World Gas Conference 2006

It gives us great pleasure to invite you on behalf of the International Gas Union to the 23rd World Gas Conference. The Conference will be held from 5 to 9 June 2006 at the Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Congress Centre, an excellent venue in southern Amsterdam, just 15 minutes from Schiphol International Airport.

IGU is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2006, and with 86 members from 66 countries and regions and representing 95% of all gas sales, IGU is the world’s most important non-governmental and non-profit gas organisation.

The World Gas Conferences are the IGU’s most important events. They are renowned because this is where the gas world meets and the results of the work done within IGU are presented.

The 23rd World Gas Conference offers a fascinating and wide-ranging Programme. As usual, it will be combined with a huge exhibition where you and those accompanying you can choose from a variety of options in the Social Programme to learn more about the lively and charming capital of The Netherlands and its surroundings. It is, of course, our job to encourage you to join us in Amsterdam next June, but we really believe that as you go through the pages of the Programme, you will realise that this is an opportunity not to be missed.

The IGU World Gas Conference 2006 promises to see the gas spectrum develop to the broadest extent in its history. Gas is increasing in importance virtually all over the world. At the same time, governments and markets are seeking new ways to balance the public interest with the needs of business. Environmental solutions require new approaches, stimulating research and innovation. The LNG market is developing strongly. Gas can be the driving force towards what will later be recognised as an era of transformation in energy technology. Let us turn to the nearer future.

The three Strategic Guidelines that IGU has issued for this Triennium reflect major developments:

• Technology, industry efficiency and customer focus sets out the need for both innovation and efficiency for economic and environmental reasons and also in the interests of our customers;
• Gas as the fuel of choice preceding a sustainable energy system reflects the natural gas industry’s responsibility for ensuring that the transition goes smoothly;
• The industry’s role as a responsible corporate citizen emphasises that the IGU community wishes to enjoy society’s approbation and will continuously strive to achieve it

This Triennium includes highlighting topics like the complex and fascinating role of regulation, the increasing use of gas in the power sector and the challenge of how to emphasise the role of natural gas in the development of a sustainable energy system.
All this confirms IGU’s authority as the mouthpiece of the world gas industry. We look forward to welcoming as many participants as possible. We are confident that IGU and everyone involved in this 2006 World Gas Conference in Amsterdam will give you an exciting foretaste of the future of energy. The new energy era will demand the best we have to offer.

Hence our slogan:

GAS: POWERS THE PEOPLE
PRESERVES THE WORLD
PROMOTED BY IGU

We hope that the 23rd World Gas Conference will give your work fresh impetus by providing you with the latest updates in the field of gas and energy.
www.wgc2006.nl