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Fig. 12 – Actual and proposed LNG regasification projects, worldwide – Source: elaboration of IHS and Snam data

Conclusions
From the evidence to date, the investments in
the oil&gas and generally in energy industries are
staging a gradual comeback, due to the stabili-
zation and probably increase of the oil price; to
drastic industry-wide cost-cutting and to supply
change improvements, which are enabling the
implementation of capital investments at much
lower costs; to changes in the primary energy
mix, with a far bigger role for renewables and
gas than in the past decades; as well as to other
numerous “transitions”, such as the emergence
of electric mobility.
Forecasting with precision all these may trends and
their consequences on the E&C industry is difficult
if not impossible at this stage, but we can see one
Fig. 13 – Electric mobility forecasts – probably understated – Source: The Economist (2017) common conclusion: the transitions will open many
new opportunities, certainly different from historic

aspect of the electric mobility is the need for massi-
ve new infrastructure to support new charging and
distribution systems needed to provide capillary
power supply, as well as new manufacturing faci-
lities for batteries, new mining facilities for key raw
materials, such as Lithium etc.
However, it is believed that as the population of
developing countries increases and becomes more
affluent to purchase their first cars, their preference
might go firstly to traditional combustion engines,
which are becoming in any case much more ef-
ficient. Hence, on the global scale, the impact of
electric mobility will be diluted and postponed for
later in the future.
Of course, the big question remains: what will be
the future global environmental and emissions poli-
cies and their impact on the overall picture of ener-
gy demand and supply - and hence on opportuni-
ties to design and build capital plants? This article
does not discuss the many complex facets of this
essential issue, but the forecasts and the trends
presented here assume that the world will adopt
“some” key environmental and emission mitigation
policies in line with COP 21 commitments, but pro-
bably not all that would be necessary to achieve
the desired climate change goals.

22 Impiantistica Italiana - Gennaio- Febbraio 2018