Abu Dhabi Hosts International Gas Union Talks Ahead of World Gas Conference

ABU DHABI, UAE, March 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

President of the International Gas Union leads discussions on energy global priorities 

This week senior international gas industry executives gather in the United Arab Emirates for a series of high-level meetings that will help set the agenda for the year's most prestigious energy event, the 26^th World Gas Conference (WGCPARIS2015), which takes place in Paris between 1^st and 5^th June 2015.

Among the themes to be discussed will be security and accessibility of energy supply and the increasing need for cleaner and more sustainable fuel sources. Led by International Gas Union (IGU) President Jérôme Ferrier and WGCPARIS2015 National Organising Committee Chairman Daniel Paccoud, the talks will take place at the Beach Rotana Hotel in Abu Dhabi over three days and will conclude with a technical tour of an ADNOC distribution facility.

As one of the leading voices in the gas sector, the IGU's membership represents more than 95% of the global gas market, many of whom will be present in Abu Dhabi. The meetings will focus on developing key sessions of WGCPARIS2015, which this year has the theme "Growing Together Towards a Friendly Planet". The discussions will also help shape further negotiations at the UN COP21 summit in December, where nations will aim to reach a binding agreement on climate change.

The Middle East is set to play a central role in WGCPARIS2015, with speakers including:

Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer, Qatargas

HE S.M. Hossein Adeli, Secretary General, GECF

Nitin Shukla, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Hazira LNG Private Ltd.

In addition, Abdulaziz M. Al-Mannai from Qatargas, will take part in crucial debates during WGC sessions on Human Capital Strategy for the Future and Battle for Talent. These sessions form the Human Capital stream of the Conference and reflect energy companies' increasing focus on fostering young talent and investing in skills development.

WGCPARIS2015 is pleased to announce that Qatargas and RasGas are also major sponsors of the event.

Jérôme Ferrier, President of the IGU, commented: 

"With its innovative approach to exploration and production, world-class standards in engineering and growing trade links within the LNG sector in particular, the Gulf region is of critical importance to the IGU, and we are honoured to be here in Abu Dhabi to share our knowledge and experience."

"The international nature of World Gas Conference calls for cooperation on a truly global scale. This visit reflects our strong links with the oil & gas market in the UAE and we hope to continue this dialogue on the world energy stage in Paris."

Daniel Paccoud, Chairman of the World Gas Conference 2015 Organising Committee, concluded: 

"With its long history of leadership and ongoing commitment to meeting the long-term energy needs around the world, the Middle East has positioned itself as comprehensive oil and gas hub. Indeed, the region's status as one of the largest suppliers of LNG will be one of the key topics discussed at WGCPARIS2015, providing delegates with the opportunity to hear first-hand from the leading experts in this sector. "

Notes to Editors: 

About the World Gas Conference 

Since 1931, the International Gas Union has been organising the World Gas Conference once every three years. The triennial World Gas Conference is the biggest and most important global gas industry event, attracting 4,000 industry professionals from all over the world and showcasing the latest developments, with information on policies, strategies technologies, challenges and opportunities. The 26th World Gas Conference will take place in Paris, France, 1-5 June 2015 with the theme "Growing together towards a friendly planet."
    
About the International Gas Union

The International Gas Union (IGU) was founded in 1931. It is a worldwide non-profit organisation whose objective is to promote the technical and economic progress of the global gas industry. The members of the IGU are associations and entities of the gas industries in 77 countries which account for over 95% of the natural gas traded around the world, and maintain very close ties with many other international energy organisations. It consists of a total of 142 members, from 90 countries.

SOURCE 26th World Gas Conference