The 3-Day event comprises of a 1-day pre-conference workshops and a 2-day conference. It was organized by the Malaysian Gas Association (MGA) with the support and endorsement of PETRONAS Gas & Power Division and International Gas Union (IGU). Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) was also a sponsor and Technip a supporter of the Forum. The Forum received overwhelming participations from local and overseas participants.

Three workshops were organized on 19th March 2013. In the morning, Workshop A: Introduction to LNG Business was facilitated by Alexander Harsema-Mensonides from Marine Service GMBH. The workshop covered the basics and history of LNG business along the value chain from liquefaction, LNG carriers, regasification, trading and pricing. In the afternoon, two parallel workshops were held: Workshop B on LNG Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) Technology -A Closer Look at LNG FSRU Arrangement by Alexander Harsema-Mensonides and Workshop C on LNG Regasification: An Onshore and Offshore Comparison by Simon Newton, Thyssen Krupp Udhe Energy and Power. A total of 22 participants attended Workshop B and 31 participants attended Workshop C. Both workshops B and C, elaborated in more details on the subjects of FSRUs, RGTs and LNG carriers.

The conference on 20th and 21st March 2013 was well attended by 188 delegates from 12 countries including Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Qatar, China, Japan and Germany. Major local energy players from key Malaysian government departments and agencies and private sectors turned up in force for this inaugural forum. An exhibition booth by Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC), an agency under the Malaysian Prime Minister Department, highlighted its Global Incentive for Trading (GIFT) programme which includes incentive whereby LNG trading companies will be taxed at 0% for the first three years of operations.

Many interesting papers from local and overseas speakers were presented and 3 impactful panel discussions were held during the two day conference. The conference started with the President of MGA, Datuk (Dr) Abdul Rahim Hashim, providing an insight on the global challenges of providing more cleaner, affordable, reliable and safe energy. He also highlighted that natural gas is going to be part of the long-term solution to these challenges. Dr. Brian Buckley, former CEO of Oman LNG, presented on the changing dynamics in the future global LNG supply and demand, pointing out that there are 3 major markets (North America, Europe and Asia Pacific) and 2 intermediaries markets (South America and Middle East) in the global LNG trades.

The local Malaysian market perspectives and situations on LNG and LNG projects were adeptly presented and highlighted by 5 top management speakers from PETRONAS i.e. Mr. Adnan Zainal Abidin, Vice President, Global LNG, Gas & Power Division, speaking on Positioning Malaysia as a Prominent Global LNG Player; Mr. Ramlan Abdul Malek, Vice President, Petroleum Management Unit, on Gas Resources in Malaysia and Region: Prospects and Challenges; Mr. Mohd Ibrahimnuddin Mohd Yunus, CEO, PETRONAS LNG Sdn Bhd, on Gas Pricing and Impact on LNG Trade; Mr. Samsudin Miskon, MD/CEO, PETRONAS Gas Bhd, on Malaysia’s First LNG Regas Facilities- Challenges and Opportunities; and Ir. Pramod Kumar Karunakran, Vice President, Infrastructure & Utilities, Gas & Power Division, speaking as a panelist at the Panel Discussion 2 on Innovative Strategies to meet Burgeoning LNG Demand.

The supply, demand, and pricing issues related to the natural gas markets in Malaysia and the impact of LNG imports were highlighted by Datuk Ir. Ahmad Fauzi Hasan, the CEO of Energy Commission of Malaysia during the Panel Discussion 1 on Emergence of LNG as a Key Driver for Malaysia and Regional Markets. He pointed out that there are challenges to the supply of natural gas in Malaysia, and to address these, the government is moving towards market-based gas pricing with discounts for local consumptions, the Power Sector is moving towards a more diversified and balanced fuel mix, and LNG imports are required to address supply shortfall and increasing demand. The energy supply and demand of the power sector in Malaysia was highlighted by Mr. Charanjit Singh, Senior General Manager, Planning Division, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, in his presentation on Impact of LNG As Energy Fuel Mix for End User. He concluded that LNG may help to diversify the future fuel mix which is important to maintain and improve the energy security level and LNG may also provide a cheaper alternative to distillate and MFO in the event of domestic gas supply shortages to the power sector.

Besides the above, among other topics covered by various local and overseas speakers and panelists during the Forum were: LNG supplies and markets -sellers and buyers perspective; LNG sourcing; LNG as fuel for marine ships; FSRU arrangements; Floating LNG business; CBM to LNG; LNG containment system; LNG bunkering; and, LNG and mini-LNG projects in Indonesian. Details of the programme of this Forum and presentation materials are available from Malaysian Gas Association.