Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Muscat: Oman will be the first Middle Eastern country to hold the International Gas Union’s research conference in 2020, to look at what role natural gas will play in a future that looks towards sustainable development.
Organised by the Ministry of Oil and Gas, the three-day event that runs from 24 to 26 February, will see more than 1000 participants come to Oman, representing more than 40 countries. This is a triennial event that is organised by the IGU.
On the subject of Oman hosting the conference, Joe Kang, IGU’s president said: “Research, development and innovation are fundamental to the future of the natural gas industry and it is particularly exciting to bring IGRC to this region for the first time. I extend IGU’s thanks to the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas under His Excellency Dr Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhi, who are patrons of IGRC 2020, and our member Oman LNG and its CEO Harib Al Kitani, who is our host.
“With Muscat’s easy accessibility, and with so much natural gas and LNG activity and opportunity in the region, we look forward to the support and participation of regional and global stakeholders,” he added.
The LNG industry is a significant contributor to a steadily increasing quality of life for citizens and residents in the Sultanate through its execution of a wide swath of social investment programmes through the Oman LNG Development Foundation that addresses many economic and social needs. The export of Oman’s first cargo was in 2000 and since then, proceeds from the blossoming trade have supported, what some observers have described as an ambitious diversification program that has spurred growth in other important sectors of the economy, including tourism, agriculture and the spread of vital infrastructure that supports business and daily life.
Khalid Al Massan, CEO of Oman LNG Development Foundation and chair of the IGRC 2020 national organising committee, stated,” We are delighted to host such a prestigious event to Oman. The IGRC 2020 will captivate the attention of thousands of senior leaders, partners and experts of the gas industry together. Such a conference will accommodate a great atmosphere of sharing invaluable insights on the role of natural gas today, and in the future.
“The timing of the event cannot be better as it comes amid ambitious gas discoveries and booming gas industry,” he went on to add. “We take this opportunity to thank all members of the IGU Executive Committee who marked Oman as the next destination for such a prestigious conference. Such outstanding success is attributed to the on-going cooperation between the International Gas Union and Oman LNG with the immense support of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre”.
Rodney Cox, Events Director of the IGU, said, “The IGU is very pleased to welcome Muscat, Oman, as the host of IGRC 2020. IGU charter member Oman LNG has been an active contributor to IGU and hosting IGRC 2020 builds on this ongoing support. We look forward to an outstanding conference that supports both the IGU’s global objectives, as well as a legacy for the natural gas industry in Oman and the region.”
Said Al Shanfari, CEO of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) the official venue partner of IGRC 2020, said, “It is a privilege to be able to showcase Oman and OCEC as the leading venue of choice in the Arabian Gulf and we are honoured to host the 2020 IGRC Conference. OCEC has now won 22 international and regional conferences that will be hosted in the Sultanate over the next few years, contributing over OMR24.5 million ($63.5 million) and we look forward to welcoming the IGRC delegates from 24 to 26 February 2020.”
