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The natural gas supply to Switzerland is guaranteed thanks to a large portfolio of suppliers from diversified geographic locations, reliable partners and mainly long-term procurement contracts. 74% of gas used in Switzerland is supplied from Western Europe (Netherlands, Germany and Norway).
The Russian gas imported into our country is mainly supplied by the German company E.ON Ruhrgas, which guarantees a reliable supply to its clients, thanks to its large storage capacity. At any time, the recurring political or economic tensions between Russia and its neighbouring countries have not had any direct consequence on the security of supply of Switzerland who does not import gas directly from Russia. Since the arrival of natural gas in Switzerland in 1974, it has always been supplied without any interruption. At world level, natural gas reserves are abundant and will be sufficient to meet the increasing demand. These reserves are concentrated in a small number of countries and gas fields. Russia, Iran and Qatar currently hold approximately 56% of the world's reserve. At the end of 2008, the proven natural gas reserves amount to approximately 185'000 billions metre cubes which is equivalent to 60 years of gas consumption at today's rate (against 40 years for oil). Recoverable gas reserves are even larger than expected and amount to approximately 850 trillion cubic metres of gas. This volume only takes into account the resources which are currently economically accessible. “Non-conventional” gases account for approximately 45% of this total.
The exponential development of non-conventional gas in Northern America over the past three years has completely changed the global gas market. New rock drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies have allowed an increased productivity and reduced production costs. The growing use of non-conventional gas, especially combined with a decreasing demand for gas due to the downturn in the economy, has led to a substantial reduction in gas prices in the United States. In turn, this has resulted in lower American imports for liquefied natural gas which then drove the gas prices down in the rest of the world.
In the future, this new resource that is non-conventional gas will have to be included in the game.
The steady rise of non-conventional gas in Northern America, combined with the economic decline of gas demand, will most likely lead to a “gas bubble” (i.e. a surplus of gas) in the coming years. This will have a significant impact on the gas market structure and the gas pricing, especially in Europe.
In 2009, in such a context, this seriously raised the question of complying with the take or pay rules stated in long-term gas supply contracts. Furthermore, the provisions for reviewing prices have been and will again be invoked. Relationships between European gas operators and large gas producers are slightly tenser in these circumstances.
Procurement contracts In 2009, important efforts were made to reinforce the security of supply for Western Switzerland. In 2008, following the signing of new long-term contracts with GDF SUEZ and E.ON Ruhrgas, another contract was also agreed, via Swissgas, with the Dutch company GasTerra. This contract is particularly important for the Swiss gas industry as it gives it direct access to large gas fields nearby. On the 23rd of June 2009, an international agreement in relation to a mutual safety of supply of natural gas was signed with France. This agreement guarantees Gaznat a strategic access to storage capacities part of a contract with GDF SUEZ and this, without any discrimination in relation to the French public distribution. With regards to European spot markets, access has been reinforced by the creation of a new business entity: SET Swiss Energy Trading SA.
Gas extraction in the North Sea Since the end of 2007, we have had direct access to Norway's gas extraction as Swissgas holds 3.33% of the shares of Bayerngas Norge. New procurement routes There are numerous projets for new gas supply infrastructures in Europe, either using pipelines or LNG ships. The main gas pipeline projects are given below:
Projects for LNG ship terminals
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