- The principal engine of growth in natural gas consumption is the increasing demand for fuel for CCGT plants
- Another key factor for growth has been pressure from external gas suppliers to gain market share in the European market
- Although some improvements has been recorded during 2004 and 2005 there are still numerous difficulties associated with access to the network for new entrants in the gas market

This report:
- Describes the state of play in all gas consuming countries in 2005
- Outlines the position on supplier switching, unbundling and network access
- Contains a section for each country with a gas market under the following headings; deregulation, retail market opening, third party access, customer behaviour and switching, regulator and structure and ownership
- Contains a "World Survey of Gas Privatisation and Deregulation", identifying the status of market liberalisation in every gas country

Key Findings
- The gas markets have changed significantly since the 1st edition of this report
- The gas markets are deregulating more slowly than in the electricity sector and practical obstacles to full liberalisation remain
- The transport of natural gas requires enormous investment with pipelines covering great distances and gas markets are often dominated by relatively small numbers of utilities because of the high costs of building gas pipeline infrastructure
- Natural gas markets have been designed with an international perspective in most cases, as domestic supply could not cope with demand increase
- Seven European countries have opened their gas markets completely ? Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK. In North America the natural gas markets are partially opened
- The emphasis of liberalisation differs widely from country to country
- The composition of the supply market varies considerably by country
- Even though the wholesale gas market is rather concentrated, there are more competitors in the supply market
- However the gas markets remain very concentrated at a national level
- In conclusion - the third party access regime for gas is not as well developed and as well regulated as that for electricity

Reasons To Buy
- Gain insight into the global natural gas markets
- Understand how to position your business within the evolving natural gas market
- Look at opportunities in the natural gas supply chain