Gas Infrastructure Europe

What impacts the gas world today? 
 
The issue of security of energy supplies currently is at the forefront. With the availability of energy resources and reliable energy transport to the markets becoming one of the leading questions that need to be addressed.

GIE as the representative of the EU gas infrastructure operators concentrates on ensuring the smooth flows of gas to the consumers. So far our members have been successful in this task.

Of course, sometimes there are occurrences threatening the secure flow which lie outside the territory of our members. In those cases they have very limited possibilities to influence them.

However market participants are trying  to minimize their impact in the future through a sustained endeavour towards diversification of supply sources and supply routes.

A new energy legislative proposal was announced by the Commission. What challenges will it bring to your Organization?

We still are uncertain what the new package will bring.  We have understood there is likely a proposal for a formal TSO organisation. GIE would welcome such a proposal by the Commission.

In this context we expect that GTE will play an important role. We think it is the utmost importance that this new TSO organisation will work together with all stakeholders in the market. It will e.g. introduce extensive and robust consultation processes with market participants.

To support the development of the internal market GIE is in the process of developing several initiatives regarding transparency. They aim at a high level of information availability to market participants

GIE also deals with issues of investment into gas infrastructure. We consider investments crucial for further development of the gas market and for security of supply.

Does Europe have good prospects for secure energy supply in future?
 
There are enough gas reserves within economic reach to supply the European markets in the future. However, some preconditions must be fulfilled to get this gas to Europe and to the customers: there is a sound investment climate stimulating the required investment and producers and suppliers consider the European market attractive enough in competition with other gas markets outside Europe.

We invited representatives of major gas producers and suppliers to Europe to the GIE Annual Conference in Madrid on 22-23 November to know their views on these issues. They will inform us about their assessment of the attractiveness of European gas market for their future gas deliveries.

Will there be enough investment available to secure those supplies?
 
It is of the highest importance that a sound investment climate encourages such investments. If that is the case, I am confident that the necessary future investments will be made. The Third Package which shall be issued by the Commission in September will play a significant role in this aspect.

How this Package will influence infrastructure investment also will be a point of discussion at our Conference with representatives of the Commission as well as representatives of the European Regulators' Group for Electricity and Gas (ERGEG).

I would like to use this opportunity to invite everybody who is interested in energy issues to come to Madrid and join the GIE Annual Conference on 22 – 23 November.

 

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