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Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) targets new LNG markets in Asia Pacific,

Africa,

Latam

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LNG-fueled trucks and marine vessels are massive growth

areas in

China

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Exxon dismisses LNG oversupply concerns, expects demand to

meet

new supply

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First LNG from Sabine Pass Train 1 seen around year-end

By Emily Chow and Marwa Rashad

MILAN, Sept 9 (Reuters) -

Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) expects strong growth in demand for

liquefied natural gas (LNG) in China, driven by transport and

marine sectors, and sees rising opportunities in new markets

across Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin America, a senior company

executive told Reuters on Tuesday.

China, the world's largest LNG importer, signed deals on

September 2 to boost gas supply through the existing Power of

Siberia pipeline and to build the Power of Siberia 2, raising

concerns in that this could displace China's appetite for

imported LNG.

"Recent Russia-China gas agreements don't change our plans

and expectations in China," said Andrew Barry, vice president of

global LNG marketing and chairman of Exxon Mobil LNG market

development.

"I'm very bullish on China, we believe that LNG will

continue to grow and be competitive in the China landscape," he

said on the sidelines of Gastech conference in Milan, adding

that LNG-fueled trucks and marine vessels are expanding fast and

are massive growth areas in China.

In August, Exxon forecast global demand for gas to rise more

than 20% by 2050 from last year's level, as it displaces coal to

power industries and meet higher electricity use in developing

countries.

Barry said the top U.S. oil and gas producer was in discussions

across several regions for potential investments and target

markets, declining to give further details.

"There are new markets that have a need for natural gas and

need for LNG, and the demand is there, but they haven't the

infrastructure in place yet, but we see that in Asia Pacific,

Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, South Africa, and Colombia are

significant potential markets," he said.

Barry dismissed concerns about an LNG oversupply as projects

in Qatar and the U.S. start to come online from next year,

saying that demand will rise to meet the supply.

The $10 billion, 18 million metric ton per annum Golden Pass

terminal in Sabine Pass, Texas, jointly owned by Exxon and

QatarEnergy, is one of the projects that should bring new supply

to the market later this year.

Barry said that Train 1 at the project is 97% complete, and

that the company aims for first LNG from Train 1 around the end

of the year.