Open Access to Natural Gas Pipeline Transportation in North America: Lessons for the European Internal Energy Market

There is increasing global interest in natural gas today because of its perceived value for national and international strategies to cope with environmental concerns. The use of gas is rapidly increasing in many parts of the world, and this global resource offers the potential for a much greater contribution to worldwide energy requirements. Most natural gas pipelines and distribution systems are either publicly owned or, in one way or another, regulated by some level of government. Natural gas production, moreover, is dominated by national petroleum companies or by governmental oversight in most countries