Hydrogen will dominate the talks this week at one of the biggest global energy conferences of the year, to be held in the UAE.
World leaders in energy transition and pioneers in evolving hydrogen and other clean fuel technology will take centre stage at Gastech, an exhibition and conference that will run from September 21 to September 23 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
About 15,000 visitors and delegates are expected to attend the event, which is among the biggest to take place since the onset of the pandemic.
It will highlight the role of hydrogen, a critical fuel that is helping in decarbonising the global energy system.
Gastech, which is a global showcase of the natural gas sector, will have a dedicated hydrogen stream to highlight technological advancement and investment being channelled into the sector.
The energy ministers of the UAE and Qatar, as well as Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc, are among the speakers at the conference.
The energy ministers of Turkey, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Portugal and Azerbaijan, and the chief executive of Opec will also be in attendance.
“Gastech 2021’s strategic conference will address the hard facts about the transition to net-zero carbon emissions and the enormous challenge the industry, regulators and end users will have to embrace to meet the commitments of the Paris Accord on climate change mitigation and support the industry leadership in drawing up the road map to a carbon-neutral and sustainable future,” said Christopher Hudson, president of dmg events, which is organising Gastech.
The focus on energy transition and hydrogen come amid growing interest from oil-exporting nations such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia in developing the clean fuel for domestic use, as well as to forge new trade relations.
Earlier this year, three Abu Dhabi-backed entities – Mubadala Investment Company, Adnoc and holding company ADQ – formed an alliance to develop a hydrogen centre in the country.
The UAE, Opec’s third-biggest producer, is also looking at possible uses for hydrogen in transport and manufacturing, and exploring the production of green steel.
Gastech will also include five learning streams – on hydrogen, marine, engineering procurement and construction and projects; artificial intelligence and technology.
The SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, which will show the latest technology in the upstream oil and gas sector, will take place parallel to Gastech this week.
More than 150 engineers from global energy companies are expected to make presentations on technological breakthroughs in the industry.
“Co-locating ATCE with Gastech means visitors will be able to visit both events’ exhibitions without the need to register twice. It will also ensure our exhibitors gain maximum exposure to a broader audience of energy industry professionals, including the top decision-makers from all sectors of the industry,” Michelle Boyd, chief executive of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, said.
