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Forecast
FORECASTS OF WORLD CONSUMPTION OF NATURAL GAS
Annual cumulative growth up to 2012: 2 – 2,2%
Source: Cedigaz

DEMAND OF WORLD CONSUMPTION OF NATURAL GAS
Growth 2005-2030: 43%
Source: Eurogas
Recent forecasts by Cedigaz (Short-term trends in the gas industry. January 2008) indicate an annual cumulative growth in world consumption of natural gas of between 2 and 2.2% between now and 2012, when the estimated figure for that year will be 3,290 bcm. Cedigaz also makes the following assumptions:
  • Due to its indexation to the oil price, the price of natural gas will probably maintain its present high levels.
  • At the present time, despite the increase, the coal price will remain low in comparison with that of gas, but this increase could continue in the short term, due partly to pressure by Chinese demand. China is planning (Five-Year Plan 2006-2010) to add 87,380 MW of coal-produced electricity to its present resource in the period 2006 to 2010, and 13,640 MW in natural gas plants
Eurogas in turn published a study at the end of 2007, up to the 2030 horizon, from which a number of pointers to the vitality of natural gas during the next few years warrant mention:
  • Based on 2005 data, the demand for natural gas will grow by about 43% up to 2030.
  • The natural gas share of Prime Energy consumption in the 27 nation European Community will rise from 24% in 2005 to 30% in 2030.
  • The use of natural gas for electricity generation will be the biggest advance during the next 23 years. At the end of this period, in the EU overall, generation will account for 38% of the natural gas.
  • Natural gas may play an important role as a fuel used in the Union in a sustainable energy future during the next few decades.
  • However, the future increase in the demand for natural gas might not be so strong, due to the likelihood of high and volatile prices, the growing use of renewable energies and possible strengthening of nuclear energy.
Annual
Report
07
  • Naturgas
    Naturgas Energía
Annual Report 2.007: Sedigas - The Spanish Gas Association