Security of Supply: does the future lay on gas pipelines/infrastructure?

Speakers: Marco Alverà, Senior Vice President Eni Gas & Power in charge of gas supplies from Algeria, west Africa, Middle East and Northern Europe; Head of South Stream project and Laurent Muschel, Head of Unit International energy relations, Enlargement- DG TREN

Gas supply is no longer an economic or industrial issue. It is above all a key topic for national and European security. Europe will have to double its existing gas import infrastructure in order to deal with the expected increase in demand. In the next ten years we need to build at least as much import capacity as we have built in Europe in the last 50 years.  
Our speakers explained how, since Europe is not alone in its search for gas, new pipeline projects connecting Europe to the world’s largest reserves should be actively promoted. Taking into account Europe’s increased dependence on a limited number of energy sources as well as supply and transport routes, it is essential to support initiatives aimed at their diversification given the actual political situation in the Caucasus.