UK: Statoil Chief to Speak at Gastech
One of the energy industry’s staunchest supporters of efforts to combat climate change will address delegates at a major global gas event this October.
Fresh from being named the 2012 ‘National Oil Companies Executive of the Year’, Helge Lund was confirmed as one of the biggest names appearing at the international Gastech Conference and Exhibition in London, taking place 8-11 October at the ExCeL venue.
Some within the energy industry have called for global governments’ policies to focus on engineering methods that would adapt to shifting weather patterns and rising sea levels, instead of attempting to eliminate fossil fuels from the energy mix.
But the stance seems in stark contrast to that of Norway’s national oil company, Statoil, which has consistently called for measures to address climate change, acknowledging ‘greenhouse’ gases present a major challenge and that the hydrocarbons industry has a significant role to play if governments, industry and individuals are to act together to combat the environmental impacts of the energy industry.
Helge Lund, President and Chief Executive of Statoil, states the company’s ambition is to remain a global industry leader – committed to addressing climate change and insisting that technological innovation and value creation will drive these endeavours.
The company’s recent ‘Energy Perspectives 2012’ report claimed the growth of oil demand would slow as gas, a lower carbon fuel, takes over, boosted by growing power generation demands for cheaper, cleaner fuel sources. A statement from the company said: “Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel and Statoil believes that natural gas will serve as an important and cost-efficient means to meet the challenge of global warming.”
Gavin Sutcliffe, Head of Content for Gastech 2012, said: “While exploration for new hydrocarbon resources will always create environmental divisions, it is the use of hydraulic and high-pressure fracturing (or ‘fracking’) to release shale gas resources that courts most controversy.
“Lund has consistently argued for greater regulation and consistency in international law regarding shale resource development, arguing it would allow exploration companies to operate on a more level playing field whilst remaining committed to addressing the stark environmental challenges presented by shale ‘fracking’ operations.
“This approach to unconventional resource development such as gas from shale is closely tied to Statoil’s commitments to sustainability and climate change. The company’s own vision for addressing climate change – published as far back as 2008 – insisted it would; “…take a precautionary approach in operations and business development and take into account the impact on climate change and sustainable development before entering into new businesses and projects”.
“Clearly, Mr Lund’s views are not shared by all and that is why he will be among the most eagerly anticipated speakers at Gastech this year.”
Lund joins an exclusive panel of other global energy leaders who will aim to answer the question; “Have we entered a Golden Age for Gas?” and he will be joined on stage by Martin Houston, Chief Operating Officer of BG Group, Abdel Hamid Al-Zerguine, Chief Executive of Sonatrach, Rashid Al-Mohannadi, Managing Director of RasGas, Shigeru Muraki, Managing Executive Officer of Tokyo Gas Company, plus Bob Dudley, the President of Bechtel Corporation.
The Gastech exhibition and conference celebrates innovation and shares technological advances. It has become one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the energy industry calendar.
Around 2,000 conference delegates, speakers and ministerial VIPs, plus a further 10,000 visitors, are expected to converge on the UK capital for the event.
[mappress]
LNG World News Staff, August 17, 2012
