6. The outlook for energy

According to projections made at the World Energy Conference in 1986, the world demand for energy is expected to rise at an average annual rate of about 1.75% up to the end of this century. The figure will be only some 0.7% in the industrialised countries of the West due to market saturation, conservation and greater utilisation efficiency. In the less developed countries (LDCs) however, which are starting from a much lower baseline, an annual rate of rise of at least 2.5% may be reached; the demand growth could be significantly greater if there is no major stagnation in the world economy and if both demand and supply can be properly funded.