Spending on global infrastructure needed to make liquefied natural gas (LNG) a greater part of the world energy supply is set to rise at an average annual growth rate of 11.3%, to reach 12.1 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) per year, valued at $73.6 billion, by 2010. So says a new report, "LNG Infrastructure," published by Business Communications Co. Inc., Norwalk, Connecticut. The report includes spending projections for every aspect of the LNG value chain: pipelines, LNG plants, processing plants, LNG tankers, and loading and unloading terminals. "During the past three years, LNG has experienced high levels of investment in all sectors of the long-distance supply chain. Market indications are it will continue to do so over the next five years to 2010," the firm reports. International oil companies, national oil companies and utilities are participating in several points along the supply chain to extract value from stranded natural gas resources, spread risk by diversifying gas sources, and reduce gas flaring, BCC says. LNG trade accounts for 31% of all traded gas volumes, including within the former Soviet Union countries, in 2005, and by 2010, may account for 38% of all traded gas volumes. Companies with merchant regasification plants, also known as peak-shaving plants, will see demand in their sector increase 7.6% over the forecast period to 2010, the report says. This also includes satellite plants where LNG arrives by truck, then is stored and regasified as needed. The U.S. has 113 LNG satellite and peak-shaving plants today.