美国天然气行业发展的经验及启示

Lessons from the U.S. natural gas industry

美国天然气行业发展呈现明显的阶段性特点,其中快速发展阶段持续了30多年;天然气消费结构不断变化,在天然气市场进入成熟期后,城市燃气(民用和商业)发展平稳,人均消费量较高;天然气发电是推动美国天然气市场发展的重要力量;完善市场定价机制是发展天然气行业的关键,特别是在快速发展阶段,合理的天然气价格是保障天然气稳定供应的重要因素;在天然气市场快速发展初期,管网建设加速,不仅重视干线建设,同时重视支线建设;高度重视天然气储备,地下储气库与管网同步建设,库存量约占全年消费量的1/3。借鉴美国天然气行业发展的经验,中国发展天然气工业应对市场发展前景有充分认识;积极推动天然气市场定价机制的建立;适度发展天然气发电业务;管网建设应适度超前并转变建设方式。

The history of the U.S. natural gas industry falls into distinct stages, including a period of rapid development lasting more than three decades. Gas consumption patterns are constantly shifting; once the market had matured, residential gas fuel (private and commercial) grew at a steady pace, with relatively high per capita consumption. Gas-fired power generation has become an important driver of the natural gas market. Comprehensive market pricing mechanisms were critical to the industry’s development, particularly when it was growing rapidly, since rational pricing is an important factor in maintaining a stable natural gas supply. As the industry began to take off and pipeline grid construction gathered speed, priority was given to both trunk lines and branch lines. Storage was another major concern, and construction of underground gas storage facilities was coordinated with pipeline construction. Inventory makes up about a third of annual consumption. A look at the history of natural gas in the United States should give China a clear picture of the prospects for its own industry. The authors recommend that China continue working to establish pricing mechanisms for the natural gas market and, where appropriate, promote gas-fired power generation; they also call for construction of pipeline grid in advance and in new methods