LNG trình bày các chi phí kinh tế và vấn đề an ninh quốc gia dầu mỏ nhập khẩu. Sử dụng than để sản xuất NG và thay thế cho NG trong các quá trình hóa học sẽ dễ dàng áp lực cung cấp bằng cách cung cấp một thay thế cho ít nhất 15% tiêu thụ NG Mỹ hàng năm, hoặc tương đương 4 nghìn tỷ feet khối (TCF) mỗi năm. | The nine IOF industries account for approximately 67 of this energy use. Fifty percent of the energy used in these sectors is estimated to be from gaseous sources such as natural gas liquefied petroleum gas LPG and natural gas liquids NGL . Two Industries at Risk Chemical and Glass Based on data from the Energy Use Loss and Opportunities report prepared by Energetics and E3M Inc. two primary conclusions can be drawn The chemical sector usage of gaseous materials accounts for 74 of its energy. In the glass sector more than 76 of the energy consumed is in the form of natural gas. A brief discussion of these two industries provides insights into the problems they encounter with escalating NG prices. The Chemical Industry It has been well documented that increasing NG prices have hit the chemical industry particularly hard. Chemical manufacturers use about 12 of the NG in the United States in a full range of processes from heating to power to feedstock. Further the chemical industry is an important component of the nation s economy since in addition to using 12 of United States NG the industry directly employs almost 900 000 people generates more than 500 billion for the economy is the leading American export industry is America s second largest rail shipper and accounts for one of 8 new patents. With substantial increases in the price of NG however chemical companies have been forced to make significant changes in their operation to compete on a global basis. Dow Chemical has been forthright about the steps it has taken to adjust to the increase in NG prices. Since 2002 Dow has shifted some production to such countries as Kuwait Argentina Malaysia and the Netherlands where energy prices are more competitive eliminated 6 500 jobs announced plans to build major new production facilities in Oman 2004 Kuwait 2005 and China 2005 and closed production facilities throughout the United States including Texas four Michigan West Virginia two New Hampshire New Jersey two and .
