By Osama Jalal
KUWAIT, Aug 26 (KUNA) -- The world is witnessing mounting demand for natural gas largely because it is a clean source of energy and relatively friendly to the environment, according to OAPEC's chief.
Abbas Al-Naqi, Secretary General of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Organization (OAPEC), said in an interview with KUNA that the globe is witnessing mounting demand for gas because it is clean energy resource, cheap and friendly to the nature.
Gas trade has proven largely feasible; its production cost is low and can easily be transported via networks of pipelines, however in some regions, establishment of such networks face snags such as rugged terrain or existence of waterways.
Natural gas can be liquefied and transported aboard tankers to reach remote markets and consumption destinations; however this transportation means is costly as compared to the pipes -- that are of various capacities ranging between six and 36 inches.
Domestic networks are established to transfer the gas from the fields or processing plants to the consumers, namely individuals or industrial installations or houses. Some gas-rich nations pump gas to nearby countries according to accords.
The gas networks in the Arab world, built in the 80s, comprise seven main lines with a total capacity of 114 billion cubic meters per year. The Arab network had been built to secure natural gas to Europe. Morocco, for instance, benefits from the pipeline that crosses its territories from Algeria to Spain -- that is in the form of some extracted gas amounts. This line, operated in 2011, has a capacity of eight billion cubic meters per year.
Libya for its part exports natural gas to Italy via "the green stream" line, operated in 2004, part of a mega venture to develop gas fields in the country's west. Tripoli transports gas products and condensates from Al-Wafa Gas field which is linked to the Arab gas line that stretches from Al-Arish, Egypt, to Keles in northernmost Syria, via Jordan. Its capacity is in the range of 10 billion cubic meters.
However, Naqi explained to Kuwait News Agency in the exclusive interview that the Arab gas network has stopped operating since 2013 due to supplies' stoppage from Egypt. It had been designed to reach Turkey however it had to be shut due to the events in Syria.
Egypt has another line, the naval one that ends up in Palestine. Its capacity is estimated at seven billion cubic meters per year. Qatar exports the natural gas to Abu Dhabi and Oman through Dolphin Pipeline, operated in 2007, with an operational capacity of 21 billion cubic meter per annum. Its capacity was recently raised to 33 billion cubic meter per year.
A feasible distance for gas transportation via on land networks of pipes is in the range of 4,680 kilometers (some 3,000 miles) for 42-inch radius pipes. As to those at sea, the reasonable distance is in the range of 1,560 km (1,000 mile), with a pipe radius of 20 inch.
Naqi explains that there are many gas distribution networks across the globe -- many located in Asia and Eurasia. Trade in natural gas constitutes two thirds of global trade. (end) oj.rk