ABSTRACT
What is the future of natural gas in the energy market? The simple answer is: quite bright. This chapter will substantiate this assertion by reviewing, in turn, the recent history of consumption growth in major markets, the situation regarding production and resources in a short historical perspective, the prospects for gas in the world energy market, as seen by reputable forecasters like the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the realism of these prospects (in view of recent developments that have made gas more competitive) and a future maverick, represented by the possible commercial breakthrough of gas transformation into middle distillates on a large scale.
