FUTURE IN GAS NOT NUCLEARFuture in gas, not nuclear power:...

FUTURE IN GAS NOT NUCLEAR

Future in gas, not nuclear power: Shell
Peter Ker
June 1, 2011

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Shell predicts emerging forms of gas will meet energy demands. Photo: AFP
EMERGING forms of gas are more likely to be the ''game-changers'' of the global energy sector than nuclear power, according to 40-year scenario planning by energy giant Shell.
Shell's bullish stance on the future of ''unconventional gas'' came as controversy over coal seam gas extraction gathered pace in Australia, with public protests and new laws in Queensland.
Despite unveiling the new laws to protect some agricultural districts from mining, Queensland Environment Minister Kate Jones was forced to remain inside a Brisbane hotel yesterday because of security fears arising from a nearby anti-coal-seam-gas rally.
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More than 100 protesters blocked access to the hotel, where a coal seam gas industry summit was being told of Queensland's plan to force mining companies to ensure their projects could co-exist with farming.
The laws will apply to food production in the Surat, Springsure and Emerald regions, but they did little to win over critics yesterday.
Farming group AgForce said the laws did not go far enough to protect water tables, while environmental group Friends of the Earth said the new rules were unlikely to prevent a single resources project from going ahead.
Shell is exposed to coal seam gas in Australia through its 50 per cent stake in Arrow Energy, which last week made headlines when one of its wells blew out for more than 24 hours.
Shell vice-president Jeremy Bentham said yesterday that ''unconventional gas'' - coal seam gas and shale gas - had more potential to solve the world's imminent energy challenges than any other source, including nuclear.
But he said nations at the forefront of the new gas markets - such as Australia and the US - had to demonstrate that such forms of gas could be developed in a prudent, safe manner if the sector was to achieve its potential.
''The highest standards need to be applied in operating these areas because if there's a failure, that slows down growth and takes away confidence,'' Mr Bentham said.
''The way we see China developing, if there's confidence in unconventional gas, they see that as a resource they have, they then see that as an appropriate way forward to build up the gas infrastructure in their country.''
Mr Bentham predicted only a 30 per cent increase in nuclear power production by 2030, saying the need to replace ageing reactors would prevent the sector from replacing coal and gas as the dominant sources of global energy.
Shell has not had nuclear power interests since the 1970s.

Cheers Mattocks



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/future-in-gas-not-nuclear-power-shell-20110531-1fems.html#ixzz1NyXN24LM