Platts: IEA chief says US shale gas revolution unlikely to be replicated

The head of the International Energy Agency warned Thursday that the shale gas revolution in North America was unlikely to be replicated elsewherein the world, and that its effect would be more likely felt through an increase in LNG supplies to the global market.

Speaking in St Petersburg at the launch of the IEA's medium-term gas market outlook, IEA executive director Maria van der Hoeven said there were major obstacles that would impede the development of shale gas in Europe and China.

So instead, it is the projected start of LNG exports from the US and Canada that will have the biggest impact on global gas markets.

"The North American revolution will impact gas markets more by spillingexports onto the LNG market than by the spread of that revolution itself,"van der Hoeven said.  MORE