Natural Resources Canada
2005/10
February 25, 2005

Canada, Mexico and United States Release North American Natural Gas Vision

OTTAWA - The North American Energy Working Group (NAEWG), a group of senior energy officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States, today released North American Natural Gas Vision, a trilateral report by the three governments that includes information on the natural gas market in the North American region, including forecasts through the year 2012. The Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, joined Mexican Energy Secretary Fernando Elizondo and U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman in announcing the report's release.

"This report provides a unique North American perspective on natural gas. It is the first such document to amalgamate public information on natural gas in all three countries," said Minister Efford. "A better understanding of trends in natural gas markets is very important to all of us. This report is a major contribution toward that end."

North American Natural Gas Vision contains three sections: a summary of key findings; a review of the sector from 1990 to 2003; and a forecast on market supply, demand, prices and trade out to the year 2012. The report also includes comments on issues beyond 2012.

The report is the culmination of two years' work by the NAEWG's Natural Gas Experts Group, which reviewed various measures North America can take to achieve its goals for natural gas. It examines the increasingly important role of natural gas in the energy sectors of the three countries and will serve as an important reference document for governments, businesses and the general public.

North American Natural Gas Vision represents another step in fulfilling the goals of the NAEWG: to promote communication and cooperation among the governments and energy sectors of the three North American countries on energy-related matters of common interest; to enhance North American energy trade and interconnections, consistent with the goal of sustainable development, for the benefit of all, while respecting the domestic policies, divisions of jurisdictional authority and existing trade obligations of each country. 

In addition to releasing North American Natural Gas Vision today, NAEWG also announced the availability of a second document that examines federal regulation of cross-border electricity trade, the Guide to Federal Regulation of Sales of Imported Electricity in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The report is an overview of the domestic treatment of imported electricity in North America and a follow-up to North America - Regulation of International Electricity Trade, released in 2002.

At the Summit of the Americas held in Québec in April 2001, U.S. President Bush, then-Canadian Prime Minister Chrétien and Mexican President Fox committed to expanding energy trade among the three nations and strengthening the energy market in North America. Building on this commitment, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, the Minister of Natural Resources Canada and the Mexican Secretary of Energy agreed to establish the NAEWG. In addition to releasing five reports and continuing work in those areas, the NAEWG is examining other issues, including energy science and technology and critical infrastructure protection.

This report is available at http://www2.nrcan.gc.ca/es/es/naewg/index_e.cfm; http://www.energia.gob.mx and http://energy.gov.

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