Is Europe's search for gas unrealistic?

摘要

The EU is running out of gas.Consumption is rising and output is falling.The decline dates from 2001,when output peaked at 21.3bn cf/d.By 2006,it had fallen by 14% to 18.4bn cf/d.Demand,by contrast,rose by 3.6bn cf/d,or 9%,to 45.2bn cf/d over the same period.The extra demand has been supplied by imports.Russia,which is the EU's largest supplier of gas,has accounted for some 40% of the increase in imports since 2001.This increase has alarmed many EU policy-makers,who have sought to encourage new gas supply schemes to various parts of Europe,principally by promoting new pipeline projects to bring gas from the Caspian and the Middle East.