Doha, February 28 (QNA) - Qatari English language newspaper Gulf Times highlighted in its editorial on Sunday the State of Qatar's investments in the natural gas sector, especially with the Gas Exporting Countries Forum's (GECF) expectations for the growth of natural gas consumption in the coming decades.

The newspaper said that Qatar Petroleum's recent investment decision on the North Field East Project (NFE) will strengthen Qatar's position as the world's largest producer and exporter of LNG, noting that NFE is one of the global energy industry's largest investments in the past few years, in addition, to being the largest LNG capacity addition ever, and the most competitive LNG project in the world.

The paper referred to GECF Secretary-General Dr. Yury Sentyurin's statement in which he said that contributing 48% to the global growth in energy demand, natural gas will overtake coal by 2025 to become the largest energy source by the mid-2040s.

The natural gas will expand predominately across the Asia Pacific, North America and Middle Eastern markets, which together will be responsible for more than 75% of total gas demand growth by 2050, while the Asia-Pacific region will become the largest gas consumer, the paper added.

Qatar's recent investment decision on the NFE Project should be seen, the paper said, adding that the project will raise Qatar's LNG production capacity from 77 million tons per year (mmtpy) to 110 mmtpy by 2025. In addition to LNG, the project will produce condensate, LPG, ethane, sulphur and helium, the paper said.

NFE is one of the global energy industry's largest investments in the past few years, in addition, to being the largest LNG capacity addition ever, and the most competitive LNG project in the world, Gulf Times concluded. (QNA)