The 27th World Gas Conference (WGC 2018) takes place in Washington DC from June 25-29, 2018 and is the first time in WGC’s 86 year history that it will be held in a country that is both the world’s largest gas consumer and gas producer. This is an exciting time for the US, which according to the IEA at the COP23 summit in November is “set to become the undisputed leader of oil and gas production worldwide”. In addition, the last Potential Gas Committee assessment released earlier this year reported a record future supply of natural gas in the US – the highest resource evaluation in the Committee’s 52 year history.
WGC is truly a global event for the industry, with US Energy Secretary Rick Perry recently telling the American Gas Magazine; “The World Gas Conference, now in its 27th edition, is a wonderful opportunity for the United States to share our technological advancements and strategies for natural gas on a global platform. The conference allows us to collaborate with foreign leaders and experts in the industry to ensure energy security and reliability throughout the world.”
Held under the patronage of the International Gas Union (IGU) and hosted by the American Gas Association (AGA), WGC 2018 receives exceptional industry support and is expected to draw more than 12,000 representatives from the entire natural gas value chain – the most definitive global gas industry gathering of influential leaders, policy-makers, buyers, sellers and experts to date.
Under the theme “Fueling the Future” the event aims to solidify the pivotal role of natural gas as a critical source of energy that is clean, abundant, economical and sustainable. Over 45 global energy industry leaders are already confirmed as keynote speakers and these CEOs of international energy companies, global gas experts, distinguished energy officials, policy makers and government representatives from across the globe will present their views on the most timely and topical, technical, commercial and strategic issues and opportunities facing the natural gas industry.
Delegates can look forward to Keynote Sessions including ‘The Biggest Challenges and Opportunities facing the Global Gas Industry’, ‘The Role of LNG in Shaping the Natural Gas Landscape’, ‘What next for the Asia Pacific Gas Market?’, The Future of Europe’s Energy Market’, ‘Access to Sustainable Energy in Developing Economies’, ‘The Role for Gas in an Integrated Americas’ and ‘Innovation to Drive the Energy Industry Forward’. There are over 100 conference sessions in total, with speakers representing the entire gas value chain.
CEOs speaking on these panel sessions are from companies including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Qatargas, Gazprom, BP, Total, ConocoPhillips and Sonatrach, as well as Government Ministers from the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, India and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia to name a few.
The conference program is shaping up to be the most comprehensive and diverse WGC program to date, with a strong emphasis on attracting participants from both in and outside of the traditional gas industry. For example, the financial community is represented by confirmed speakers from the InterAmerican Development Bank, Lazard International, the World Bank Group, International Finance Corporation, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Standard Bank of Africa, with others due to be announced shortly.
For gas industry customer groups, such as those involved in fertilizers and chemicals, it will be an opportunity to hear from high level confirmed speakers from CF Industries, Potash Corporation, LyondellBasel and ExxonMobil Chemical.
The WGC 2018 exhibition is also a huge draw for anyone involved in the gas industry, featuring 350 exhibitors from over 40 countries. Exhibiting companies cover the entire spectrum – Upstream, Midstream and Downstream – ranging from producers, through EPCs and contractors to specialist products and services. WGC 2018 has introduced the Sustainable Energy Pavilion where exhibitors include the Environmental Defense Fund and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy. Other specialist pavilions include the Natural Gas for Transportation Pavilion, the Showcase America Pavilion and the Technical and Innovation Center which will provide live demonstrations of the latest technology.
For more information and to register as a delegate: www.wgc2018.com