Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Algeria are among the 10 largest countries producing natural gas in the world.
Although Russia remains the world’s second-largest natural gas producer and second-largest exporter of the fuel, the European Union is looking to phase out Russian-sourced natural gas by 2027 due to the country’s war with Ukraine.
The list of the 10 largest natural gas producing countries in the world, according to Al Arabiya, quoting Investing, is as follows:
- United States
Production: 1.03 trillion cubic metres
The United States is the world’s largest natural gas producer, accounting for nearly a quarter of global natural gas production. Its production has increased by more than 350 billion cubic meters in the past decade due to the high cost of coal, and advances in extraction technology such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
- Russia
Production: 699 billion cubic metres
As the world’s second-largest exporter and second-largest producer of natural gas, Russia also has the largest known natural gas reserves.
- Iran
Production: 244 billion cubic metres
Iran is the third largest natural gas producing country, representing about 6% of global production.
- China
Production: 219 billion cubic metres
In recent years, the Chinese government has incentivized the shift from coal to natural gas to reduce air pollution and meet emissions targets. Its natural gas production has nearly doubled in the past decade.
- Canada
Production: 205 billion cubic metres
Canada has 83 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, and the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) is the primary source of the majority of Canada’s natural gas production. In addition to WCSB, offshore fields near Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, the Arctic region, and the Pacific Coast contain significant reserves of natural gas.
- Qatar
Production: 170 billion cubic metres
Qatar is the sixth largest producer of natural gas and has the third largest proven natural gas reserves in the world.
- Australia
Production: 162 billion cubic metres
Australia’s LNG exports have grown significantly over the past decade with several new production facilities coming online. Today, Australia has the second largest operating LNG export capacity in the world.
- Norway
Production: 128 billion cubic metres
Norway is the world’s eighth largest natural gas producer and third largest natural gas exporter. The Scandinavian country has understandably replaced Russia as a major supplier to the European natural gas market. In 2023, Norway reportedly accounted for 30.3% of natural gas supplied to the European Union.
- Saudi Arabia
Production: 105 billion cubic metres
Saudi Arabia, the ninth largest natural gas producing country, has seen its production increase by more than 10% in the past five years to reach a record level of 105 billion cubic meters of energy fuel.
- Algeria
Production: 102 billion cubic metres
Algeria has the fifth largest capacity to export liquefied natural gas in the world. While its natural gas exports decreased by 10.6% in 2022 compared to a year ago 2021.
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