Matthew Schatzman

Matt Schatzman has served as Chief Executive Officer of NextDecade Corporation since 2018, and he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2019. He joined the company as President and member of the Board of Directors in 2017. Under Mr. Schatzman’s leadership NextDecade developed, financed and is constructing Rio Grande LNG, a 27 million tonnes per annum LNG export facility located in Brownsville, Texas. Mr. Schatzman has over three decades of experience in the energy industry, including as Executive Vice President Global Energy Marketing and Shipping and member of the Group Executive Committee at BG Group where he was responsible for the company’s global marketing, trading and shipping activities for LNG, crude oil and natural gas. During his tenure at BG Group, Mr. Schatzman played a pivotal role in the success and growth of BG Group’s LNG business, transforming it into a global leader in flexible LNG supply and trading. Mr. Schatzman also held senior executive roles at Dynegy and started his career at Transco Pipeline, a subsidiary of Williams. In addition to managing an international portfolio of LNG, shipping, and commodity trading positions, Mr. Schatzman’s expertise extends to financing, risk management and process improvement across a diverse portfolio of development and operating assets. Mr. Schatzman graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is a member of the National Petroleum Council.

Session Overview

Tuesday, 4 November

13:30

Global strategy ICC Hall A 13:30 - 14:15

The continued rise of natural gas and LNG

As energy demand continues to rise due to fast-growing populations, industrialisation and the unprecedented acceleration of AI and data centres, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are emerging as essential components in the inclusive approach to energy needed to advance a resilient, low-carbon, high-growth future.

The flexibility and versatility of natural gas, particularly in LNG form, make it well-suited for diversifying energy sources, reducing dependence on coal and oil, and integrating effectively with renewable sources – helping to meet sharply rising global energy demand while advancing a resilient, low-carbon future. Global market dynamics continue to evolve, driven by regional agendas, including shifts in supply-demand patterns and geopolitical considerations.

China remains the world's largest LNG buyer, with demand driven by industrial sectors and expanding regasification capacity. The EU, currently a significant LNG importer having purchased 43% of US LNG exports in 2024, faces challenges due to expected declining demand and climate goals. Meanwhile, the US has emerged as a major exporter, while Japan's natural gas demand has declined as it restarts nuclear power plants, reinforcing its energy diversification strategy.

Attendee insights:

Gain valuable perspective on natural gas and LNG's pivotal role in the global energy mix, examining evolving supply-demand dynamics across the US, Europe and Asia, and exploring opportunities to harness diverse forms of energy to fuel inclusive growth.