Sponsors 2006: Shell
Message from Shell Gas & Power,
Executive Vice President, Jon Chadwick
I would like to welcome delegates to the second Asia Pacific Gas Forum (APGAS), which Shell is proud to support. The first forum, which we also attended, was held in 2005 as a result of the APEC Energy Ministers' endorsement in 2004 to create an "open, competitive and transparent marketplace for gas."
Shell has a very strong position in natural gas. We are the second largest International Oil Company producer of natural gas, the world's largest equity producer of LNG and we enjoy top three positions in the world's key natural gas markets - Europe, the United States and here, in Asia Pacific where we are the market leader.
Asia and the Pacific are important for Shell. We have a long history presence in Malaysia and Brunei, and this is being built on as we create major new foundation positions in Sakhalin (the largest integrated gas project in the world) and here, in Western Australia, home of the Gorgon Gas Project. Shell is also the largest IOC equity supplier to Japan and Korea, a commercially proven Gas to Liquids supplier from Bintulu in Malaysia, and a coal gasification technology leader in China (with 14 coal gasification licenses sold there over the past three years).
Additionally, we operate in each of the 21 member countries of the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation, and we acknowledge the role that internationally traded natural gas plays as a strong contributor to regional energy supply and regional security. Access to energy directly contributes to an improved quality of life, and the APEC agenda helps realise such improvement.
Working with APEC is vital for us as a region representing both mature and emerging producers - some with established markets such as Japan, and others which are fuelling new, energy-hungry markets such as China and USA.
With the Asia Pacific region predicted to represent about 50 per cent of global energy demand by 2015, Shell encourages all initiatives and innovations that will enable the region to continue receiving competitive and stable supplies of natural gas to meet this demand. The role which APGAS plays is becoming ever more vital and Shell looks forward to working with the stakeholders in the region to meet this challenge.
Through open dialogue and the forging of strong and enduring relationships, APGAS allows governments, customers and producers to build a framework for a safe, successful and dependable regional gas business.
Shell is proud to be involved in that process.
May I wish you all every success for this year's Forum!
Jon Chadwick
Executive Vice President - Asia Pacific
Shell Gas & Power
Website: http://www.shell.com.au