The 28th World Gas Conference (WGC 2021) takes place in Daegu, the energy city of Korea and home to the headquarters of KOGAS, in June 2021. Owned by the International Gas Union (IGU) and hosted by the Korea Gas Union, the event’s core aim is to promote the role of natural gas in a sustainable future. WGC 2021 has strong support from the Korean Government, Daegu Metropolitan City, a National Organising Committee made up of almost 50 influential members, and the event’s host sponsor, KOGAS.
The National Organising Committee (NOC) will be the largest of its kind ever created for a global gas event. Launched in December 2016, the NOC includes more than 50 institutions such as the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local government and other public corporations of the Republic of Korea, energy companies and associations. Gas industry major players on the NOC include Hyundai LNG Shipping, Samsung Heavy Industries, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Posco Energy and many more.
WGC 2021 will build on the IGU’s 90-year history of engaging the foremost policy-makers, business leaders and technical experts to shape the global energy agenda. The world’s most prestigious natural gas event will once again feature speakers who are CEOs of major global energy companies and Energy Ministers, as well as thought leaders from sectors outside of the traditional gas industry, such as finance, investment and environmental protection.
The theme for the Korean IGU 2018-2021 Triennium is “A Sustainable Future – Powered by Gas”. Under this theme, the following three areas of strategic focus have been established in order to guide the work and efforts of the IGU Committees and Task Forces, which in turn will provide the framework for the WGC 2021 Conference Programme:
- Environmental Leadership:Overcoming challenges, enhancing efficiency and advocacy for policy & public acceptance
- Market Vitality:Affordability, flexibility and strategic partnership & policy cooperation
- Value Creation:Technological innovation, renewable energies and accessibility improvement
The Committees will determine conference session topics and will review and select speakers for each session through the Call for Papers process, opening in May 2020.
With the next energy transition already underway, as natural gas complements renewables from the perspective of cleaner energy, the sector looks set to see an increase in use of gas-related technology and innovative breakthroughs in renewable technology. This evolution of the energy mix will be reflected at WGC 2021 in the session topics, discussions and participating companies, and the National Organising Committee, along with the conference and exhibition organisers, look forward to the next two years of planning to make it the most successful event yet.
June 2021 will mark the first time this triennial conference and exhibition has been held in Korea, one of the world’s top LNG importing countries, and home to KOGAS, the world’s largest LNG importing corporation.
WGC 2021 NOC Chairman Young Doo Kim is the Acting President & CEO of KOGAS and the Chairman of Korea Gas Union. He explains why this is such an exciting time for Korea to host the world’s largest gas event, after a recent investment of $896 million on eco-friendly infrastructure: “Korea is expanding LNG bunkering facilities as the market is expected to grow from 310,000 tons in 2022 to 1.36 million tons in 2030, under stricter environmental regulations. The investment will also be used to increase LNG refuelling facilities for vessels and vehicles at port and cargo terminals by 2020”.
Visit the brand new website for more information and event developments – www.wgc2021.org. Exhibition and sponsorship opportunities are now available.
