Gas: governing and consolidating this year's strong growth
Q. Director García, is it already possible to draw up an initial assessment of 2018?
Undoubtedly, the year we are experiencing has been full of challenges. Especially because the increase in 80% compared to the previous year has forced us – and it could not be otherwise – to review our raw material purchasing policy (natural gas) and to implement a series of innovations related to the creation of products designed for the end user. Only in this way is it possible to keep up with market demands and continue to grow harmoniously.
Q. How do you intend to move to meet the demands of a market that has grown so much?
In relation to sales, our commitment is and – increasingly – will be to offer a wide and diversified range of products capable of satisfying customers with different needs regarding natural gas consumption.
Q. What actions do you plan to take?
One concerns the purchase of raw materials. Our goal is, in the medium term, to shorten the supply chain, getting ever closer to the producer. Only in this way is it possible to find framework agreements that allow for that saving on the purchase cost that, in turn, allows us to offer economically advantageous rates to users.
Q. In numerical terms, what is the Audax Group's commitment in the gas sector?
As a Group, we supply the equivalent of 3 TWh/year of natural gas in the 6 European countries where we are present, serving over 65 thousand customers.
Q. The world of gas, understood as a market, supply and prices, is greatly affected by the geopolitical situation. How do you judge the current situation and what prospects do you foresee?
Looking at the international situation, there are several clues that point to a stable growth of the sector, at least in the coming years. In fact, if until recently gas production was concentrated in countries that were politically unstable or subject to cyclical turbulence, today the entry on the scene of players such as Canada and Australia is changing the situation a bit towards stabilization.
However, we must not underestimate another element, different from geopolitics but potentially capable of changing the situation, namely demand.
Q. Does this mean that globally there is a shift towards this energy source?
In a way, yes. Let's say that as a fuel that is much less polluting than coal and oil, natural gas is becoming a key player in sectors such as transportation and power generation. Gas is also seen as an ideal back-up technology for renewable energy sources.
