Aide-Mémoire

International Symposium on Natural Gas and Sustainable Development

Co-organized by the State of Qatar and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Ritz Carlton Hotel, Doha, Qatar

6-8 February 2006

Background

The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation adopted at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) emphasized the importance of energy for sustainable development and for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Since the beginning of the new millennium the world community has recognized that sustainable economic and social development requires access to and the provision of reliable, affordable and environmentally benign modern forms of energy. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation specifically emphasized the importance of "improving energy efficiency and greater reliance on advanced energy technologies, including cleaner fossil fuel technologies" (JPoI, para 20 c). Within the framework of the JPoI, the world community also called for "greater energy resources development and diversification", as well as for "enhanced cross-border energy trade", including "development of the necessary energy infrastructure" (JPoI, paras 20 d, g and v).

The Role of Natural Gas in the Global Energy System

Natural gas is a major and rapidly growing element in the world energy mix. It is available in sufficient quantities to supply the growing demand. It is projected to play an increasing role in future global energy markets with a share rising from 23 per cent in 2001 to 28 per cent in 2030. The global natural gas reserves are mainly in Western Asia, Central Eastern Europe and the Middle East. It is essential to develop the necessary infrastructure to transform the natural gas resources into commodities and to link the supply areas to the market. A considerable amount of investment is required in the upstream, the downstream and the transport infrastructure in both pipeline network systems and sea-borne (LNG). During recent years natural gas deposits have also been found in several African developing countries and some exploration and feasibility studies are underway on investment opportunities for sustainable natural gas resource development and integration into world energy markets.

These developments are linked to the development of the power sector where high efficiency is obtained in combined cycle gas fired technology with levels above 50 per cent compared to 30 per cent in the best cases of other fossil fuels. The environmental qualities of natural gas related to its lower green house gas emissions encourage its development as a cleaner energy compared to other fossil fuels.

The use of natural gas is increasing also due to other economic and social activities such as GHG emissions restrictions and public awareness considerations linked to nuclear energy safety particularly in industrialized countries. In addition, indications on future developments in relation to the transport sector and to the hydrogen based technologies give natural gas a central role in a global sustainable future.

The developing countries that offer a large natural gas export development potential require continued and expanded international cooperation for development, including an expanded dialogue among the regional, national and international producers and consumers of energy (see also JPoI, para 20 w). This is required to set a stable, flexible and sustainable global gas supply system.

Objectives of the Symposium

The proposed “International Symposium on Natural Gas and Sustainable Development” will be held in Qatar, on 6-8 February 2006 to provide an international forum for an active high-level exchange of national and expert experiences ahead of the 14th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) which is scheduled to take place in New York during 1-12 May 2006 to review progress in implementation of the JPoI with a substantive focus on energy, air pollution/atmosphere, climate change and industrial development. The development, trade and utilization of natural gas will contribute favorably to the deliberations during CSD-14. The Symposium would also provide opportunities for information sharing, joint analysis of development trends and capacity building.

Prospective Participants

The Symposium in Qatar may bring together some 100 distinguished natural gas industry experts, gas industry CEOs and CFOs, and senior officials from leading natural gas exporting and importing countries with a view to assess important current and expected industry trends.

Provisional Programme

Participants at the Symposium may discuss perspectives for enhanced transfer of sustainable natural gas production and utilization technologies. The provisional programme of the Symposium also includes selected issues in energy policy development with regard to impacts of on-going energy and gas market reforms, environmental safeguards, projections on natural gas pricing, energy security and international cooperation arrangements.

The Symposium will be held over 3 days. The provisional programme entails a series of plenary sessions on selected technical and policy issues in natural gas utilization and sustainable development. It is preceded by an opening session with ministerial addresses and a high-level roundtable discussion.

Technical issues include:

Natural gas exploration (new technologies in on-shore and off-short seismology),
Extraction (methods for improving success rates in natural gas drilling),
Production (cost effective ways of natural gas processing, including oil and condensate removal, water removal, separation of natural gas liquids, sulfur and carbon dioxide removal),
Natural gas transport (options for additional pipeline development, pipelines components, inspection and safety, including leak detection, gas sampling, preventive maintenance etc;
Innovative developments in the LNG industry,
Natural gas storage (including underground storage),
Distribution (efficiency and safety in distribution, detection of leakage) and
Natural gas marketing (physical and financial trading).

Policy issues include:

Global energy outlook over the next three decades,
Gas market reforms,
World Trade Organization and gas trade,
Environmental safeguards,
Accessibility of the poor to energy services and alleviating poverty,
International cooperation in natural gas security and flexibility of supply,
Revenue-sharing/distribution.

Organizational Arrangements

The proposed Symposium will be organized by the United Nations secretariat (UNDESA, Division for Sustainable Development; Energy and Transport Branch) and hosted by the Government of Qatar. Selected relevant international organizations will be invited to participate and/or support/co-sponsor the conference event (including International Energy Agency of OECD, relevant international energy industry associations (e.g. International Gas Union, World Energy Council, OPEC, United States Energy Association, etc).

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