The chairman of Royal Dutch/Shell Group said Thursday that the London-based major wants to contribute some of its technology efforts toward sustainable development, because energy needs by 2050 “could be two to three times more than today.”

The comments by Jeroen van der Veer, chairman of Shell’s Committee of Managing Directors, are part of its seventh annual “Shell Report,” which focuses on financial, environmental and social performance by the company in 2003.

“Our belief in the need to live by our business principles and contribute to sustainable development to deliver business value for our shareholders has been strengthened,” he said. “We remain committed to being transparent and open about our performance, the failures as well as successes,” which is the report’s main goal.

Shell, he said, continues to explore how to meet the energy challenges of the future, especially how to make transport more sustainable.

“Our biggest contribution to sustainable development comes from helping provide the energy the world needs to develop…” in “more socially responsible ways,” said van der Veer. “We are working with partners on a wide range of options to tackle the challenge of making transport more sustainable. ”

Among other things, he said the company conducted road trials of gas-to-liquids transport fuel in three major cities. It also opened four public hydrogen refueling stations last year.

The report may be found at www.shell.com/shellreport.

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