On how natural gas and sustainable technologies contribute to economic diversification efforts
How important is a secure natural gas supply in supporting industrial competitiveness and long-term economic development?
AL DHAHERI: Reliable and affordable natural gas is fundamental to industrial competitiveness, particularly in economies where energy-intensive industries play a significant role. Secure supply enables businesses to plan long-term investment with confidence, maintain predictable operating costs and ensure uninterrupted production.
Industries such as petrochemicals, manufacturing, utilities and water desalination all depend on reliable energy supplies to remain competitive. As demand for industrial output continues to grow, maintaining dependable gas infrastructure will remain an important factor in supporting economic diversification and attracting investment.
Equally important is the ability of energy systems to adapt to evolving demand. Flexible and resilient gas infrastructure provides the stability required to support economic growth while accommodating changing energy requirements over time.
In what ways can natural gas and renewable energy work together to support decarbonisation objectives?
AL DHAHERI: Renewable energy will continue to form the backbone of many countries’ clean energy ambitions. However, because renewable generation depends on weather conditions and the time of day, complementary sources of dispatchable power remain necessary.
Gas-fired generation can increase or decrease output rapidly, helping stabilise electricity networks and ensuring uninterrupted supply while maximising the use of renewable energy. This allows larger volumes of solar and other low-carbon energy sources to be integrated without compromising system reliability.
Rather than competing with renewables, natural gas complements them by providing flexibility and resilience. Combined with continued improvements in efficiency, carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies, and lower-carbon fuels, this creates a practical pathway towards lower-emission energy systems while maintaining energy security.
What measures are helping reduce emissions across the natural gas value chain?
AL DHAHERI: Decarbonising the gas value chain delivers environmental benefits while also improving operational efficiency, resilience and long-term competitiveness. Across the industry, operators are increasingly investing in technologies and operational practices that reduce emissions throughout production, processing and transport.
Continuous emissions monitoring has become an important tool for measuring performance and ensuring compliance with increasingly stringent environmental standards. At the same time, companies are investing in technologies to minimise flaring and venting wherever possible, alongside maintenance programmes that reduce emissions from equipment.
Methane management has also become a growing priority. Leak detection and repair programmes and other monitoring technologies, allow operators to identify and address fugitive methane emissions more effectively. As digital monitoring technologies continue to advance, emissions management is becoming increasingly data driven, allowing operators to improve environmental performance while maintaining safe and reliable operations.
To what extent can natural gas support industrial decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors?
AL DHAHERI: Natural gas is expected to remain an important transition fuel for industries where emissions are difficult to eliminate through electrification alone. Compared with other fossil fuels, it offers a significantly lower carbon footprint while providing the reliability and operational flexibility required for continuous industrial processes.
Its contribution can be further enhanced through the deployment of CCUS. By capturing emissions from gas-fired power generation and industrial facilities, CCUS enables economic activity to continue while reducing overall carbon intensity.
Together, natural gas and CCUS provide a scalable pathway for reducing emissions in sectors such as manufacturing, heavy industry and power generation. They also help establish the infrastructure, technical expertise and investment needed to support deeper decarbonisation over the longer term.
By what means are digital technologies changing the management of gas infrastructure?
AL DHAHERI: Digitalisation is transforming the way gas infrastructure is managed by improving operational reliability, safety and efficiency. Real-time information from sensors, smart monitoring systems and digital control platforms provides operators with greater visibility across pipelines, processing facilities and distribution networks.
Advanced analytics and artificial intelligence are increasingly used to convert operational data into actionable insights. Predictive maintenance allows equipment degradation, leaks and pressure anomalies to be identified before failures occur, reducing downtime and lowering maintenance costs.
Digital technologies are also improving collaboration across operational teams while automating routine processes and strengthening health, safety and environmental performance. Looking ahead, technologies such as robotics, integrated data platforms and digital twins are expected to play an increasingly important role in optimising asset performance and supporting more efficient infrastructure management across the gas sector.
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