Demand for natural gas to increase by 32% by 2050

According to Energy Press, citing the Secretariat of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Mohammed Hamel, while welcoming the audience and thanking Sheikh Meshaal bin Jabbour Al Thani, Chairman of the GECF Executive Board, said at the official unveiling ceremony of the ninth and latest edition of the forum’s Global Gas Outlook 2050 report: “As you remember, the previous version of this report was unveiled on the sidelines of the 7th Summit in Algeria in February 2024, and this version has now been developed with its original model in 2024.”
Referring to a statement by Vladimir Lenin that “there are decades when nothing happens and weeks when decades happen,” he added: “We can all undoubtedly agree that history has been in a hurry in recent weeks.”
The GECF Secretary General continued: “In this context, another famous quote from Nobel laureate Niels Bohr, “It is very difficult to predict, especially when it comes to the future,” comes to mind and is very relevant today, as the world enters an era of unprecedented uncertainty in geopolitical, economic, environmental, technological and even social dimensions.
“Seismic shifts in trade, energy and environmental policies, coupled with the evolving geopolitical landscape, are reshaping the foundations of global energy markets,” said Halem.
Prioritizing energy security over sustainability concerns
“Energy security and affordability have re-emerged as dominant priorities, often taking precedence over sustainability concerns, as countries grapple with the complex realities of changing a vast and interdependent energy system,” he added.
The GECF Secretary General continued: “The rapid emergence of AI is also creating disruptive challenges and transformative opportunities in economic and social structures.”
“From the growing energy demand from data centers to the contradictions of efficiency-based consumption, from increasing total factor productivity and thus economic growth to optimizing oil and gas operations, the full impact of AI on the energy landscape remains complex and too early to project,” said Halem.
“Against this complex backdrop, we have pursued the Global Gas Vision 2050 and have remained steadfast in analyzing energy systems through the lens of sustainable development and the underlying drivers of population development, economic growth, rising living standards and energy efficiency gains,” he added.
The GECF Secretary General said: “The findings of this outlook confirm our argument that only a diversified energy portfolio tailored to the unique circumstances and priorities of countries, regions and cities can ensure a balance of energy security, affordability and sustainability.”