BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Beijing Gas Group chair Li Yalan officially took over the position as the president of the International Gas Union (IGU) at the conclusion of the 28th World Gas Conference (WGC) in Daegu, Republic of Korea (ROK), on Friday.
Li became the first Chinese president of the international energy organization, suggesting China will actively engage in global natural gas course and push for cleaner, safer and more efficient global energy systems.
“I will have the honour of accepting the IGU presidency…We will officially set on the journey from Daegu to Beijing, where the next WGC will take place,” said Li in her speech on Friday.
IGU, set up in 1931, has more than 150 members, which covers more than 90 percent of the global gas market. As the global voice of gas, the organization seeks to improve the quality of life by advancing gas as a key contributor to a sustainable energy future.
Natural gas, the cleanest of all fossil fuels and the best partner to renewables, plays an important role in low-carbon transition worldwide, said Li, adding that “energy security took centre stage in the most prominent way on recent memory, and the challenge of energy security now joins the challenges of the energy transition.”
“China, an important engine driving the global gas growth, is open-minded to engage with international partners, and its gas industry benefits from its friendly energy policies, great market potential, and continuous improvement of infrastructure,” said Li, adding that the Chinese gas industry looks forward to sharing experience and maximizing gas benefits around the world.
“I have high expectations to China on performance and contributions to IGU, and high expectations on bringing IGU onto the stage in new arenas,” said Pål Rasmussen, honorary secretary general of IGU, in an interview by email.
However, there is a risk of demand destruction because certain gas intensive industries, for example, fertilizer and power plants, cannot afford LNG prices in the current range of USD 20-50/MMBtu, said Ieda Gomes, former executive committee member of IGU, in an interview by email.
Li will start in the time of uncertainty, climate change, soaring energy price, supply shortage, and conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, said Yoshida Satoshi, representatives from charter members of IGU Committees, in an interview by email. “But I am sure that she and her wonderful team will lead the industry navigating rough waters ahead,” said Yoshida.
Li noted that the industry needs confidence, communication, and cooperation to get through uncertainties, while in challenging time, IGU will continue to make gas affordable andactively respond to climate change issues.
“IGU, a solid and widespread organization, is enhancing its scoping, having included not just natural gas but all gaseous molecules, like green gases and hydrogen,” said Andrea Stegher, vice president and Europe Regional Coordinator of IGU, in an interview by email. In this respect, IGU will continue to offer a very open and collaborative platform where experiences and innovation will be shared among all parties, said Stegher.
IGU should be the voice advocating the role of natural gas in the transition, but also the place where the whole gas industry prepares the move towards fully decarbonized gas such as bio-methane, green hydrogen and natural gas attached with carbon capture, use and storage technologies, said Didier Holleaux, representatives from associate members of the IGU,in an email.
IGU members will work to measure, reduce and verify their own carbon dioxideand methane emissions by reduction of flaring and methane emissions, carbon capture solutions, and increasing volumes of low and zero carbon gas in their infrastructure and businesses, said Yoshida.
“The Chinese Presidency will lead the ‘Global Voice of Gas’, the only international representative body for the entire value chain of natural gas and the broader portfolio of gases, to continue seeking to champion their roles in enhancing energy security, energising the world, and achieving a just transition,” said Li.（Contributed by Wang Sheng, wangsheng@xinhua.org)
A single purchase
