Energy demand to climb to unseen highs by 2030: NATO official
Global demand for energy will surge by an estimated
15 times by 2030, a NATO official told a seminar in Baku last week.
Michael Gaul, Director of its Defense and Security Economics
Directorate, made the announcement at the "Energy security:
challenges and opportunities" event held with the support of the
military bloc`s Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.
He said that, as the world`s needs for hydrocarbon resources grow, countries are focusing increased attention to their energy security. At times, these efforts assume a military tone. Thus, attacks on energy infrastructure and rising activity of sea pirates are inflicting hefty economic losses to the affected states.
According to Gaul, political and economic factors come into play in ensuring energy security. For instance, the recent problems between Russia and Western-leaning Ukraine have taken a dire toll on alliance members, he said, referring to the gas dispute between the two countries that had threatened supplies to world markets.
Gaul said NATO supports diversifying energy supply routes as an option to solve the problem. Moreover, the alliance believes that coordinated protection of energy infrastructure should be ensured. He emphasized that safeguarding infrastructure on the routes used to export Caspian energy resources to Europe is important as well.
Bogdan Aurescu, the Romanian Foreign Ministry`s Secretary of State for Strategic Affairs, called on NATO to increase its role in ensuring the security of the Caspian and Black Sea regions. He noted that the alliance could also play a key role in guaranteeing global energy security. Thus, the bloc could contribute to safeguarding those regions with abundant energy resources as well as protect the infrastructures there.
Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said in his remarks that Baku welcomes discussions on energy security within NATO. According to Azimov, an international training center dealing with related issues may be established with the alliance`s support in Azerbaijan in the future.
Azimov believes a common approach is needed to the energy security issue, and world politicians should view it as a problem of an international scale. "The issues of energy security and overall security are inter-related and should be in harmony with each other."
He said that, as the world`s needs for hydrocarbon resources grow, countries are focusing increased attention to their energy security. At times, these efforts assume a military tone. Thus, attacks on energy infrastructure and rising activity of sea pirates are inflicting hefty economic losses to the affected states.
According to Gaul, political and economic factors come into play in ensuring energy security. For instance, the recent problems between Russia and Western-leaning Ukraine have taken a dire toll on alliance members, he said, referring to the gas dispute between the two countries that had threatened supplies to world markets.
Gaul said NATO supports diversifying energy supply routes as an option to solve the problem. Moreover, the alliance believes that coordinated protection of energy infrastructure should be ensured. He emphasized that safeguarding infrastructure on the routes used to export Caspian energy resources to Europe is important as well.
Bogdan Aurescu, the Romanian Foreign Ministry`s Secretary of State for Strategic Affairs, called on NATO to increase its role in ensuring the security of the Caspian and Black Sea regions. He noted that the alliance could also play a key role in guaranteeing global energy security. Thus, the bloc could contribute to safeguarding those regions with abundant energy resources as well as protect the infrastructures there.
Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said in his remarks that Baku welcomes discussions on energy security within NATO. According to Azimov, an international training center dealing with related issues may be established with the alliance`s support in Azerbaijan in the future.
Azimov believes a common approach is needed to the energy security issue, and world politicians should view it as a problem of an international scale. "The issues of energy security and overall security are inter-related and should be in harmony with each other."
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