Since 1931, the International Gas Union (IGU) has promoted the technical and economic progress of the gas industry all over the world. It is regarded as the most influential independent non-profit organisation and serves as spokesman for the global gas industry.
The World Gas Conference (WGC) presented a broad collection of ideas, experience and networking and was attended by 5,300 people from 90 countries representing over 95 per cent of the global gas market. In addition, over 13,800 people came to the exhibition to visit 220 exhibiting companies. Walking through the exhibition gave you a taste of each company’s capabilities and projects – amongst the largest in the world – as well as their national customs.
One of the most valuable aspects of the conference was the chance to meet senior players in the gas industry, including representatives from some of the largest gas operators in the world, such as Petronas, Shell, ExxonMobil, Gazprom, Chevron, Qatargas, BP, Total, Statoil, Petrochina and GDFSuez, and other organisations, such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and national gas associations.
Additionally, novelties enjoyed by delegates included Flamenco at the Spanish Gas Fenosa stand and gymnastics at the Russian Gazprom stand.
Unique features of the conference included 123 Interactive expert showcases, which consisted of posters shown as interactive touch screens, and the Youth Programme, which engaged 250 young people and was devised by itsnotmagicitsscience.com
Conference proceedings by 450 speakers provided key findings of the 70 groups conducting research on topics on the entire gas supply chain – from exploration and production, transmission via pipelines and LNG tanker, as well as distribution, combustion, geopolitics and marketing. Over 52 senior panellists participated in strategic panel discussions on current topics including “˜winning the race for talent’, “˜magic of the young generation’, and “˜unconventional gas – game changer or a global bubble?’.
A highlight was listening to Daniel Yergin – IHS Cambridge Energy Research Association Chairman and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Prize and The Quest – summarise his views of the gas industry on the final day of the conference. He talked about the unforeseen seismic shift from shale gas and growing demand for clean, more efficient and cost-effective energy to fuel the demands from economic growth, rising population and urbanisation – particularly in emerging and developing economies. Yet he also warned of increasing social and environmental challenges to developing gas, in particularly shale.
Australian representation was significantly higher than previous conferences with more than 100 delegates, nine speakers and three session chairs, and Australian organisations such as Woodside and Santos being involved as Bronze sponsors of the event.
The opportunity for eight young Australian professionals to attend the WGC was provided through scholarships by the Australian Gas Industry Trust and the Australian Pipeline Industry Association (see page 32 to read about the young professionals’ experience). Scholarship winners were also given the opportunity to visit the Petronas LNG terminal at Bintulu in Sarawak.
The social side of the conference was spectacular, with welcome and farewell ceremonies, parties for thousands of delegates, and company and consular events each evening. The Australian High Commissioner Miles Kupa welcomed Australian delegates one evening at a function at the Petroleum Club in one of the Petronas towers.
The Energy Delta Institute conducted interviews at the conference with a number of prominent gas leaders, including Australian delegates. Questions were asked on the three main challenges and opportunities facing the gas industry and what the percentage of gas in the global fuel mix will be in 2020. Results from these surveys can be viewed at www.energydelta.org
At the closing ceremony, the outgoing IGU President Dr Datuk Abdul Rahim Hashim handed his title over to Jerome Ferrier for the French presidency, which will continue until June 2015, before leading a spectacular musical show by the WGC12 organising team.
Papers can be found at www.igu.org or by contacting Ms Jinks at jinksy@bigpond.com