Energy and Environment, a new challenge for the European R&D

26Feb
2001

Speaker : Claude Mandil, President and CEO of Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP).

In the past, the main challenge for the oil and gas industry was security of supply as it had to secure a continuous supply of hydrocarbon products, at a low price, to fuel the growth of the economy.

The answer was found in a sustained and successful effort in technological progress and at present, world reserves amount to 40 years of supply for crude oil, and 70 years for gas. Technological effort must keep momentum as costs must constantly be lowered to improve geopolitical availability of the reserves, and to address the long-term future.

Today, the greatest challenge that the hydrocarbons, as an energy source, are going to face in the coming decades is the sustainability of their use. The combustion of oil or gas whether for transport or energy generation, produces large amounts CO2, the number 1 greenhouse gas.

The task of R&D organisations such as IFP is clear : make hydrocarbons a clean and sustainable energy.

How this strategy can be put into action at the European level ?
What are the technical trails which can lead to success?

Claude Mandil presented the IFP answer of IFP to these questions.