The European Union (EU) has been eyeing a boom in Eastern Mediterranean natural gas production to ease price volatility, but new research suggests more volumes could be a mid-term source of relief rather than a long-term solution.

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In a report for Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, the authors posit that as much as 50 billion cubic meters/year (Bcm/y) of gas could be unlocked for export from the region by the end of the decade if producers are aggressive with investments.

However, the volume of that gas that could reach European import terminals would largely be determined by the kind of “arrangements with regional governments” buyers secure and the progression of LNG infrastructure in Cyprus, Egypt and Israel.

“Eastern Mediterranean countries,...