Energy issues & markets

The economic slowdown that started in the fall of 2008 had an impact on energy demand around the globe. Nobody can predict the duration or the magnitude of the recession and the worldwide economic slowdown, but the forecast for 2009 is bleak.

Nonetheless, under the combined pressures of world population growth, more widespread access to energy and the resurgence of economic growth, world power consumption is set to increase over the longer term.