Shell CEO describes shale gas revolution, speaks about future shale production sites, Focus Reports

Release Date: 2010-09-22

Royal Dutch Shell CEO Peter Voser, a keynote speaker at the World Energy Congress in Montreal on September 13th, described a natural gas “revolution.” In his address to the Congress, Voser noted that despite some protests, fossil fuels will continue to play a major role in the energy market for “decades to come;” the key, then, is to make their use as clean as possible. The revolution originates with the proliferation of technology that extracts natural gas from shale rock deposits -- Voser highly lauded shale gas, calling it the “cleanest-burning fossil fuel” currently available.

Voser realizes “that there is some public concern” regarding shale gas production. For example, North American groups have expressed anxiety that the gas development could negatively affect fresh-water supplies at the production sites. Voser promised that his company “complies with regulations and follows strict procedures to ensure that the process is safe.” He stressed that, given the robust demand for the fuel, risks such as these must simply be “confronted” and “managed as effectively” as possible.

Voser pointed to North America as a strong source of future shale gas production. He also said that Shell is “convinced and positive that there is a high probability of shale gas” in South Africa, where Shell is “now starting work” to “build the first wells.” Voser called Europe a crucial demand driver for natural gas, but remarked that production projects in Europe are currently limited, due to its population density and consequent land-use policies regarding resource mining.

Type:	NORMAL
Company:	Focus Reports
Country:	瑞士