The important role of gas in delivering Australia's cleaner energy future will take centre stage this week as the annual gathering of the nation's oil and gas industry welcomes over 2000 delegates to the flagship forum for energy policy debate.
The 2024 Australian Energy Producers Conference & Exhibition opened today in Perth, with the three-day program focused on how the sector is central to supporting Australia's economic and energy transformation to net zero.
With principal partners Woodside Energy and ExxonMobil Australia, the event will feature leading figures across industry, government and geopolitics under the theme 'Delivery the new energy economy' alongside more than 130 exhibitors showcasing the innovation and technology transforming the sector.
The event runs until Thursday at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the conference agenda was focused on the role of natural gas in ensuring reliable and affordable energy to power Australia's transformation to a low emission economy.
It will also showcase the industry's progress in developing cleaner fuels and technologies such as low-carbon hydrogen and enabling carbon capture and storage (CCS).
"The Australian and global energy sectors are at a critical crossroads," Ms McCulloch said.
"Economies globally are trying to balance the transformation to net zero emissions with the need for reliable and affordable energy at the same time geopolitical tensions disrupt energy markets.
"As we have seen with the support for gas in recent weeks through the Government's Future Gas Strategy and the Opposition's five-point gas plan, our gas sector is a key player in this equation.
"Gas is critical to Australia's new energy economy – supporting the rollout of renewables, delivering net-zero technologies such as CCS and fuelling the industries of today and tomorrow."
The event's lead address will be given today by General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK AC (Mil) CVO MC (Retd), who will provide unique insights on the global landscape as geopolitical tensions remain a major threat to global energy security.
The program features energy industry leaders including Australian Energy Producers Chair and Woodside Energy Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Meg O'Neill; INPEX Corporation Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer Takayuki Ueda; Santos Managing Director and CEO Kevin Gallagher; Chevron President, International Exploration and Production, Clay Neff; Origin Energy Chief Executive Officer Frank Calabria; Shell International Vice President Strategy Insights & Scenarios László Varró; Alinta Energy Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Dimery; Cooper Energy Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Jane Norman; Senex Energy Chief Executive Officer Ian Davies; Shell Australia Country Chair and Senior Vice President Integrated Gas Cecile Wake; Tamboran Resources Corporation Managing Director and CEO Joel Riddle; Australia Pacific LNG Chief Executive Officer Dan Clark; Strike Energy Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer Stuart Nicholls; JERA Australia Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Gaku Takagi; Australian National University Sir Roland Wilson Scholar in Economic Security Helen Mitchell; and EnerGeo Alliance President & Chief Executive Officer Nikki Martin.
Speakers will also feature political leaders including the Premier of Western Australia, the Hon Roger Cook MLA; Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, the Hon Madeleine King MP; the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Peter Dutton MP; the Hon Reece Whitby MLA, WA Minister for Energy; Environment; Climate Action; and Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Senator Susan McDonald.
In the Technical and Business Program, industry experts will discuss challenges and opportunities facing the sector, from decarbonisation and net zero pathways to health and safety, as well as the gas supply challenges confronting both coasts of Australia.
Australian Energy Producers Western Australian Director Caroline Cherry said the timing of the conference was fitting as the host state faced energy security and decarbonisation challenges.
"Western Australia has shown for a long time it understands how to extract the economic and social benefits of gas in powering this extraordinary state economy as well as other countries around the world," she said.
"With forecasts showing the urgent need to bring on new gas supply due to rising demand in electricity generation and the mining sector, the state's gas industry has never been more important given the substantial economic and emissions reduction benefits it delivers."
