G20 Natural Gas Day successfully held in Beijing By Li Yalan
On June 29, 2016 the G20 Natural Gas Day,
Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the
co-hosted by the National Energy Adminis
International Energy Agency (IEA) and Li
tration of China and the International Gas
Fanrong, Vice Administrator of China’s National
Union, was successfully held in Beijing. Beijing
Energy Administration (NEA) all spoke in the
Gas Group Company Limited, jointly with China
opening session of the G20 Natural Gas Day
Gas Society and China Gas Association
which was followed by three panel sessions
co-organised the event. Over 300 delegates
centring on the theme of ‘Natural Gas –
including energy ministers from the G20
Promoting Sustainable Development’.
countries, international organizations, key industrial players, consulting and financial companies participated in the event. x Li Fanrong, Vice Administrator of China’s National Energy Administration gave the Welcome Speech for the High Level Forum and praised the event for its insights and effectiveness.
The G20 Natural Gas Day had great signifi cance to Asia and the global gas industry. The event has clarified the role of natural
Zhang Gaoli, Vice Premier of China and
gas in energy transition. Natural gas is not
Dr Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General
a transitional energy; rather, it is the funda-
of the United Nations, delivered the welcome
mental fuel of the future energy mix. Natural
speech on the Joint Opening Ceremony for
gas is a clean and efficient fossil fuel. It has
G20 Energy Ministerial Meeting, G20
unique advantages including supply stability,
Conference on Energy Access and G20 Natural
technology viability and flexibility. In recent
Gas Day. David Carroll, President of IGU,
years, the improvement of exploration and extraction technology has significantly improved the production level of natural gas, thus bringing profound change to the structure of the world energy supply. Meanwhile, as a clean form of energy with great adaptability, the application of natural gas in power generation and transportation has also been rapidly expanded. Natural gas as an economic, secure and flexible energy source has a great development potential. Natural gas is a way leading to energy transition. Governments around the world should remove bias towards natural gas and launch more favourable policies to promote the development of natural gas to embrace the ‘golden era’ for natural gas. David Carroll reported the results of the event to the G20 Energy Ministerial Meeting. The G20 Natural Gas Day sends a strong message to the world that natural gas is an accessible, affordable, economic, clean and
44 G 2 0 N a t u r a l G a s D a y s u c c e s s f u l l y h e l d i n B e i j i n g
