Natural gas plays a critical role as the world seeks to move towards low carbon economy. One of the most important source of modern energy will be natural gas which is of great importance to world security and highly relevant to Qatar, discussed experts during an online seminar recently.
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) College of Law organised an online event entitled ‘Natural Gas and Global Energy Transitions’ which examined the key subjects from the new book, ‘The Palgrave Handbook of Natural Gas and Global Energy Transitions’. It covered the important roles of natural gas in the global energy transition, and how gas rich countries can leverage their comparative advantages as safe, reliable, and sustainable suppliers of this transition fuel.
Addressing the event, Dr. Susan L Karamanian, Dean, College of Law, HBKU gave the opening remarks. “It is fitting that today’s launch event for the year addresses the topic ‘Natural gas and global energy transitions’ that is of great importance to world security and one that is by definition dynamic and highly relevant to Qatar. Natural gas plays a critical role particularly as the world seeks to go to a low carbon economy," she said.
Damilola S Olawuyi, UNESCO Chairholder and Professor, College of Law, HBKU noted that one of the most important source of modern energy will be natural gas “For those with 100 percent electrification especially countries in Europe and North America when they speak about energy transition emphasis is often on decarbonisation ensuring to reduce the carbon footprints of fossil fuels."
"But in countries with less than 20 percent or 30 percent electrification rates especially in African and some Middle East countries where people still rely on biomass for cooking the focus on energy transition is to move from biomass to modern energy sources,” Olawuyi said
The new book offers the very first book-length examination of the potential contributions of natural gas to the ongoing global energy transition and how can natural gas markets help to address the problem of energy poverty which is still very prevalent in many parts of the world. It sheds new light on how natural gas markets can play crucial roles in advancing global energy security and a just and inclusive transition to low carbon energy sources, Olawuyi stated.
He added, “This book brings case studies from various parts of the world including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Middle East and it unpacks the latest developments of law, policy, market regulations, contractual and technological responses by natural gas markets aimed at improving the reliability, security and sustainability of gas supplies.
It also explores how legal innovations relating to LNG and hydrogen, hybrid project financing, infrastructure repurposing, risk free EPCC contracts, gender-aware transition policies and regional cooperation are shaping natural gas law and policy in energy markets across the world, he noted.
Dr. Eduardo Pereira, Founding Partner, International Energy Law Training and Research Company and International Energy Law Advisory Group, said that natural gas plays a key role for the short and mid-term.
He explained the four chapters of the book which includes – The International Gas Market: Introductory Context or Principles, Decarbonisation of natural gas: Ongoing transformations, Stakeholders Perspectives & Regulatory/Contractual Trends and Lessons Learned and Future Directions which sheds light on energy transitions and the future of natural gas law, policy and research and the future of natural gas: synthesis and summary for policymakers.
