Developing the Partnerships Needed to Satisfy the Growing Demand for Gas

摘要

(Following is a text based on a speech on 6 June delivered to the 23rd World Gas Conference in Amsterdam and released by Shell through its website).Natural gas-with its economic,efficiency and environmental advantages,relative abundance and expanding infrastructure-has the potential to play a vital role in meeting the world's expanding energy needs,while helping to cut greenhouse gas emissions.Global gas consumption is expected to grow strongly.Most countries will become increasingly dependent on imports and interregional gas flows could expand nearly threefold.But significant economic,technological,commercial and political challenges need to be overcome if this potential is to be realised.Success will depend on harnessing knowledge-technologies,organisational capabilities,and individual skills and qualities-and building relationships.Strong partnerships have always been a feature of the gas industry,because of the scale of the challenges and the need for global links.They work best when companies invest as partners.But this requires a transparent,predictable and secure framework that allows suppliers to invest and customers to make commitments.