RasGas Executive Delivers Keynote Address at World LNG Summit (Italy)

Today, RasGas Company Limited (RasGas)’ Marketing and Shipping Executive, Khalid Sultan R. Al Kuwari delivered a keynote address at the 12^th Annual World LNG Summit in Rome, Italy, to an audience of senior industry professionals from around the world. 

His speech addressed the effects the trend of increasing demand in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market is causing around the world, and how RasGas is well positioned as a reliable global supplier of choice, with the capability and flexibility to meet changing needs head-on.

Al Kuwari’s message was an upbeat one. “Demand trends are changing at a faster pace than any of us would have predicted,” he said. “Where previously the industry was in a rapid phase of expansion and development, and ultimately supply growth, it is now settling into a production phase with a growth in demand.  Although the factors behind this growth differ significantly from market to market, and bring with it uncertainty, we are confident that LNG and RasGas in particular will play an increasingly crucial role in meeting the world’s energy demand.”

As the world’s economies implement plans to recover from the downturn and in light of recent natural disasters, governments, contractors, customers and LNG producers themselves are keen to discuss the place of LNG in the global energy mix, now and in the longer term. RasGas’ expertise and achievements place the Company at the heart of the debate. Al Kuwari made a persuasive case on behalf of RasGas for the need for greater advocacy for LNG, and for more concerted promotion of its potential role in meeting global energy demand.  “Natural gas has proved itself to be an efficient, environmentally friendlier and more responsive energy option,” he observed. “It is a proven mean to fuel economic growth, it is able to assist the long-term reduction in carbon emissions and it provides a cleaner, more secure energy source long into the future“.

Central to the LNG industry’s long-term vision will be RasGas and Qatar, Al Kuwari continued, “Now that all seven of RasGas’ LNG facilities are fully operational – since 2010 – the Company has a stable, reliable and secure total production capacity of around 37 million tonnes of LNG per annum (Mta), allowing us to respond swiftly to the needs of customers and the market.”

“Furthermore, shipping is one area where RasGas has an advantage. RasGas has a 27 strong fleet of diverse long-term chartered LNG vessels that are at the cutting edge of technology and safety. Our vessels range from the conventional size to the Q-Max size, and service all major trade routes worldwide, making them ideally suited to service the needs of our long-term and our short-term customers.”

Al Kuwari’s keynote address launched the summit’s session programme that will take place from 15 to 17 November in Rome and welcomes an unprecedented number of senior industry professionals from around the world.

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LNG World News Staff, November 15, 2011; Image: RasGas