What is LNG and what is it used for?

"Natural gas powers a quarter of the world, and almost a fifth of LNG moves through the Strait of Hormuz. The United States-Israeli war on Iran has hit critical liquified natural gas (LNG) supplies in the Gulf, triggering the most severe disruptions in recent years to the global energy market."

"Shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for 27 percent of the world's maritime oil trade and 20 percent of LNG, has been brought to a near standstill, with oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia rerouting oil through alternative pipelines and Qatar halting LNG production."

"Natural gas is formed over millions of years from decomposed organic matter subjected to intense heat and pressure beneath the Earth's surface. LNG is natural gas cooled to -162 degrees Celsius, known as cryogenic processing, shrinking it to a 600th of its gaseous volume."

"Before liquefaction, the gas is purified through water-based solvents and molecular sieve beds to remove impurities including carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, water and mercury. The result is a fuel typically composed of 85 to 95 percent methane, with small amounts of ethane, propane, butane and nitrogen."

Natural gas constitutes a significant portion of global energy consumption, with LNG transport heavily affected by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, crucial for global oil and LNG trade, faces severe disruptions, prompting oil-producing nations to reroute supplies. Qatar has halted LNG production, raising concerns about the impact on countries reliant on natural gas. LNG, formed from organic matter, is purified and transported in a liquid state, making it efficient for global distribution.

Read at www.aljazeera.com