MGA | Malaysian Gas Association

Our president, YBhg Datuk (Dr) Haji Abdul Rahim Hj Hashim ascended the presidency of the International Gas Union (IGU) for the 2009 – 2012 triennium, taking over from Mr. Ernesto Lopez Anadon of Argentina. The hand-over ceremony was held on the final day of the 24th World Gas Conference (WGC) held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 5th to 9th October, 2009 which was attended by about 3,200 participants from 81 countries.
In his acceptance speech, Datuk Rahim shared with the audience the fact that Malaysia‟s helming the IGU presidency is intended to share with the rest of the IGU fraternity what Malaysia could offer through its own long history and prominence of its global gas industry experiences. Besides, it is also great and rare privilege for Malaysia as a member of ASEAN to lead the IGU which reflects a shif in focus towards the Asia Pacific region which has experienced phenomenal economic growth during the last decades or so.
Datuk Rahim also reiterated that the Malaysian Presidency will carry the torch in upholding IGU‟s status as the authority of the gas industry. The new triennium will see concerted efforts in maintaining the high standards as set by previous presidential terms and ensuring that IGU remains relevant to the industry and its members.
The five-day conference was graced by Mdm Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the President of Argentina who remarked that the natural gas sector is vital for economic recovery and growth and further called for the industry to focus on „the real economy, production and investment‟. Her message was echoed throughout the entire week‟s conference where delegates were openly speaking about making natural gas more prominent than oil as natural gas is the best energy source to help the world in its quest for economic growth, cleaner skies and a more stable climate.
MGA President appointed as the IGU President for
Triennium 2009-2012.
Mr. Ernesto Lopez Anadon shook hand with newly appointed IGU president, Datuk Rahim during hand-over ceremony.
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Amidst the sensation of the Tango dances during the various ceremonies organized by the Argentine hosts, somehow there were also explicit well wishes by many who apparently were excited to travel to Malaysia for the 2012 WGC while also to enjoy the magic of Malaysian touristic locations. And to be beckon everyone to participate in the 25th WGC which will be held Kuala Lumpur in June 2012, the Malaysian team put up a spectacular audio-visual show, „Imagine Malaysia‟ , complemented by a cultural dance show which mesmerized the entire audience at the La Rural Exhibition Centre, Buenos Aires. Joining Datuk Rahim on stage to wave the Malaysian flags while the finale song, “One Golden Celebration” was serenaded, were YBhg Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican, the patron of MGA, YBhg Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, the Chairman of the National Organising Committee for WGC 2012 and En Ho Sook Wah, the new Chairman of the IGU Coordination Committee. The prime event of the gas industry indeed has ended with a high note for the Malaysian Gas Association.

24th World Gas Conference (WGC) 5-9 October 2009, Buenos Aires, Argentina

09 Oct 2009