A top US drilling contractor executive warns that surging natural gas demand will create a shortage of fracking equipment by the late 2020s. The head of Nabors Industries, one of the country's largest drilling contractors, predicts that rising exports and domestic power plant consumption will strain the supply of specialized fracking gear.

Natural gas production has boomed in recent years due to advances in hydraulic fracturing technology. This growth has been driven by both international markets and increased domestic use for electricity generation. The equipment-intensive nature of fracking operations means that any significant increase in drilling activity could quickly outstrip available machinery.

The warning from Nabors Industries highlights potential bottlenecks in the energy infrastructure. As power plants increasingly rely on natural gas for electricity generation, the demand for fracking services could accelerate. This equipment shortage could slow the pace of new drilling projects and potentially impact energy prices.