Sustainable development

Global Energy Trends Mean Challenges Lie Ahead

• Demand: Global demand for energy continues to grow, in both the developed and developing world. Energy use in 2050 may be twice as high as it is today.
• Supply: Conventional sources of energy supply are already under pressure. By 2015, easily accessible oil and gas will not be enough to match growing demand.
• CO₂: Inevitably, more energy consumed means more CO₂ emitted into the atmosphere at a time when climate change is a critical global issue.

Real world

These trends cannot be ignored; they will have a big impact on how the oil and gas industry shapes up to the future. Take the use of bitumen in transportation infrastructure, for example. Countries want more roads. In developed towns and cities people expect fast, easy and well-maintained access from place to place. In developing countries, new or improved rural roads can bring people closer to local markets, schools and healthcare and other services.

Better world

According to The World Bank*, the maintenance of rural roads is considered a key issue; it estimates that $1 spent on roads is more effective in tackling poverty than $1 spent on irrigation.  What’s more, a good all-weather road infrastructure can contribute to wealth production and improved health.

_{* World Bank Transport Week Presentations, wk/c 26th March 2007}

Meeting the Need for More Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure

Shell Bitumen is developing and commercializing technologies that are designed to deliver environmental and social benefits, as well as continuing to meet increasingly stringent performance standards.

Environmental

Shell was one of the first energy companies to acknowledge the threat of climate change; to call for action by governments, industry and energy users; and to take action itself. Using our technical know-how, Shell Bitumen provides solutions formulated to help reduce emissions in asphalt manufacture and road construction. Some of our leading-edge technologies and their benefits are:

Shell WAM Foam - low temperature solution 

Shell Floraphalte – plant based clear binder renewable coloured solutions in pavements 

Recycling - Natural resource management

Social

Roads are a cornerstone of poverty reduction strategy. Improved road infrastructure can provide rural communities with enhanced access to critical services such as hospitals, clinics and schools. Roads can help with the development of local economies by providing farmers access to local markets.

At Shell Bitumen, we have extensive experience of implementing low cost road solutions in developing countries. 

Shell Instapave  - Developing rural areas

Social responsibility means also looking to the safety and well-being of people on roads - both travellers and road builders.

Shell Bitufresh - Developed to reduce odour 

Shell S-Grade Binders - Airport Workability/open traffic earlier 

These binders also hold the promise of enabling urban roads and highways to open sooner after re-paving, therefore helping minimize traffic disruption and related traveller frustration.

Shell Mexphalte C - Natural and Coloured pavements improving safety and quality of life in urban areas 

These binders enable the addition of a wide variety of colours to the urban landscape, improving aesthetics on one hand, and increasing traveller safety on the other through clear demarcation of walkways, bike paths, etc.