Algeria, Libya and Egypt could all play a major role in the supply of natural gas to Malta, an energy conference heard today.

Energy supply giant Edison CEO Bruno Lescoeur said North Africa would be a "huge player" in supplying natural gas to large chunks of the Mediterranean.

He was addressing the first Malta Energy Conference which has grouped energy experts and decision makers to discuss the future of Europe's energy supply.

He stressed that good political relations needed to be maintained with North African countries, to set up the necessary infrastructure for any gas pipelines.

Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi said ministers would be meeting tomorrow to discuss ways to better facilitate relationships between Malta and gas suppliers. The meeting will also +discuss gas supply security.

Georgetown University Professor Brenda Shaffer described gas as the best energy solution for the EU.

The Mediterranean, she said, was a unique region as it was one of the last to still be using oil to produce energy. Not only was this expensive, but also, by far the more harmful energy solution.

An expert in the politics of gas trade, Prof Shaffer said the gas trade was more political than any other energy supply.

The long term infrastructure and investment needed to set up pipelines and re gasification units meant countries required continuous efforts in maintaining good relations.

Selling natural gas, she said, is "a marriage between industry and government".