The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) officially launched the latest edition of its annual flagship publication, the Global Gas Outlook (GGO), on March 10, 2025, at the GECF Secretariat via video conference.

The 9th edition of GGO 2050 presents projections and in-depth analyses of the global energy system, with a particular focus on natural gas, extending through the middle of the century.

The launch event was presided over by HE Eng. Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General of the GECF, and attended by HE Dr. Sheikh Mishal Al-Thani, Representative of the State of Qatar on the GECF Executive Board, alongside distinguished representatives from GECF member countries, as well as prominent leaders and experts from guest countries and peer international organizations.

According to the report, Natural gas is increasingly receiving policy support as a crucial solution to the energy trilemma In 2024, global energy policies have strengthened support for natural gas, recognising its role in energy security, industrial competitiveness, and emissions reduction. Despite ambitious commitments at COP28,

economic and geopolitical imbalances hindered progress on climate goals in 2024. Although COP29 marked a privotal moment in climate negotiations by finalising the long-debated rules for carbon trading, it resulted in a weak agreement on climate finance and saw limited progress on mitigation measures.

However, the finalisation of Article 6 carbon market mechanisms holds promise, potentially driving investments in lowcarbon LNG and CCS technologies. Regionally, the United States and China expanded policies to support gas-fired power generation, with the United States streamlining permits for Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plants and China prioritising gasfired power for AI-driven industrial hubs. India reinforced natural gas as a flexible backup for renewables, expanding gas-fired peak shaving plants to meet high summer electricity demand.

At the same time, Europe strengthened gas storage mandates for winter resilience. In Latin America, new tax incentives and LNG infrastructure expansion in Brazil and Colombia addressed hydropower shortages, ensuring grid stability. Middle Eastern and North African governments increased investments in gas-fired desalination, with hybrid gas-renewable desalination projects gaining policy support.

The IMO 2024 emissions regulations accelerated LNG adoption in shipping and trucking, prompting new LNG bunkering hubs and fuel incentives in China, India, and the EU. In Sub-Saharan Africa, policy-driven LPG expansion programs in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya were introduced to transition households from biomass to cleaner cooking fuels.

Natural gas demand is expected to grow steadily, with no peak in sight Natural gas demand is projected to increase from 4,018 bcm in 2023 to 5,317 bcm by 2050, representing 32% growth over the forecast period. Its share in the global energy mix will rise from 23% to 26%. The power sector is expected to drive this expansion, adding 475 bcm (1.1% per annum) to reach 1,866 bcm.

Industrial demand, including feedstock applications, is expected to grow by 238 bcm (0.9% per annum) to 1,095 bcm, maintaining its position as the second-largest source of natural gas consumption. Natural gas demand for hydrogen production is also set to rise significantly, with consumption exceeding 480 bcm by 2050, reflecting blue hydrogen’s growing role in decarbonisation strategies. The share of natural gas in final energy America as the largest natural gas-consuming region within this decade, maintaining its lead through midcentury.

The region is expected to witness a 710 bcm increase in demand, accounting for 55% of the total net growth by 2050, outpacing all other regions. The Middle East will closely follow, contributing nearly 24% of the global demand increase, as its consumption rises from 554 bcm in 2023 to 865 bcm by 2050, reflecting increasing industrialisation and expanding energyintensive sectors. Africa is poised for the strongest relative growth, with natural gas demand more than doubling (+126%) to reach 385 bcm by 2050, driven by accelerated energy access initiatives, industrial expansion, and economic development.

Latin America will also experience substantial growth, adding 125 bcm to reach 275 bcm by 2050, accounting for nearly 10% of the global net increase, solidifying its role as an emerging natural gas market. Despite initial growth in natural gas demand in North America through 2030, the region is expected to peak thereafter, followed by a gradual decline by 2050, as mature markets shift toward lower-carbon alternatives and efficiency improvements reduce consumption.

Europe’s demand is anticipated to continue declining over the coming decades, falling by 154 bcm to 309 bcm by 2050, reflecting its energy policies and deindustrialisation. These trends underscore natural gas’s dual role—acting as a transition fuel in Europe and a destination fuel in developing regions where infrastructure, energy security, and economic priorities drive long-term reliance on natural gas

The 9th edition of the GGO is available on the GECF website