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Expected surges in oil and gas demand will boost gas projects through the year 2010. The International Energy Agency, in its 'World Energy Outlook,' foresees two scenarios: in the 'energy savings case,' gas use will rise to 1,864m toe in the year 2000 and to 2,275m toe in 2010 for shares of 20.8% and 20.9%, respectively in the energy market; in the 'capacity constraints case,' gas use will reach 2,050m toe in the year 2000 and to 2,795m toe in 2010, for shares of 21.2% and 23.7%, respectively., Mature markets and newly-industrialising states are alike in needing significant additional volumes of gas in the decades ahead. We assess where Europe, Asia and Latin America will source their supplies, [...]

China is developing its gas reserves, estimated at around two trillion cubic meters, to satisfy rising energy demand and address environmental problems with coal burning. At present, however, a price cap and the lack of infrastructure to transport the commodity is hindering gas development in the country. Nevertheless, investor activity has begun. This, however, is limited to Sichaun province, the development of a pipeline between the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Basin and other regions, and the construction of a pipeline between Hainan Island and Hong Kong., The gas industry in China comes a distant third behind coal and oil, hampered by lack of funding for infrastructure spending and government policies that keep gas prices artificially low. [...]

Wood Mackenzie's report entitled 'Czech Gas Market - Next for Privatisation?' provides a broad outlook into the investment possibilities for Czech Republic's gas industry. The report pointed out the factors that influence the demand for gas, namely economic growth, energy efficiency, use of coal as an energy source, and gas prices. Furthermore, the report predicts a 3% increase in sectoral demand by the year 2010., The regional gas distribution companies in the Czech Republic are likely to attract the interest of foreign companies, although no progress in their privatisation is likely to be made until [...]

The Czech Republic is one of the former countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance where privatization has been successful. Its transition to a market economy has brought attention to the investments in the Czech gas sector where 20% of its eight gas distribution companies may be sold. There is an optimistic forecast in the demand for gas in the long term due to economic growth and environmental pressures to utilize other fuels. The Czech Republic's scant indigenous reserves poses a major problem since it only provides less than 2% of demand.