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The
European Autumn Gas Conference
The Excel Centre at Royal Victoria Dock in
London
provided the location for the 20th
European Autumn Gas Conference
where mjm energy enjoyed offering a presence in the shape of Derek West and
Nick White. Delegates gathered from all sectors of the industry and many
countries to hear presentations and network. The main theme covered included
the growth of gas as the fuel of choice for power generation and the
expansion of LNG. This confidence building exercise was warmly received by
most, although there were a few refreshing diversions from those with
tangential views such as Stefan Judisch, MD at RWE Trading GmbH,
who presented his thoughts on coal being the best primary power
supply choice and the need to invest in coal-fired generation.
Perhaps this view is equally unsurprising coming from RWE. The
conference was enlivened by an electronic voting system, which gave
delegates the opportunity to vote on key issues. Interestingly, despite the
focus on LNG, well over half of the delegates voted that more pipeline
interconnectors were the most important infrastructure links required, with
LNG polling less than 20%.
The extra-mural highlight of the first day had to be the
excellent gala dinner sponsored by BP. Delegates enjoyed a short cruise on
board The Silver Sturgeon, as it sailed past the impressively illuminated
docklands skyline towards
Greenwich
. The subtle shift from eastern to western hemisphere under the Greenwich
Meridian laser beam went largely unnoticed as we sampled hors d’oeuvres
and supped cocktails in the saloon, appreciating the hospitality of our
host. After mooring at Greenwich Pier, the party took the short walk past
the famous tea clipper, The Cutty Sark, to the
Old
Royal
Naval
College
and our stunning dining location for the evening in The Painted Hall.
Complete with string quartet and occasional flute solos, the excellent
dinner and continuing conversations complemented the day’s activities and
added to this delegate’s ever-expanding waistline.
The conference finished with a mock trial, the
audience-jury voted on whether to find King Coal guilty of stealing Gas’
mantle as Fuel of Choice for Power Generation. Rather to the surprise of
this watcher, the King Coal was acquitted
of all charges, as it was deemed the mantle of Fuel of Choice for Power
Generation belonged to Coal all
along. I suspect a mis-trial on technological grounds…
EAGC gave delegates a good opportunity to network,
congregate, discuss and formulate a picture of the industry which will
provide sufficient perspective. We look forward to the 21st EAGC
in
Cannes
next year, particularly as Gaz De France has promised good wine!
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