Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has urged his country's gas industry to "rise to the challenge" of shale gas as the United States and some European countries forge ahead with developing the controversial energy source. US shale gas production may "seriously" restructure supply and demand in the global hydrocarbons market, Putin said yesterday in his final address to the Russian Duma before he takes over as president on 7 May. Putin said Russia must be prepared for "any external shocks" and "a new wave of technological change" that was "changing the configuration of global markets". --EurActiv, 12 April 2012
