David Paganie * Chief Editor
The role of natural gas in the energy transition was the focus of the first day of Gastech in Houston. Energy ministers of some of the world’s largest energy-consuming states assembled in the morning as part of a panel and discussed their perspectives on the topic.
The consensus of the presenters is that natural gas will be essential to a pragmatic and orderly transition. But the pace of the transition will vary by region. It will be dictated by national economic conditions and ambitions.
India, for example, is committed to a “green” transition but the pace of its transformation will be gradual as it relies heavily on fossil fuels. The country’s oil consumption is forecast to rise from 5.4 MMb/d to about 7 MMb/d by 2030. It also will account for 30% of global energy demand growth to 2035. “To successfully make the transition, we must survive the present, said Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, India’s minister of petroleum and natural gas. “The directive must be anchored in the real world.”
Egypt is seeking to leverage technology and its domestic infrastructure to unlock the region’s natural resources. Part of the plan is to establish Egypt as an export hub for the region to facilitate development, according to Karim Badawi, Egypt’s minister of petroleum and mineral resources. Egypt is transitioning its energy mix as well, with a target of 42% renewables by 2030.
Türkiye, like Egypt, views natural gas as critical for domestic energy consumption and possibly for export to European markets. Alparslan Bayraktar, Türkiye’s minister of energy and natural resources, outlined three challenges for the nation: energy demand is growing; about 67% of its energy comes from imports; and it needs to develop its natural gas export capabilities.
The ongoing development of the Sakarya field in the Black Sea may enable Türkiye to become an exporter of natural gas. The field, the largest in the Black Sea, is in a second phase of development. This phase will add 26 wells to boost production by an additional 30 MMcm/d by 2028. Sakarya holds an estimated 18 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proved and probable (2P) gas resources. Meanwhile, Türkiye aims to grow renewables as part of its energy mix.
Nigeria is also committed to natural gas to drive its national economy, according to Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nigeria’s minister of state for petroleum resources. The country is ramping up its gas production as well as domestic pipeline infrastructure. Ekpo referenced the OB3 pipeline, which is designed to move 2.2 bcf of gas through an 1,800-m pipeline across Nigeria. The long-delayed pipeline project, due to a complicated subsea segment, is reportedly expected to deliver first gas this year. Nigeria is also investing in hydrogen, solar, and nuclear power.
