Introduction — Mainly composed of methane, natural gas is extracted from underground deposits and transported by pipeline or in liquefied form. It supplies power plants, industries and cooking networks, but also serves as a feedstock for fertiliser and chemical production. Its role varies by country: for some, it is an export resource; for others, an imported fuel whose price depends on global markets.
Key facts
- Main component: methane (CH₄), accompanied by varying proportions of other hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbon compounds.
- Origin: organic matter transformed by heat and pressure over millions of years.
- Transport: pipeline networks or LNG carriers after liquefaction.
- Recent trend: global demand grew by approximately 1% in 2025; the IEA anticipated a decline of around 0.5% in 2026 in its third-quarter report.
What is natural gas?
Natural gas is a gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons in which methane generally accounts for the largest share. It may also contain ethane, propane, butane, water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrogen or hydrogen sulphide. Its composition depends on the deposit's geology. Some components must be separated before the gas meets sales and transport specifications.
Natural gas is a fossil fuel. It formed from organic matter buried in sedimentary rocks and then transformed by pressure and heat over geological timescales. It is often associated with oil, but some reservoirs contain mainly gas. When produced alongside oil, it is called associated gas; predominantly gaseous deposits are described as non-associated.
How is gas extracted and prepared?
Exploration begins with studying the subsurface, notably using geological and seismic data. If an area shows potential, an exploration well establishes the presence and characteristics of the deposit. Production wells may be vertical or horizontal. Methods and risks vary depending on whether the gas is contained in a conventional reservoir, tight rocks or shale formations.
On leaving the well, raw gas may contain water, condensates and compounds requiring treatment. Facilities remove impurities that could corrode pipelines, form hydrates or pose a health risk. Natural gas liquids, such as ethane and propane, can be separated and commercialised. An odorant is generally added to gas distributed through networks to make leaks easier to detect, since pure methane is odourless.
Conventional and unconventional gas
In a conventional deposit, gas accumulates in porous, permeable reservoir rock, often beneath an impermeable layer that limits its upward migration. It can then flow to the well under reservoir pressure or with the assistance of production equipment.
Unconventional gas is held in formations through which it flows less easily. Shale gas occurs in rocks with very low permeability; tight gas is found in dense sandstone or limestone. Production may require horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, which involves injecting a fluid composed mainly of water, sand and additives under pressure to open fractures. This technique raises debates about water use, management of flowback water, methane emissions and induced seismic risks.
How is gas transported?
Where deposits and consumers are connected, gas flows through high-pressure pipelines. Compressor stations maintain flow over long distances. Near cities and industrial sites, transmission networks connect to distribution networks, where pressure is reduced before delivery to customers.
To cross oceans, gas can be cooled to approximately −162 °C to become liquefied natural gas (LNG). Its volume is then greatly reduced, allowing it to be loaded onto LNG carriers. At its destination, it is regasified at a terminal before being fed into a network or used locally. The LNG chain opens markets beyond the reach of pipelines, but requires costly facilities and consumes energy for liquefaction, transport and regasification.
What is natural gas used for?
Gas is used to generate electricity and heat. Gas-fired power plants can adjust output to demand and complement other forms of generation, although their operation emits carbon dioxide. Gas also provides heat for industrial processes, including metallurgy, cement, glass and fertiliser production.
It plays an essential role as a feedstock for making ammonia, the basis of many nitrogen fertilisers, as well as hydrogen and several chemicals. In buildings, it is used for cooking, hot water and heating. Its economic importance therefore depends as much on industrial uses as on domestic needs and infrastructure availability.
The challenges for Africa
The continent combines producing and exporting countries, such as Algeria, Nigeria, Egypt and Mozambique, with markets where access to gas remains limited. Offshore projects, regional pipelines and LNG facilities can increase exports and supply gas to local power plants or industries. The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project, on the maritime boundary between Senegal and Mauritania, illustrates the development of a new export industry in the African Atlantic.
The challenge is to reconcile export contracts with domestic needs. A project can generate revenues and infrastructure without by itself guaranteeing affordable prices, widespread distribution or lasting industrial jobs. Planning must incorporate electricity networks, supply contracts, financing, customers' ability to pay and competition from renewable energy.
The climate footprint also depends on methane leaks throughout the chain, flaring and equipment efficiency. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, and fugitive emissions can reduce gas's climate advantage over coal for some uses. In 2025, global demand grew by approximately 1%. In the third quarter of 2026, the IEA forecast a decline of around 0.5% for the year because of supply pressures and high prices. These forecasts highlight the market's sensitivity to infrastructure and geopolitical events.
Frequently asked questions
Is natural gas a clean energy source?
It generally emits less carbon dioxide than coal when burned to produce the same amount of electricity, but remains a fossil fuel. Methane leaks, flaring and other emissions along the chain must be considered when assessing its full footprint.
What is the difference between natural gas and biogas?
Natural gas comes from fossil deposits formed over long geological periods. Biogas is produced more quickly through the decomposition of organic matter. After purification, it can become biomethane and be injected into certain compatible networks.
Are natural gas and LNG different fuels?
No. LNG is natural gas cooled into a liquid to facilitate transport or storage. It returns to its gaseous state when regasified.