아프리카 천연가스 확보를 통한 한국 기업의 사업다각화 방안

Abstract

The competition for securing natural resources around the world including the United States, Europe and other big energy-consuming countries such as China and India is growing fiercer. Despite heated negotiations through diplomatic channels on easy access to Africa's natural resources, which have emerged as a new supply source, South Korea, highly relying on imported energy, has not yet made any impressive entry into the African resources market. Africa has 8% of the world's natural gas reserves confirmed with 72.4 years of possible exploitation capacity. But in the region where the great potential for deeper penetration is possible, approaches to securing the supply should be different from those taken by other countries that have already set foot in Africa. Therefore, when entering the continent trapped in a vicious circle of civil wars and poverty, we should first build relations of mutual trust by providing the accumulated knowledge we have learnt in the process of economic development rather than using aggressive diplomacy or investment. Besides, efficient use of small and medium gas fields in Africa and direct contribution to the development of the local economy should be considered, along with establishing the closely-linked business system between private and public sectors by introducing new business models based on natural gas such as hydrogen fuel cells, GTL or Eco-Generation which global energy firms are developing as part of business diversification. As a result, This will lead to positive effects and boost our national image, puting our nation in an advantageous position for future competitions surrounding other natural resources.