OREANDA-NEWS. August 20, 2012. Australia could become the world's leading exporter of liquefied natural gas by 2020, if its coal seam gas production goes ahead.

A new study by the Economist Intelligence Unit says Australia could surpass Qatar as the number one LNG exporter by the end of the decade.

Now ranked fourth, Australian exports are facing boom conditions driven by projected demand from Asia.

There are seven new projects underway but any future boom could depend on foreign investment support from China and new environmentally friendly production methods.