The Future of the Gas Industry in Europe

Last week, Mr Andrea Stegher – the President of the International Gas Union (IGU) – took part in a panel discussion on “The Future of the Gas Industry in Europe and the World” during the Slovak’s Gas and Oil Association (SGOA) Autumn Conference.

Joining Mr Stegher in the Panel discussion were the Secretaries General of MARCOGAZ (Mr Manuel Coxe) and CEOCOR (Mr Tom Levy), as well as the Vice President of GIE (Mr Milan Sedláček), with Mr Richard Kvasňovský of SGOA as moderator.

During the Panel discussion, Europe’s needs for adopting more pragmatic policies considering the recognised limits of the Green Deal held centre stage, particularly in the light of natural gas’ global role to serve growing energy demand, and the need to improve industrial competitiveness for Europe on the global markets. A second point addressed by the Panel was the one related to the recent policies aimed at fully reducing Russian supplies to Europe and the related regional complexities, with a third main point being that related to Europe’s increased dependency on LNG and associated investment needs.

In his remarks, Mr Stegher articulated the significant potential of Europe’s Gas infrastructure and how this already well-established network, which goes beyond interconnectors and pipelines, also serves as an important avenue for regional co-operation and economic development, particularly when it comes to the EU Member States’ commitment to the ensuring reliable energy to consumers while progressing in the decarbonisation of their energy systems.

Mr Stegher argued that “there is a clear future for natural gas not just across the globe but also in Europe. Its flexibility, availability and dispatchability should not be neglected as we have all lived through the experience of the fundamental role of natural gas (piped or liquefied) for energy security in Europe.

There is something perhaps even more critical to point out than the role of natural gas – and that of all forms of gas – for energy security: we need Gas to keep us warm in winter, we need it to prepare our meals, we need it to keep hospitals and schools running, and we need it to fuel our economies so that growth – economic and social – can be achieved in a sustainable and secure manner.

Gas is an enabler of the energy transition and of the decarbonisation of our energy systems and, in 2025, our pragmatism and realism on the criticality of this primary energy source cannot and should not be discounted.”