Natural Gas in Europe: Finding the Balance between Market and Geopolitical Challenges
September 29, 2017
Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam
Marco Alverà, CEO of leading European natural gas energy and infrastructure firm, Snam, visited the Johns Hopkins SAIS community for a discussion on energy markets and challenges in the natural gas industry. The event was hosted by the Center for Transatlantic Relations and moderated by Dean Vali Nasr.
Alverà stressed the importance of a unified EU market for natural gas as a way to balance the region's dependency on Russian gas supplies. Alverà sees potential for greater cooperation between the EU and Turkey, although he noted this would involve tough political challenges. Turkey is important in the market due to its position at the crossroads of pipeline infrastructure and proximity to large gas fields in Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, and Iraq, Alverà said.
The discussion also touched on large infrastructure projects for improving natural gas distribution, state subsidies and their role in pursuing nation-level strategic initiatives, and the importance natural gas will play in China's commitment to improving air quality.