AOG ENERGY 2023

This year’s exhibition was an incredible opportunity for exhibitors to showcase innovations, technology and solutions that play an important role in the clean energy future. The theme of collaboration continued at the 2023 AOG Energy event which had 6805 total visitors from 48 countries, 268 exhibitors with 30% international exhibitors and 178 speakers. Attendees explored specialised industry zones on the exhibition floor showcasing the latest in Energy Transition, Drilling & Completions, Subsea & Marine, Automation & Digital Technology, Asset Integrity and Health & Safety.

The 2023 Perth AOG Energy conference positioned Western Australia, and the nation, as a global leader in the rapid development of new technologies needed to support the energy transition.

Alongside the show floor AOG Energy 2023 was a nexus of insight and connections, with sold-out networking functions, four jam-packed conference streams, including expert analysis and keynotes.

Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Madeleine King, has emphasised her government’s commitment to Australia’s energy future. Delivering a keynote address at the 2023 AOG Energy event, Minister King began with an acknowledgement of the past and Western Australia’s resource sector’s history of coming to the nations’ economic rescue, seen most recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, before focusing firmly on our energy future.

An audience of mostly energy industry representatives heard Minister King discuss the significant opportunities ahead in the sector including in carbon capture and storage and decommissioning oil and gas operations. “Carbon capture and storage is a key technology for lowering emissions” Minister King said pointing out that CCS should not be viewed as exclusively for use by the oil and gas sector but can also be applied to hard to abate sectors such as the cement industry.

Western Australia‘s Premier Roger Cook has highlighted the need for collaboration and the right mix of energy sources as Western Australia aspires to play a leading role in moving towards a cleaner energy future.

Speaking at the opening session of the 2023 AOG Energy event, at that time, Western Australia’s Deputy Premier Cook said Western Australia boasted several competitive advantages such as an abundance of natural renewable resources, excellent track record of large project execution and existing infrastructure. Mr Cook believes these advantages, combined with the stability of the State’s environment, social and regulatory environment, skilled workforce and long standing international relationships, can place the State in a unique position to be a global leader in clean energy.

Mr Cook also acknowledged the opportunity brings challenges, a view supported by fellow speakers Mark Hatfield, Managing Director of Chevron Australia, and Mike Price, Acting Executive Vice President of Australian Operations for Woodside Energy.

AOG Energy Commercial Director, Bill Hare, said that while societal changes may have transformed the face of the sector, the broadening in the focus of the event was driven by the industry itself. “AOG Energy began in the early 1980s as the Petroleum Technology Australia conference and has adapted to build on this history while evolving with the massive disruption the sector has experienced over that time.

“A lot of our existing exhibitors and presenters were getting in touch and wanting to showcase their clean energy capabilities like oil and gas subsea service providers servicing offshore wind, for example, so it was a natural progression to involve new and future energy capability in the event. Our stakeholders are diversifying and so are we,” Mr Hare said.

“We are excited to see what the future of energy will be, but it is also important to connect the existing players and suppliers in the oil and gas sectors.

“AOG Energy is first and foremost a trade show and participants want an event that reflects their industry. It’s all about showcasing current local capabilities while exploring future opportunities,” explained Mr Hare.

Mr Hare said he was most excited about the return to a full program for 2023. “The pandemic really restricted us for the last two years – we hosted a local-only event in 2021 and were forced to cancel in 2022. This year we are back to a full program with international speakers and attendees returning.

Industry decision-makers who attend AOG Energy every year to source the latest innovations, and establish connections with engineers, manufacturers, design, contractors, logistics specialists, procurement and transportation service providers over three days of dedicated networking events and across the show floor were not disappointed.

Leading distributors and manufacturers that are driving the industry forward showcased the latest products and innovations. Thought leaders and technical specialists at the free-to-attend conference sessions held in theatres on the exhibition floor covered topics ranging from industry supply, collaboration, subsea, hydrogen, renewables and more.

Event Sponsors were; Principal Sponsor - WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Operator Partners - Woodside Energy and Chevron. Technology Partner - NERA, Host City; City of Perth, Destination Sponsor - BUSINESS EVENTS PERTH and Decommissioning Partner - CODA.

For over 40 years, AOG Energy has bought the entire supply chain together in the oil and gas epicentre in Australia - Perth. Perth is home to major Australian operators, suppliers and projects. The support of the local Western Australia government continues to drive WA as a global leader.

Exhibitor and attendee safety always has been, and always will be the top priority. Organizers will always ensure practices that give attendees and staff the confidence to maintain social distance while conducting business. Planning is constantly underway with venues, suppliers, contractors, and local and state governments to ensure that AOG Energy and all of their future exhibitions will be delivered in a safe and controlled environment, within COVID-19 government guidelines.

AOG Energy returns to the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre in March 2024. For information about AOG Energy 2024 visit AOGEXPO.COM.AU

Update on north west shelf project offshore enterprise bargaining agreement

Woodside Energy has reached in-principle agreement with the Australian Workers’ Union and the Electrical Trades Union and other bargaining representatives on an enterprise agreement covering employees on its North West Shelf offshore platforms, supporting the ongoing provision of safe and secure energy supply to Western Australian and international gas customers.

In-principle agreement was reached on all claims relating to remuneration and other terms and conditions of employment. The next steps will be for the enterprise agreement to be finalised and then voted on by employees and approved by the Fair Work Commission.

The unions have committed to not filing a Notice of Protected Industrial Action while that process is underway.

Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill acknowledged the effort from all parties through the bargaining process and said the company was pleased to have reached in-principle agreement. “We will continue to engage in respectful and constructive dialogue with all of our people as we work together to finalise the agreement and maintain safe and reliable supply of energy to our customers,” she said.

WA Mining Rehabilitation Fund to undergo review

Independent review to determine the effectiveness of Mining Rehabilitation Fund

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston has announced Marsden Jacob Associates will review the Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) to ensure it continues to meet its objectives and sufficient financial reserves are available.

The Mining Rehabilitation Fund has successfully restored a number of abandoned mines. The State Government uses the MRF if a mine operator is unable to meet their rehabilitation obligations and the site is declared abandoned. Marsden Jacob Associates will consult with a wide range of stakeholders having completed an MRF evaluation in 2018.

Premier Cook addresses WA-Indonesia Energy Forum

Western Australia Premier Roger Cook recently addressed the Western Australia-Indonesia Energy Forum while on the Invest and Trade WA Indonesia Connect Roadshow.

Outcomes from the forum include a commitment to ongoing engagement with Australia’s Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre, which will support future collaboration in battery and critical minerals supply chains.

WA representatives and KADIN (Indonesian Chamber of Commerce) discussed the opportunity for WA to support Indonesia with its ambitions to be a global leader in electrical vehicle manufacturing through mid-stream processing in Western Australia.

It follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between WA and KADIN in February to support cooperation in developing a critical minerals supply chain and promote investment and collaboration to develop value-adding critical minerals and battery industries.

Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency has today opened the Regional Microgrids Program, with $125 million in funding allocated to develop and deploy microgrid technologies across regional and remote communities.

The new Program will allocate $75 million for microgrid projects in First Nations communities.

Electricity provision in remote First Nations communities is often heavily reliant on diesel which is unreliable, expensive and emissions intensive.

The First Nations Community Microgrids Stream aims to deliver cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy and empower First Nations communities to participate in their electricity supply arrangements and the development of energy infrastructure.