Time to prioritise gas?
With peak oil approaching, the industry's thoughts are turning increasingly to gas investments
The respective merits of oil and gas investments have been a matter of debate for some time. At the moment, both offer viable long-term opportunities. But with peak oil fast approaching, the industry's focus does seem to be shifting steadily towards gas. All the high-profile forecasters, from the International Energy Agency to BP, work on the assumption that gas will remain a mainstay fuel for the power and heating sectors over the next three decades, in support of intermittent renewable energy sources. Meanwhile, the future of oil demand is more uncertain, dependent to an extent on the uptake of electric vehicles and other alternative transport fuels. How those forecasts are affecting indus
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent
