The Application of Analytical Hierarchy Process in Combination with PESTEL-SWOT Analysis to Assess the Hydrocarbons Sector in Cyprus

Michail Tsangas, Mejdi Jeguirim, Lionel Limousy and Antonis Zorpas
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Michail Tsangas: Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Environmental Conservation and Management, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Cyprus Open University, 33 Giannou Kranidioti St, 2220 Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus
Mejdi Jeguirim: Université de Strasbourg, Université de Haute Alsace, Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M) UMR CNRS 7361, 68057 Mulhouse, France
Lionel Limousy: Université de Strasbourg, Université de Haute Alsace, Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M) UMR CNRS 7361, 68057 Mulhouse, France
Antonis Zorpas: Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Environmental Conservation and Management, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Cyprus Open University, 33 Giannou Kranidioti St, 2220 Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: Natural gas reserves have been recently found offshore of Cyprus. Hence, a new energy sector is under development, creating potential for raised welfare for the small insular EU member. Several social and economic benefits could be achieved from the resources’ exploitation. However, natural gas is a non-renewable energy source, connected with the major environmental issues of fossil fuels. The research goal of this work was to evaluate the sustainability of the new hydrocarbons sector. This was attained using a set of indicators, developed from the combination of PESTEL (Political, Economic, Technical, Social, Environmental, Legal) and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analyses. These were quantified using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) weighting method. They were pairwise compared and evaluated, resulting to a size for each one. The judgements of four evaluators, representing diverse interested parties, were used. The strengths and opportunities of the sector were found to be more than the weaknesses and threats. The relevant indicators quantification demonstrates also that the value of the positives is higher than the negatives. Therefore, if the first are enhanced and the latter are mitigated, there is sustainability potential. The sectors environmental issues are evaluated as the most important, followed by the economic. The other takes lower but comparatively significant values, and must be handled accordingly. These results lead to useful conclusions and could be exploited for decision-making and policies formulation.

Keywords: natural gas; sustainability; PESTEL; SWOT; AHP (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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