Member Corner
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), the global platform of the leading gas producing countries, participated in a roundtable discussion of the 78th UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), held in Bangkok, Thailand, recently.
The roundtable “Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services in the Asia Pacific region” explored the potential of low-emission energy sources, such as natural gas, for the attainment of UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 in the region. It was organised by the Russian Energy Agency of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation.
Representing the GECF via videoconference from Doha, Dr Alexander Ermakov, Energy Econometrician, Energy Economics and Forecasting Department, highlighted the role of natural gas in satisfying global energy needs, focusing on demand prospects in Asia Pacific. He emphasised that the potential for natural gas demand expansion in the region is enormous. This increase is estimated at 830 bcm between 2020 and 2050, whilst the share of gas in the regional energy mix is projected to rise from 12% to 17% during this period. According to him, natural gas is the ideal solution available currently to displace coal and support environmental goals, whilst driving the energy transition strategy for the majority of countries in the Asia Pacific region.
Other participants maintained that the gas industry can become a driver for the further development of trade and economic relations between the ESCAP countries, as well as ensure the intensification of the exchange of knowledge, advanced technologies and promote the growth in investments.
A specific goal of the roundtable side event was to launch a technical cooperation project to expand the use of natural gas in the UN ESCAP countries.