Message from the incoming Secretary General The IGU Secretariat
IGU provides to members and through them to
rotates less often
the societies where the natural gas industry
than the Presidency
delivers a vital service.
but this November it is our turn to change.
transformation of IGU while we are moving the
After nine years in
office of the Secretariat and taking over an
Oslo, the Secretariat
important part of the team is a challenge which
will move to Barcelona,
we assumed at the Berlin Council meeting. We
to be hosted by Gas
started to participate in the activities of the
Natural Fenosa as
Oslo Secretariat in October 2015 by seconding
agreed with enthusi
a staff member and, at the beginning of this
astic applause at the
year, I moved to Oslo to prepare for the
Berlin Council meet
takeover on November 1, 2016.
ing in October 2014.
z Luis Bertrán Rafecas.
Maintaining the momentum of the
I would like to highlight the opportunity for
That means that we
members to second employees to work with us
will change the office,
in Barcelona for a period of two years. I hope
the Secretary General
that the attractions of Barcelona, as a Mediterra
and almost the entire
nean and cosmopolitan city, and the opportnity of working in the IGU Secretariat will encourage
Secretariat team.
talented young professionals to join us.
We are very proud that Barcelona was chosen to host the IGU Secretariat. Barcelona
IGU has arrived at its 85th anniversary with a
has been a well-connected and outward-
proud record of supporting the growth of the gas
looking city throughout its history with a long
industry, a growth which has made a great con
tradition of hosting international institutions
tribution to the economic development of the
and events. The Spanish gas industry has a long
countries and societies of its members. I would
history of involvement in international forums,
like to thank the members of the Norwegian
including 65 years as a member of IGU, and
Secretariat, especially Pål Rasmussen the outgoing
aims to continue to contribute. Hosting the
Secretary General, for their efforts and strong
Secretariat recognises the efforts that Spanish
contributions. We will continue to push forward
gas professionals have made to support IGU
with the same spirit in Barcelona and advance
and the industry, through their links to inter
their excellent work towards making IGU the
national markets and strong, constructive and
most credible advocate of political, technical and
trustworthy relationships. These efforts will grow
economic progress of the global gas industry.
in size and impact through the Secretariat. Luis Bertrán Rafecas is the Deputy Secretary
IGU as a whole is undergoing a deep transformation that started in 2014 and was
General of IGU and will become Secretary
clearly defined with a new Vision and Mission
General when the Secretariat transfers to Spain
in 2015. The aim is to enhance the value that
in November 2016.
M e s s a g e f r o m t h e i n c o m i n g S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l 151
