According to recent reports, supplying enough
energy on a reliable basis at prices that will not cripple the global economic
growth has become a challenge with consequences that are difficult to predict. The paper shows that, although this will provide new opportunities for oil and gas companies, pipelines, generators, utilities and others in the
energy business, it also carries serious risks. The paper shows that the demand for energy is growing, not only in the developed economies of Europe, Japan and North American, but in developing countries as well. In fact, the fastest demand
growth is in China and other emerging markets, thus from one side of the globe to the other, societies are needing and demanding more fuel. The paper examines how the world is able to deal with increased energy demands in the 21st century.