The US exported a tanker with liquefied natural gas to Europe. The vessel left the Louisiana port and now is on its way to Portugal. This is the first batch of gas the US manufacturers began to supply to the European markets, reports Lenta https://lenta.ru/ with a reference to The Wall Street Journal.

As expected, on April 26, the 300 meters long LNG carrier Creole Spirit will arrive at its destination. The buyer is a Portuguese company Galp Energia. The analysts consider that the arrival of the American gas may trigger a price war. It will lower prices in the European market that long having been dominated by Russia .

The USA launched gas exports overseas from the Gulf of Mexico in February. The Texas company, Cheniere Energy, exported the first batch to Brazil and then to Asia. The shale gas boom has changed the situation in the US energy market, and, as is expected, in 2017 the US will become a net exporter of gas, writes the journal .

Cheniere signed long-term contracts with several European gas companies , including British BG Group, purchased by Royal Dutch Shell earlier this year, as well as with a Spanish company Gas Natural.

In Europe, the US suppliers will be competing with Russia , which currently supplies the continent’s one third of the gas via pipelines. For example , half of Germany’s natural gas come  from Russia , one third of Italy’s  natural gas comes from the same source.  Among the other fuel sources are Norway , Algeria, and the Middle East.

According to analysts , Russia might reduce gas prices for the European countries in order to drive away new competitors such as the United States . 
Taken the current rates into consideration the US LNG delivered to Europe will cost about $ 4.30 per million British thermal units . Russia sells its gas to Europe at an average price of 5.80 dollars. Analysts believe that Russia may significantly reduce the prices in the price war – up to below 3 dollars.