas market situation.



→ More information on the schedule can be found here.

Anne Buers

Anne Buers

E-world energy & water GmbH

Interviewer

Ludwig Möhring is a recognized voice in Germany’s gas sector, with leadership roles spanning Shell Gas & Power and WINGAS, among others. His career has focused, i.a., on international gas supply and sales.

Since 2018, as CEO of the Federal Association for Natural Gas, Crude Oil and Geoenergy (BVEG), he has combined his deep market expertise with strategic and political insights on the development of European gas markets in the midst of the energy transition and major gas market disruptions .

Conversation partner

Ulf Heitmüller is a seasoned energy executive with more than three decades of leadership in the European gas sector. His career spans senior roles at Shell Energy in Germany and London, and EnBW, covering operations, trading, supply, and regional gas sales across Northwest Europe.

Since 2016, he has served as chairman of the executive board of VNG, leading the company’s transformation in a rapidly evolving international energy market.





Language

This event will take place in English. Please note that no tranlsation into German will be provided.