MGA Hosting of three (3) IGU Triennium 2006-2009 Tech.Committees Meetings in Kuching, Sarawak from 16–19 Sept 2008

18 Sep 2008

The Malaysian Gas Association (MGA) played host to three (3) Technical Committees meetings from the International Gas Union (IGU) in Kuching, Sarawak from 16th to 19th of September 2008. The Malaysian Gas Association (MGA) played host to three (3) Technical Committees meetings from the International Gas Union (IGU) in Kuching, Sarawak from 16th to 19th of
September 2008. Committee Members of two Programme Committees i.e. PGC A - Sustainable Development chaired by Mr Juan Puertas from Gas Natural SDG, S.A. and
PGC D – LNG chaired by Mr Seiichi Uchino from Tokyo Gas Company; and one Working Committee i.e. WOC 1- Exploration and Production chaired by Mr Vladimir Yakushev of
Vniigaz, Russia, were invited to hold their meetings concurrently in Malaysia for the first time. These three Committees are part of the 9 Technical Committees under the current IGU 2006-2009 Triennium which are working on the theme “Global Energy Challenges:
Reviewing the Strategies for Natural Gas” for the upcoming World Gas Conference (WGC2009) in Buenos Aires, scheduled from 5-9 Oct. 2009.

This event saw the gathering of more than 52 representatives from the three IGU
Committees comprising of members hailing from gas-related corporations from different
parts of the globe; i.e. from Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Canada, Germany, Indonesia,
Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Spain, United
Kingdom, and USA.

Datuk (Dr) Abdul Rahim Hj Hashim, the Vice President of IGU and President of MGA
warmly welcomed the participants to the meeting. A presentation on the Gas Industry in
MGA Hosting of three (3) IGU Triennium 2006-2009 Technical Committees Meetings in
Malaysia from 16 – 19 September 2008

Malaysia was delivered by Puan Ungku Ainon, Assistant to the Vice Chairman of IGU
Coordination Committee. Mr Andrew Kidd, the Secretary of the Coordination Committee
of the 2006-2009 IGU triennium also updated the group on the progress of WGC2009
and the role of the Techincal Committees.

Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak, Malaysia’s largest state situated on the island of
Borneo, was specially chosen as venue for the meetings as natural gas has been part of
the fabric of the Malaysian economy since the discovery of the gas fields in Central
Luconia in the 1970s. Central Luconia is located offshore of Sarawak and the majority of
this gas is processed into LNG for export to the major markets in Japan, Korea and
Taiwan. Today the LNG plant in Bintulu is the world’s largest LNG complex in a single
location with an annual production of 23 million tons per annum. Sarawak is also the home
of Malaysia’s first oil discovery in 1910.

The technical visit conducted on 19th September to the MLNG plant in Bintulu has been
very educational and interesting for the participants. The presentation and the ‘drive
through’ of the plant accompanied by MLNG personnel who provided commentaries and
answers to the questions posed by the participants were very beneficial to the group.
MLNG’s Management, who made time to network and exchange views and provided
answers to the questions raised by the participants at the Kidurong Club had been very
supportive in providing this opportunity to our guests from the International Gas Union to
visit the plant and be briefed on MLNG’s operations.

Technical Visit to MLNG, 19 September 2008
MGA Hosting of three (3) IGU Triennium 2006-2009 Technical Committees Meetings in
Malaysia from 16 – 19 September 2008

MGA Secretariat has also organized special programmes i.e. visits to the Sarawak
cultural village, the museums, pottery centre, Semenggoh Orangutan Center and other
places for the participants and accompanying persons to show case the many attractions
of Sarawak.

Deliberations on preparations for the technical sessions and strategic panels for the
WGC2009 were conducted successfully during the course of the 2-day session and the
three Committees have made significant progress in their respective work scope in the
deliberations on preparations for the technical sessions and strategic panels to be
presented during the WGC2009. From the feedback survey received, majority of the
participants were very satisfied with the outcome of their deliberations and the Malaysian
hospitality accorded to them. Top