Value Microcaps Motherboard

[abh3vt]

R59, LPG is a class of gasses comprised of Propane, Butane, and Ethane. LPG is a byproduct of NG production (60%) and Crude Oil production (40%). 10% of NG is refined into LPG.

To the extent that LNG competes with LPG, I guess that pricing may become an issue. However, I would point out that LPG is a much easier gas to ship and requires minimal land infrastructure (i.e. no large liquefaction or regasification plants). That's one of the reasons that NG is primarily transported via pipeline and not by tanker. Contrast that with crude oil, which is shipped everywhere in addition to being piped in. The end result is that LNG is just not a reasonable substitute for many countries that use LPG. Without the infrastructure in place, LNG can't begin to compete.

LPG uses:
LPG products have a variety of both industrial and other uses, including transportation, fertilizer production, the manufacture of plastics, space heating, cooking, water heating and process heating. We serve industrial companies, as well as national and independent energy companies and energy traders.
-from GASS website
http://www.stealthgas.com/corporate-details/company-profile.html

To answer your question about European NG prices, gas prices have recently surged in the UK:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4804504.stm
Not sure about the rest of Europe.