Long-term competition between gas infrastructure developments in Asia: the restrictive effect on Siberian and Caspian export development

The paper analyses the probable position of major continental infrastructures for gas trade within Asia in relation to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects which are foreseen as advantageous in the future for supplying energy to the Asian markets. Siberia and countries of the Caspian Basin and Central Asia are becoming steadily more reliable as potential export sources of gas supplies in Asia. However, in the light of the competition from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, LNG poses a range of economic, institutional and geopolitical restrictions on the development of continental gas pipeline projects. These projects need major investments that require an association of international investors; however, such investors will not involve themselves in such projects without major changes to the institutions and economic structures of Russia and the Central Asian Republics.

Keywords: Asian gas markets, gas pipeline projects, LNG projects, geopolitical risk, Russia, Caspian Basin, Central Asia, Siberia, China, South Asia