Europe faced its coldest winter for many years resulting in increased demand for gas.  The Russia – Ukraine crisis made matters even more volatile when supply was cut.  Consequently individual European countries had to look to their supply networks and gas storage facilities to ensure that there would be no lasting effect for their customers.  Ensuring effective security of supply is one of the most important issues for gas operators today.  Industry experts continue to maintain a desire for a single European, liberalized and interconnected gas market.

The uncertainty of the flow of Russian gas to Western Europe has caused operators to look for alternative sources such as flow through the Nord Stream, South Stream and Nabucco pipelines as well investment in major gas storage projects that will ensure more security of supply.  Spain has increasingly become an alternative point of supply for Europe through the rise of LNG and the Medgaz pipeline.   The rise of LNG within the gas market has become an important part of what will happen in the future especially as the International Energy Agency has predicted that LNG consumption will be as high as 25% in 2020.  An increase in pipelines, storage and LNG import terminals will create more entry and exit points having a lasting effect on infrastructure.

This marcus evans event will look at how to maintain infrastructure needs through the effective transport and storage of natural gas or through the usage of LNG to coordinate and achieve security of supply within Europe.