The increasingly complex dynamics of the global energy scenario have engendered a very significant challenge for IGU during the 2006 – 2009 triennium, to comply with its objective of developing significant and useful insights on the present and future roles for natural gas.

It is for this reason that the Argentine Presidency has strongly relied on the vast network provided by the IGU membership to staff the Technical Committees. This multidiscipline and multi-regional force - which reached a record of over 750 members during this triennium - played a key role in the promotion of knowledge, information exchange, and the preparation of concrete reference tools for decision-makers.

The result of their work, which will be presented at the 24th World Gas Conference (WGC), is based on the following Strategic Guidelines established for the 2006 – 2009

Triennial Work Programme:

  1. The Global Energy Challenge: Reviewing the Strategies for Natural Gas towards 2030
  2. Contribution of the Natural Gas Industry, in terms of Security of Supply, Safety and Environment
  3. Regional Gas Market Integration, as a Key Driver for Sustainable Economic Growth


The Technical Committees have been actively involved in the preparation of a prospective analysis on the key drivers of the natural gas industry, enriched by the complementary insight of the different segments and experts within IGU, and valuable input from external organisations. The main outputs of this work will be presented in the sessions referred to the 2030 Natural Gas Industry Outlook study.

The operational intricacies of supply, both by pipeline and LNG, have also been tackled specifically, taking into account an increasing market demand. In these lines, the Technical Programme will address key issues along the entire gas chain (Exploration and Production, Storage, Transmission, Distribution and Utilisation), relative to a reliable and flexible supply, which is both safe and environmentally sound.

Finally, and recognising regional market integration within the gas sector as a driver to sustainable economic and social development, the programme includes sessions that also deal with the challenges to be confronted, including remoteness of supply sources, transit and transmission agreements, and complex geopolitical, social and security issues, and how these can be facilitated by solid gas integration ventures through balanced international treaties, regulation, and financing mechanisms.

As described in the following sections, and summarised in the fold-out table included in the relevant section of the website, the 24th WGC Technical Programme includes different types of sessions:

  • 14 Keynote Addresses, by the personalities listed in the relevant section of the website
  • 4 Luncheon Addresses
  • 9 Strategic Panels
  • 1 Special Session by IGU’s incoming Malaysian Presidency, on the 2009 - 2012 Work Programme
  • 24 IGU Technical Committee Sessions, with the contents detailed in this document and the speakers to be selected as a result of the Call for Papers process
  • 18 Expert Fora, also including Poster Sessions, to be defined close to the Conference date

It should be noted that, on this occasion, we have taken special consideration to provide the best setting for the Technical Committees to efficiently interact with the audience. In these lines, the structure of the Technical Programme allows the registrants to attend the Strategic Panels without missing any Committee Sessions, while also avoiding possible overlap between similar or related topics.

In view of the above, we encourage you to regularly visit the 24th WGC website www.wgc2009.com, to check further news on the speakers assigned to all sessions, in an ongoing manner, without waiting until we hand you the Final Programme – upon your arrival in Buenos Aires – in October 2009!

We sincerely hope the 24th WGC discussions will provide a valuable feedback to the key stakeholders of the global energy and gas industries, and contribute to the development of a healthy investment and business climate, with high-quality dialogue between governmental and corporate players and in close cooperation with all relevant international energy organisations.