Energy aplenty

THE World Energy Council (WEC) assures that the energy consumers across the globe will receive more efficient, cleaner and less obtrusive energy services in the future. This is the leading conclusion of a keynote report on global long term energy prospects presented at a meeting, organised by )4,Ec, at Tokyo in the second week of October. The report which garners information from the energy industries of more than 100 countries, says that the world will depend very heavilyon fossil fuels- oil, gas and coal - until the year 2020, a period that will continue to be shaped by present energy structures. After that, however, the possibihfies begin to diverge.

In one set of scenario, increasing environmental concerns lead to a reduction in fossil fuels, aided by technological developments. At the same time, it does riot rule out the possibility of the contradictory trend setting in, that is, environment taking a backseat resulting in fewer pressures for a change. However, one issue emerges clearly in the wEc report. It does not envisage any major energy shortages. Instead, it predicts that estimates of the world's available energy resource base will continue to increase.