Natural gas, renewables should have equal footing in transition: Qatar

The head of Qatar Petroleum said October 5 that natural gas and renewables should have an equal footing in the energy transition.

Qatari energy minister and CEO of Qatar Petroleum (QP) Sherida al-Kaabi told a virtual forum on Asian energy that natural gas would be necessary even as economies try to move away from fossil fuels.

“We believe that natural gas and renewables are partners in the journey to reduce global carbon emissions,” he said. “Gas will remain a much-needed energy source to manage intermittency issues and to offset fluctuations in demand both on a seasonal and daily basis.”

Natural gas could still be used in the power sector to compensate for the intermittent nature of renewable forms of energy such as wind and solar.

QP is heavily invested in the future demand for gas as the biggest LNG producer in the world. In September, it signed a long-term agreement to deliver LNG to a gas and power subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp. Beginning in January, QP will deliver 3.5mn metric tons/yr of LNG over a 15-year period.

Addressing the Asian conference, Kaabi added that a one-size-fits-all approach is not as impactful as a change in mindset about energy.

“The energy transition is not as much about a transition in energy supply, but rather a transition in consumer behaviour,” he said.