French energy major TotalEnergies is expecting to see an emerging gap in LNG supply from mid-2023 as European demand continues, Russian pipeline gas shrinks further and on the back of the possible revival of the Chinese economy.

Presenting annual results for 2022 and record profits of $36.2bn, TotalEnergies chairman and chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said that in 2022 European gas import demand grew to 115 million tonnes (mt) of LNG equivalent compared to 67 mt a year earlier.