Governments Have Opportunities To Strengthen Natural Gas Security After Series Of Supply Shocks: IEA
Faizan Hashmi | Published September 10, 2026 | 06:30 AM (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM – 10th Sep, 2026)
Governments have options available to strengthen resilience and preparedness for potential natural gas supply disruptions in the future, as geopolitical risks and structural changes make global gas markets increasingly complex and susceptible to volatility, according to a new IEA report.
The report, Gas Reserve Mechanisms and Flexibility Options, examines how countries can improve gas supply security through a combination of:
- Physical reserves
- More flexible commercial arrangements
- Policy mechanisms
It identifies measures that governments can implement over the next five years, alongside longer-term efforts to diversify supplies and strengthen infrastructure.
The report comes in response to two major gas supply crises in the past five years, challenging longstanding assumptions about global gas market resilience:
- The sharp reduction in Russian pipeline gas supplies to Europe following the war in Ukraine in 2022 triggered record prices and a significant reconfiguration of global LNG trade.
- Disruptions to LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz during the 2026 Middle East conflict once again demonstrated vulnerability for import-dependent economies to sudden supply shocks.
The report also explores existing policy-based reserve mechanisms, including:
- Mandatory storage obligations
- Strategic gas reserves
- Buffer LNG schemes
It proposes options like joint strategic reserves using existing infrastructure, cross-border stockholding arrangements, and cross-regional LNG buffers. The IEA recommends governments:
- Deepen dialogue on gas security
- Improve transparency around reserves and market conditions
- Conduct regular emergency exercises
- Collaborate to enhance LNG market flexibility
The report further suggests examining voluntary international reserve arrangements, drawing from lessons learned from the IEA’s oil security framework.
The publication precedes the LNG Producer-Consumer Conference on September 11, co-hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the IEA, where strengthening gas and LNG supply security will be a key focus.
