Economic Times: For Europe's LNG ports, Russia gas fears and U.S. exporters buoy demand

Gas buyers nervous of Russia cutting supply are helping solve Europe's problem of too many underused liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, as they seek space at France's Dunkirk plant.

Adding to renewed demand is the more potent interest of major east Asian companies, shipping LNG from the booming output of their U.S. projects but fearing a saturated Asian market where they also face competition from Australian producers.

Many European import terminals faced idling because of falling deliveries, but the combination of growing uncertainty over Russian supply and the U.S. shale revolution has jolted demand for them, raising options for diversifying gas supplies.

From one side, some European energy firms are showing interest in purchasing import rights at France's under-construction Dunkirk once it becomes operational in 2015, for periods spanning one-to-two years, a commercial source at the EDF-led project told Reuters.
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