Lower oil prices and their impact on the world’s massive Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industry are looming large as a hot topic at the upcoming biggest LNG conference and exhibition ever held in Australia.
More than 2,500 global LNG industry professionals from more than 70 countries and hundreds of additional gas industry people will assemble in Perth in April this year for LNG 18 – the prestigious triennial event that dominates LNG discussions throughout the world.
The exhibition component of LNG 18 will showcase more than 250 key companies and organisations.
The triennial International Conference and Exhibition on LNG is owned and presented by the International Gas Union (IGU), the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) and the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR). The host IGU member for LNG 18 is the Australian Gas Industry Trust (AGIT) with the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) the event’s supporting association.
IGU President, Mr David Carroll, said today that LNG 18 in Perth would showcase the global gas industry to the world and will be the most significant international event on the gas industry calendar in 2016.
“This is a most appropriate time for this conference and exhibition to be held in Australia which continues to move towards a leadership position in the world LNG production and export industries,” Mr Carroll said.
“The outstanding papers and presentations will provide delegates with up-to-the-minute information and comment not previously available to the world gas industry,” he said.
“We are mindful that such an important global event will be held at one of the most critical times in the world gas industry as low oil prices continue to impact on the LNG industry as a whole and in turn place increased pressure on planning and timing for future growth.
“No doubt we will still be in a lower commodities price environment when LNG 18 meets in Perth so our conference theme, The Transformation of World Gas, will be a global and relevant focus.
“We look forward to ongoing partnerships being strengthened when industry participants assemble in Perth and expect new project relationships will be under the microscope among attendees.”
Global industry leaders to join forces for LNG 18 opening
Leaders from three of the largest participants in the global LNG industry – Mr Ben van Beurden (CEO, Royal Dutch Shell), Mr John Watson (CEO and Chairman of Chevron) and Woodside Ltd CEO Mr Peter Coleman – will share centre stage when they join forces in Perth to jointly open LNG 18.
LNG 18 is the second occasion Australia and Perth have been chosen as the venue for the world’s largest global LNG event as the city also successfully hosted LNG 12, 18 years ago.
The dramatic growth in the Australian LNG industry since LNG 12 was held in Perth in 1998 has been striking, with the nation rocketing up the output ladder towards being on the cusp of challenging Qatar as the world’s largest LNG exporter.
From its fledgling LNG position at the time of LNG 12 in Perth, Australia is today the third largest LNG exporter in the world and with abundant offshore and onshore petroleum reserves under development and close to key LNG demand centres in the Asia-Pacific.
In the past 12 months alone, three new LNG projects on Australia’s east coast, APLNG, GLNG and QCLNG, all based around Gladstone, have come into initial production and export stages.
Importance of LNG industry to Australia
Mr Grant King, Managing Director of Origin Energy and Chair of the LNG 18 National Organising Committee, said Australia was privileged and delighted to again host a global event of such significance.
“This will be the largest and most important international energy conference and exhibition ever held in Australia and reflects the great importance of the LNG industry to our country which is seen throughout the world as a reliable and secure energy supplier,” Mr King said.
APPEA’s Chief Executive, Dr Malcolm Roberts, said: “We look forward to welcoming delegates to Perth for LNG 18 and sharing with them the latest insights from Australia’s innovative LNG projects.”
“With the energy industry facing uncertain times, information sharing and networking is even more important for businesses today. LNG 18 will offer delegates unprecedented opportunities,” Dr Roberts said.
“Nowhere else in the world will delegates be able to engage with so many business, political and thought leaders relevant to the industry, in the one place at the one time. LNG 18 will be five stimulating and rewarding days for delegates,” he said.
High level industry professionals already confirmed as plenary session speakers for the five-day conference include:
Government Representatives
The Hon. Colin Barnett MEc MLA – Premier, Western Australia
The Right Hon. Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi – Lord Mayor of Perth
Principal Sponsors
Mr John Watson – Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Chevron
Mr Ben van Beurden – Chief Executive Officer, Royal Dutch Shell plc
Mr Peter Coleman – Chief Executive Officer, Woodside