News from the Presidency and Secretariat Amsterdam Council Meeting –
to Managing the Methane Challenge” was
A celebration of IGU’s 85th anniversary
divided into two parts.
and the final meeting under the
Speakers on the technical and economic
Norwegian Secretariat
issues were Prof. Pieternel Levelt, Head of
The last annual IGU Council meeting under the
KNMI R&D Satellite Observations Department
Norwegian Secretariat took place in Amsterdam
& Professor at Delft Technology University;
in October 2016. Running over four days the
Roy Harstein, Vice President, Strategic
event was hosted by KVGN – the Royal Dutch
Solutions, Southwestern Energy; Paul
Gas Association – with IGU Honorary Member
Balcombe, Faculty of Engineering, Depart-
Robert Doets presiding over an outstanding
ment of Chemical Engineering Research
programme for attendees.
Associate, Imperial College of London; and
The Council week provided the opportunity for discussion, debate, and engagement on important issues facing the industry.
Dr Konstantin Romanov, Head of Division, Gazprom. The second part of the workshop focused on policy and regulatory issues and included
The Dutch Gas Industry Workshop
panelists were Muhunthan Sathiamoorthy,
The IGU Council week in Amsterdam featured
GHG and energy efficiency expert, safety and
three workshops. The first was the traditional
operational risk, BP (CCAC Initiative); Joel
host country gas industry workshop, discus-
Bluestein, Senior Vice President, ICF Inter
sing the latest industry developments
national; Tim Gould, Head of Division,
in the Netherlands.
World Energy Outlook at IEA; and Dave
On the panel was Gertjan Lankhorst, CEO of GasTerra, and until recently, President of the Dutch Gas Association and IGU Regional Coordi
McCurdy, President and CEO of the American Gas Association. Further information on the workshop and
nator for Europe; Thijs Starink, Director Asset
copies of the presentations can be found in
Management at the Dutch company EBN; and
the News section of the IGU website.
Coby van der Linde, Head of Clingendael Inter national Energy Programme and IGU Wise Person.
Building for the Future IGU’s Building for the Future initiative is now
The Methane Challenge
entering Phase III which will review and explore
The second workshop focused on a deeper dis
potential governance related changes including
cussion relating to the issue of methane emis
the possible establishment of a permanent
sions. With the issue becoming increasingly
secretariat at the conclusion of the Spanish
debated over the last year, methane emissions are
term. IGU Secretary General Luis Bertrán
a critical challenge for the growth of the industry
Rafecas provides the latest updates on pages
and IGU is stepping up its work on the topic.
102-103 and a full assessment and recommen
The workshop entitled “Measure, Document, and Reduce – the Gas Industry´s Commitment
92 N e w s f r o m t h e P r e s i d e n c y a n d S e c r e t a r i a t
dation will be tabled at the Tokyo Council meeting this autumn.
