‘Even in 2011 we could not imagine the magnitude of the impact of shale gas on energy supply and chemical industry. Shale gas recovery, and fracking as a technology, have grown big in the US, causing the gas price to take a dive to a level of one seventh of that in the Netherlands. In the US, companies have announced for as much as eight billion dollars in investments in gas cracking plants, which will cause a new kind of reality in Europe. We will have to find an answer to that, if we should wish to stay competitive at the world stage. In my mind, use of shale gas in Europe is simply coupled to energy policy. Energy prices are high here, and Europe as a whole could benefit from a lower gas price here. It could be a powerful motor behind a strong revival of chemical industry.’
Gerard van Harten, head of Dow Chemical The Netherlands, and chairman of the Top Sector Chemistry, 9 October in The Hague, on the occasion of the kick-off of TKIs in Topsector Chemistry.
We go out of our way to ensure our processes and materials are #sustainable, keeping our #carbonfootprint to a minimum. We do this to ensure our business has minimal impact on the #environment and to help other businesses reduce their carbon footprint with sustainable #print. pic.twitter.com/1T7nwibGKy
Shale gas is responsible for a gas price seven times as low in the US as in Europe
‘Even in 2011 we could not imagine the magnitude of the impact of shale gas on energy supply and chemical industry. Shale gas recovery, and fracking as a technology, have grown big in the US, causing the gas price to take a dive to a level of one seventh of that in the Netherlands. In the US, companies have announced for as much as eight billion dollars in investments in gas cracking plants, which will cause a new kind of reality in Europe. We will have to find an answer to that, if we should wish to stay competitive at the world stage. In my mind, use of shale gas in Europe is simply coupled to energy policy. Energy prices are high here, and Europe as a whole could benefit from a lower gas price here. It could be a powerful motor behind a strong revival of chemical industry.’
Gerard van Harten, head of Dow Chemical The Netherlands, and chairman of the Top Sector Chemistry, 9 October in The Hague, on the occasion of the kick-off of TKIs in Topsector Chemistry.
on: 16 October 2012