It seems, however, that while renewables, such as solar, wind, biomass and hydro power, can contribute in meeting the world s growing energy needs, they are, nevertheless, not likely to contribute in a major way, nor are they likely to displace fossil fuels for the foreseeable future. In these circumstances, natural gas has a vital and pivotal role to play in bridging the transition from the current set of fuels to a more sustainable set over the longer term. Indeed, because of its less polluting nature as well as for economic reasons, natural gas has become today s fuel of choice. The downside to this is that natural gas has once again become the object of political attention. On the one hand, governments are opening up and liberalizing gas markets to improve economic efficiency but, on the other hand, they are concerned about growing demand, growing import dependency and their consequences on the security of natural gas supplies.
Energy security seems to be again an issue on the agenda.
We all remember that the concern about energy security was uppermost in the minds of energy policy makers during the 1970s and early 1980s when energy supply and demand were tightly balanced and energy markets were rocked by two sharp oil price increases. With the relatively easier energy market conditions since the mid-1980s, public concern about energy security, and the attention devoted to it by policy makers, receded somewhat. But today, this concern is on the upswing. You, as experts, can add a lot more to these few words on the rapidly changing market and policy environment that I shared with you. In this respect, the Gas Centre offers you a unique and ideal forum to address these emerging issues, among yourselves and with governments.