Speaking for the Gas Industry Worldwide
While IGU had had members from outside
project, “Sustainable Urban Systems Design”,
gas industry from any Charter Member country
Europe and North America since Australia
was organised as a competition to generate
to join IGU as Associate Members. This would
joined in 1936, it was not until 2000 that
innovative proposals to help resolve the
broaden the Union’s knowledge-base and
countries from outside these regions started to
challenges of accelerating urbanisation.
network considerably. Observer status was
lead the Union. Japan held the Presidency for
abolished with all observers as of January 1,
Triennium. One focused on climate change and
Malaysia for 2009-12, Korea for 2018-22 and
sustainable development, and produced a set
China will take the helm for 2022-25.
of Guiding Principles for Sustainable Develop
introduced with five Working Committees
2003 automatically becoming Charter Members. A new technical committee structure was
ment to supersede the IGU Environmental
(WOCs) covering the gas chain and four
The Japanese Presidency
Charter of 1996. Another looked at information
Programme Committees (PGCs) covering other
Under the Japanese Presidency, IGU redoubled
and communication technology (ICT) – a wider
technical, economic and policy issues, while the
efforts to demonstrate that natural gas could
concept than the former focus on computing –
TCC became the Coordination Committee. This
support growing energy needs on a global scale
and prepared a symposium on ICT in the gas
took effect from the 2003-06 Triennium.
over a lengthy time-horizon. The theme for the
industry. This was hosted by the Czech Charter
Triennium was “Catalysing an Eco-Responsible
Member in Prague in April 2002. The third task
together to deal with day-to-day business
Future”, which was reflected in three special
force reviewed IGU’s structure in the light of
was formalised as the management team
projects carried out in addition to the work of
developments in the gas industry. It drafted
comprising the President, Vice President,
the technical committees and task forces.
a new statement of IGU’s Vision, Mission and
Immediate Past President, Secretary General
“Global Energy Scenarios” looked at the
Objectives and recommended major changes
and Chairman and Vice Chairman of the
potential for natural gas and gas-based tech
to the Articles of Association. The new Articles
Coordination Committee.
nologies to meet the growing need for clean
were approved by the Council when it met in
and affordable energy; while “Catalysing Asia’s
Kuala Lumpur in September 2002.
Infrastructure” studied the technical, commer
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Three task forces operated during the
the 2000-03 Triennium, Argentina for 2006-09,
The most significant change was the introduc
The custom of the principal officers working
English became the working language although French remained an official language, and the convening of electronic Council
cial and policy issues affecting the development
tion of a new category of membership allowing
sessions was formalised. The first electronic
of Asia’s gas infrastructure. The third special
companies and organisations operating in the
Council session had been held in October 2001,
Speaking for the Gas Industr y Worldwide
