| Danial Norjidi |
THE 6th LNG Producer-Consumer Conference 2017 was held yesterday in Tokyo, Japan, organised by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan, and the Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC).
According to a press release, the conference serves to promote dialogue and understanding among LNG producers and consumers on the challenges and opportunities facing the LNG industry.
The conference was officially opened with welcoming remarks from Hiroshige Seko, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan, and the Minister of Energy and Industry, Qatar, Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada.
In his opening address, Hiroshige Seko announced Japan’s initiative to further promote the development of the LNG market in the form of a USD10 billion investment by Japan’s public and private sectors as well as a capacity building programme for 500 individuals over a period of five years.
Meanwhile, Dr Mohammed emphasised that an Asian LNG hub should reflect the regional market fundamentals and the trading hub development.
From Brunei Darussalam, the Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar attended the conference.
In his remarks, the minister reaffirmed the importance of natural gas as an enabler for energy security and a cleaner, low-carbon energy future.
The minister also highlighted the increasing flexibility of the LNG market that has revived interest towards potential opportunities in small-scale LNG.
Brunei Darussalam, as an established LNG supplier in the region, welcomes the opportunity to leverage on the shifting market dynamics. The conference consisted five sessions, starting with two sessions on government and business perspectives on producer-consumer cooperation to develop the LNG market, as well as sessions on new LNG opportunities driven by innovation, LNG as transport fuel, and flexible LNG market and spot trading.
More than 1,000 participants from more than 30 countries and from both the public and private sectors attended this year’s Conference.
The LNG Producer-Consumer Conference next year will be co-organised by the public and private sector in Nagoya, Japan.
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