Purpose: Despite the concept of energy hub becoming widely signed and used in recent literature for addressing energy geopolitics, policies and relationships, it is still being confused interchangeably with other concepts. Hence, the present paper aims to shed light on the concepts of an energy hub, energy corridor, energy transit and energy center to clarify the main differences among these concepts through conducting a systematic review for the previous studies using the VOSviewer software targeting the identification of the main research gaps and clearing any confusion related to these concepts. Design/methodology/approach: This paper conducted a systematic review based on a qualitative synthesis for the available publications from Web of Science and Scopus databases. It also followed strict search and filtration criteria based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. In this review, a total of 47 papers, which met the inclusion criteria were selected and identified in the synthesis, and a bibliometric visualization approach were implemented by using VOSviewer software. Findings: The bibliometric analysis presented the growth of the research topic recently. Besides, text mining and keyword analysis revealed the key themes that address energy hubs issues such as security, geopolitics, relationships, policies and transit of energy. The main research gaps identified in this review will provide a reference point that will encourage and open new avenues for other interested researchers for future studies. Furthermore, this review contributes to our understanding of the literature related to energy hub area through bibliometric analysis and visualization of publications data. Originality/value: According to the authors’ knowledge, this review may be the first bibliometric analysis and systematic review of the energy hub domain.

Energy-consuming countries are affected by obstructions in supplies or conflicts that may occur along the energy transit path. Hence, the presence of a global logistics hub for energy acting as a connecting bridge between energy-supplying and energy-consuming countries can overcome such troubles, support the sustainable flow of energy, and achieve the overall operational efficiency of the energy supply chain. However, establishing a global energy hub is a complicated issue, especially in the absence of a clear approach for this. Through conducting a systematic literature review on 36 papers over the past two decades, we identified the key determinants for each player in the energy supply chain and proposed a leading and integrated conceptual framework for establishing and operating a global logistics energy hub, with a particular focus on oil and gas. This article contributes to knowledge by providing a comprehensive review targeting energy hubs from a logistics perspective, as previous studies have addressed energy hubs from other perspectives such as political, legal, and security perspectives, while the logistics perspective has not been tackled comprehensively. Moreover, the suggested framework can be then used by further researchers to develop the performance of energy hubs. Practically, this framework can be employed to identify the requirements for a country to become a global energy hub.

Due to growing geopolitical tensions and uncertainty, energy supplies have recently become more vulnerable, endangering the safety of energy supply chains. It has therefore become essential to enhance the security and sustainability of energy supplies by establishing energy hubs (EHs) along energy transmission routes. These hubs offer a practical solution that facilitates energy import, conversion, storage, and export, thereby improving energy trade and exchange between producing and consuming countries. Nevertheless, the successful establishment and operation of these EHs is difficult and calls for several requirements. This study aims to develop a practical framework that includes the main requirements for the effective establishment and operation of global energy hubs (GEHs). A mixed-method approach was employed, incorporating in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and survey data from 53 oil and gas companies. The study identified critical success factors for establishing and operating GEHs, including geographical location, infrastructure readiness, environmental stability, geopolitical positioning, and stakeholder collaboration. It combines scientific and practical components into a comprehensive reference that provides policymakers and energy planners with actionable guidance for establishing and operating GEHs. The research findings would support the sustainability and resilience of energy supply chains. The study also offers a strategic roadmap for nations looking to develop GEHs. Future research is encouraged to assess energy hub performance under different geographies and markets to enhance adaptability and efficiency.