Two of the world's foremost organisations on energy and sustainable development, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and the Institute of Energy Economics Japan (IEEJ), today held a landmark meeting to discuss the future of energy.
The virtual meeting explored the latest developments in the global gas industry, decarbonisation technologies, and the hydrogen economy, among others. The engagement also marks an important leap forward in the area of producer-consumer dialogue, which is currently seen as crucial for the stability of the global energy market, particularly the global gas market.
The IEEJ is a respected think tank and has been regularly ranked by the Lauder Institute as among the three best 'Energy and Resource Policy Think Tanks' in the world.
HE Eng. Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General of the GECF, said: "This (meeting) is a timely undertaking, as energy is back at the forefront of energy policy debate. The uncertainties and challenges that lie ahead make seeking better understanding of the issues useful and desirable."
Along with technical presentations from both sides on the future of natural gas and technology's role in its projected worldwide expansion, several suggestions were made to spur cooperation between the GECF and the IEEJ. The proposals included speaking opportunities, joint annual events, and regular exchange of knowledge, experience and information.
Dr Ken Koyama, Senior Managing Director of IEEJ, said: "Today's GECF-IEEJ meeting is kind of a kick-off of the important producer-consumer dialogue on natural gas. Natural gas is going to play a key role as a source of energy security protection under the current difficult geopolitical issues. Many people are paying great attention to what is going to happen in the global natural gas energy market."
Other speakers at the meeting included: (from IEEJ) Ms Sachi Sakanshi; Assistant Director of Japanese Institute of Middle Eastern Economies Centre (JIME), Mr Hiroshi Hashimoto; Senior Analyst and Head of Gas Group, Fossil Energies and International Cooperation Unit at IEEJ, Mr Takafumi Yanagisawa; Senior Researcher at IEEJ, and Mr Shuji Hosaka; Board Member and Director at JIME, (from the GECF) Dr Aydar Shakirov; Head of Gas Market Analysis Department, Mr Hussein Moghaddam; Senior Energy Forecasting Analyst, Mr Seyed Mohsen Razavi; Energy Technology Analyst, and Mr Mustafa Amer; Research Assistant, and moderator of the event.