Bord Gais has said there was a 16% rise in volume demand for natural gas last year, a figure which exceeded forecasts, according to chairman Dr Michael Conlon.
Dr Conlon, speaking at the opening of the company's new headquarters in Cork, said the figures supported an ESRI study on energy demand to 2015.
Chief executive Gerry Walsh said the Irish economy was very heavily reliant on imported gas and stressed the importance of investment in infrastructure.
Bord Gais wants to build a second interconnector to Scotland and is awaiting a decision from the Government on the project. Mr Walsh referred to the 'urgency' of a decision, if shortages were to be avoided from 2003.
