Dutch Deputy PM Recognises Critical Role of Gas as a Future Fuel

LONDON, February 15, 2011 - Maxime Verhagen, Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands, remarks that
gas is critical to the fuel mix as we make the complex evolution towards
lower-carbon output whilst ensuring economic growth remains unstifled:

"For many decades to come, gas will remain critically important to the
energy mix worldwide. In our effort to move to an efficient and low carbon
economy, natural gas as the cleanest of fossil fuels is indispensable. The
Netherlands aims to contribute to this transition by serving as a gas hub to
North-West Europe."

In March, Verhagen will address the major international Gastech
Conference & Exhibition (www.gastech.co.uk/) Amsterdam RAI, 21-24
March, on this subject, where he and fellow international panel members will
examine the role of gas in the future energy mix.

Gas will play key role in low-carbon future energy mix

The latest vision of our global energy future is painted by two of the
world's largest hydrocarbon producers - ExxonMobil (
www.gastech.co.uk/exhibition/exhibitors/exxonmobil-corporation/) and
BP (
www.gastech.co.uk/exhibition/exhibitors/bp-oil-international-limited/)
- in recent reports that examine our projected energy use by 2030. Robust
economic growth, a shift towards greater energy efficiency and moves by
governments towards less carbon-intensive fuels will still not be enough to
prevent a continued rise in greenhouse gas emissions, according to the
forecasts. Our overwhelming dependence will still be on fossil fuels, which
will provide around four-fifths of our energy needs, the forecasts claim,
with the key focus being on how we generate power for domestic and commercial
use. ExxonMobil believes power generation will represent around 55% of all
energy demand growth to 2030 and will account for as much as 40 per cent of
all total primary energy consumed.

The growth of natural gas in power generation

While demand for natural gas will rise in many sectors, it is the role it
will play as an electricity-generating fuel that demands most attention:
growth being projected at an average of 2% per year, or just under 50% by
2030. Much of what is being forecast by the two super-majors is based on the
assumptions that natural gas has a long-term and abundant future. The
revolution in unconventional gas development in the United States, for
example, is also expected to spread to other regions around the globe and
spur major new plays in a fuel that is regarded by many as the cleanest and
least carbon-intensive fossil fuel.

Contact: John Bates, Marketing Manager, +44(0)203-180-6579,
johnbates@dmgevents.com

Contact: John Bates, Marketing Manager, +44(0)203-180-6579, johnbates at dmgevents.com