Natural Gas, LNG Fuel Asia's Energy Transition Journey - PETRONAS Executive VP

As the world continues its journey towards net zero, the energy mix has come to the forefront of the conversation. While it is widely accepted that renewable energy will play a key role in decarbonization, there is a growing consensus that natural gas will remain essential in this transition. Increasingly, the industry recognizes that gas is not just a bridge to a lower-carbon future, but a destination fuel that provides a stable foundation for energy systems, particularly in regions striving to balance economic growth with climate goals.

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By 2035, PETRONAS is reimagining gas as the destination fuel, backed by market-leading production capacity and an unmatched 40-year track record: over 16,000 LNG cargoes delivered always on-time to 25+ countries globally. The company's transformation into a progressive lower-carbon solutions provider means every business decision serves one vision: delivering reliable, competitive energy that bridges today's needs with tomorrow's possibilities, ensuring PETRONAS remains essential in the global energy transition.

PETRONAS Executive Vice-President and CEO, Gas and Maritime Business, Datuk Adif Zulkifli emphasized the critical role of natural gas in the energy transition during a recent panel session at Energy Asia 2025.

"In Asia-Pacific, the population is expected to reach 5.2 billion by 2050. As the region continues to develop, it is projected to account for half of the world's energy demand through 2050, driven by economic growth and greater industrialization, including the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, and the need to meet the everyday energy needs of its people. In this landscape, natural gas provides a pragmatic solution. It provides energy security while supporting a practical and achievable transition to a more sustainable energy across the region."

Adif noted that while investments in renewables will continue to grow, the challenge of intermittency must be addressed, something gas can counteract by providing a stable and secure baseload. Furthermore, as coal still contributes about 60% to Asia's electricity generation, natural gas is often seen as a low-hanging fruit when it comes to replacing coal-powered generation.

Asia, the largest growth region for LNG

Asia, home to a rapidly growing population and the world's fastest-growing economies, is envisioned to be the biggest growth region when it comes to gas imports.