New host for IGRC 2020

The IGU Research Conference is one of IGU’s three flagship conferences. Preparations are now underway for IGRC 2020. By Mark Blacklock

The next IGU Research Conference – IGRC 2020 – which was originally scheduled to be held in Tehran will now be held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, with the provisional dates February 24-26, 2020. Iran will instead bid to host IGRC 2023.

IGRC is the premier global forum devoted to presentation and discussion of gas research, development and innovation, and attracts gas company executives, researchers and others from all over the world. It has been held since 1980, normally once every three years. IGRC 2020 in Muscat is the 16th in this series of conferences which are governed by the IGU Executive Committee under the chairmanship of the IGU President.

“We are very pleased that Oman has been selected to host IGRC 2020,” declares IGU President JooMyung (Joe) Kang. “This important research and innovation conference will gather industry experts from around the world to discuss and showcase the latest industry research and innovations which are critical to the continued development of the industry and its contribution towards economic and environmental energy sustainability.”

IGU’s Secretary General, Luis Bertrán Rafecas says that the role of the IGRC has never been more important or relevant: “It serves to facilitate the discussion and debate around the opportunities and challenges of the industry as well as to display the technological developments becoming available to support our industry’s future. Oman has a longstanding relationship with IGU and we are honoured to support them as hosts for IGRC 2020.”

Organisation and programme

The conference is being organised by IGU Charter Member Oman LNG and will be held in the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre which is located

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is one of the landmarks in Muscat the host city for IGRC 2020.

in the Madinat Al Irfan district between the airport and the city centre. The JW Marriott Hotel (five stars) is linked to the Convention Centre and the Crowne Plaza Hotel (four stars) is nearby.

The technical programme is being developed by IGU’s R&D and Innovation Committee under the chairmanship of Dr Hisataka Yakabe of Tokyo Gas, Japan, in conjunction with the National Organising Committee.

“This is the first time that the IGRC will be held in a Middle Eastern country,” says Dr Yakabe, “and we are very excited to be planning this landmark event.”

The programme will feature keynote addresses by prominent figures, panel discussions with experts in the field, workshop sessions with international speakers and poster exhibitions.

“Game-changing technologies which advance the gas industry and make it more competitive are of major interest to delegates, and state-of-theart technical information will be disseminated,” explains Dr Yakabe. “Sustainability and digitisation in the gas industry are important areas of study for the R&D and Innovation Committee. Accordingly, there will be a particular focus on topics like poweremissions, and innovative and disruptive digital technologies.

“We hope that IGRC 2020 will meet the aspirations of all the participants, stimulate the gas business of Oman and provide technological insights into the gas industry.”

IGRC 2020 will also feature an exhibition of advanced gas technology equipment and services by gas companies and manufacturers from around the world.

We look forward to your input

IGU Events Director Rodney Cox (second left) and Oman LNG’s CEO Harib Al Kitani sign the contract for Oman to host IGRC 2020. They are flanked by Dr Hisataka Yakabe, Chair of IGU’s R&D and Innovation Committee (left) and Khalid bin Abdullah Al Massan, CEO of Oman LNG Development Foundation. Conference papers will be selected on the basis of abstracts and a Call for

to-gas, reduction of CO 2 and methane

Abstracts will be issued soon. If you require additional information please contact IGU Events Director, Rodney Cox at: rcox1@outlook.com.au.

If you will be attending LNG2019 in Shanghai, the IGRC 2020 organising team will be present at the IGU booth and look forward to your visit.

Mark Blacklock is the Consulting Editor of International Systems & Communications Ltd.

The venue for IGRC 2020 is the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.