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Delays threaten UAE's gas programme
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
oil and energy trends
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1744-7992
pISSN - 0950-1045
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7992.2006.310407.x
Subject(s) - natural gas , production (economics) , business , fossil fuel , natural gas field , natural resource economics , service (business) , economy , economics , engineering , waste management , macroeconomics
The UAE is drawing up ambitious plans to increase the production of natural gas. The gas will be required to fuel power stations and desalination plants needed to service the country's rapidly expanding economy. The previous neglect of gas production in favour of oil, however, means the UAE will not be able to bring new gasfields on‐stream quickly enough to meet the planned expansion of the power sector. One large prospect ‐ the Shah field ‐ may be delayed by a border dispute with Saudi Arabia. The gap in supplies will have to be met with imports, but delays are possible here as well. Gas supplies could be tight unless the UAE can speed‐up progress on some of its major developments.