NATURAL GAS

Natural gas is a fossil fuel source of energy, which represents more than one fifth of total energy consumption in the world. It has been the fastest growing fossil fuel since the seventies.
Due to economical and ecological advantages that it presents as well as its safety qualities (e.g. reduced flammable range), natural gas is an increasingly attractive source of energy in many countries. At present, natural gas is the second energy source after oil. According to Energy Information Administration, natural gas accounted for 23% of world energy production in 1999. It has excellent perspectives for future demand. Natural gas is considered the fossil fuel of this century, as petroleum was last century and coal two centuries ago.
Natural gas presents a competitive advantage over other energy sources. It is seen as economically more efficient because only about ten per cent of the natural gas produced is wasted before it gets to final consumption. In addition, technological advances are constantly improving efficiencies in extraction, transportation and storage techniques as well as in equipment that uses natural gas.
Natural gas is considered as an environmentally friendly clean fuel, offering important environmental benefits when compared to other fossil fuels. The superior environmental qualities over coal or oil are that emissions of sulphur dioxide are negligible or that the level of nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions is lower. This helps to reduce problems of acid rain, ozone layer or greenhouse gases.
Natural gas is also a very safe source of energy when transported, stored and used.

Although resources of natural gas are finite and natural gas is a non-renewable source of energy, these resources are plentiful all over the world. Natural gas reserves are continuously increasing as new exploration and extraction techniques allow for wider and deeper drilling.