Registration & welcome coffee

Masterclass A: What are the long-term prospects for LNG?

• The global LNG market in 2024 and 2025
• What can we expect for LNG supply, demand, and prices in 2025?
• FIDs on new liquefaction capacity in 2025 and outlook for 2026
• Forecast LNG supply and demand 2025 to 2050
• What will LNG’s role be in the path to net-zero?
• Will price pressures ease as new liquefaction projects come onstream?
• How much new liquefaction capacity is required over the 2020s and how much will be built?
• Which markets the be the sources of demand growth?
• Which countries will start to import LNG and how much LNG will they need?
• How are LNG trade flows changing and what is the outlook for spot and short-term trading?

Masterclass B: Strategic and commercial implications of methane emissions management

• Understanding current and prospective CO2 and CH4 intensity regulations
• Accurately measuring emissions across fuel supply chains for both CO2 and CH4
• Methodology for benchmarking LNG against competing fuels
• Implications for natural gas and LNG trade and pricing
• Strategic considerations for natural gas and LNG buyers and sellers

Masterclass B Panel: Focus on EU regulatory compliance and SPA structuring implications 

• MRV requirements to comply with EU regulation
• LNG supply chain emission intensity certification
• Implications for SPA structuring and drafting
• Potential additional downstream certification and undertakings

Networking coffee break

Networking lunch

Networking coffee break

End of Masterclasses

Registration & welcome breakfast

Opening remarks & Chair's welcome

Opening keynote address

Session 1 – Global LNG strategy panel: Driving energy security, economic growth and decarbonisation through a globally connected LNG market

The flexibility and lower carbon credentials of LNG has positioned it as the only fossil fuel predicted to grow until 2050. LNG is well placed to play a pivotal role as a destination fuel helping to connect the Global North and South, providing a cleaner alternative baseload power source crucial to energy security as we strive towards an equitable energy transition. Despite the pause on DOE approvals for new LNG export projects in the US, analysts are predicting about 50% growth in global LNG supply by 2030. Of this, there is a lot of volume either uncontracted or capable of being diverted to either unlock new markets or to further bolster the short term traded LNG market. Global energy demand has shown signs of recovery in 2024, in part from the rapid growth of datacentres, caused by breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence. Energy transitions are also accelerating. Both these factors create a positive business environment for LNG to participate and compete for long-term growth.

• How will elections in the US and Europe impact future gas demand?
• How is the UAE Consensus reached at COP28 impacting LNG’s market fundamentals? What’s new from COP29 and the implications for LNG?
• Where will be the high growth demand centres? What are their key characteristics
• The impact of the expiry of the Ukraine gas transit at the end of 2024
• What will be the impact of the extension of the European Union’s ETS scheme to cover LNG cargoes for European LNG demand long term?

Networking coffee break

Session 2 – Asia Pacific leaders’ panel: LNG demand recovery and expansion in Asia

Following reduced LNG demand caused by the pandemic, the subsequent war in Ukraine has resulted in strong   LNG demand from Europe, diverting cargoes away from emerging consuming markets throughout Asia. The region has subsequently experienced a positive imperative to improve long term supply security through long term contracting. In the past two years, Asian buyers have signed around 80 Mtpa of new long-term contracts (some for up to 27 years). However, several Asian markets have made it clear that LNG will only be adopted at scale in the long term if it is affordable, reliably available and clean.

• What examples do we see of LNG supporting a diversified energy procurement strategy to provide secure and stable power generation throughout Asia?
• How are business and contracting models between producers, global portfolio aggregators and end users evolving?
• What is changing in the mature markets of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan?
• China’s path to growth and decarbonisation: How does LNG fit into this?
• The Indian Sub-Continent and emerging markets in Asia
  • How much operational flexibility and support do these markets require in order to grow? Is this having a material impact on their rates of development?

Networking lunch

Session 3 – World LNG leaders’ panel: Achieving the balance between energy security and decarbonisation

The global LNG market has grown from 230Mtpa in 2014 to around 420Mtpa in 2024 and is set to be at least 600Mtpa by 2030. Throughout this period, we have seen a sustained growth in Asian demand to around 70% market share of global LNG sales. The increased global rollout of gas infrastructure demonstrates its key role in ensuring an energy transition that is fair and equitable. LNG allows for working towards climate goals whilst ensuring that the transition doesn’t harm communities or ecosystems access to power. Looking forward, we see energy companies globally implementing wider climate plans to meet net zero emission targets, with low carbon solutions offered to consumers. LNG and gas remain an important part of the solution. How can companies advocate its use in the energy mix convincingly with governments and the public? How is LNG interacting and co-existing with alternative fuels? And what market share do we see for LNG in a net-zero future of 2050?

• Understanding how strategic acquisitions of assets are providing advantage in the globally traded LNG market
• How does LNG interact with a wider portfolio of low carbon solutions to drive customer value? And can it compliment the use of bio-LNG and green hydrogen?
• What challenge does the increased electricity demand from data centres pose to future LNG supply?
• How might the evolving regulatory landscape affect LNG investments and operations?

Networking coffee break

Session 4 - The role of LNG in meeting Europe’s energy demand

In 2022, guided by the European Union and state governments, industrial consumers in Europe successfully curtailed energy demand to mitigate the impact of the cessation of Russian pipelines gas flows to Europe. As the sector enters recovery, what role does LNG play in power consumption for industrial users in Europe? How will the new infrastructure capacity assure customers that LNG is reliable and affordable and an enabler of meeting targets for net zero emissions by 2030 and 2050? Will the EU’s new methane regulations impact upon the cost of LNG infrastructure projects with the enforcement of additional detection technologies? Will this create potential bottlenecks affecting the supply from new projects?

• How much of Europe’s industrial energy demand has recovered and what is its outlook?
• Have European industrial customers been convinced by LNG’s capability to support them with reliable cost-effective supply?
• How are energy-intensive industries collaborating across the LNG value chain to improve security of supply and cost-effective supply?
• Do we see a return for Russian gas in the future in Europe?
• How are LNG terminals being future proofed for hydrogen and renewable fuels?

Chair's closing remarks

Close of day one

World LNG Awards drinks reception

Welcome coffee

Chair’s opening remarks

Session 5 - Next wave LNG: Delivering new supply in an uncertain world

Approximately 210Mtpa of new LNG supply capacity is forecast to come on stream between 2024 and 2030. International support and investment in LNG infrastructure globally is an essential component to ensuring an equitable transition, as LNG is seen to be a cleaner alternative to other fossil fuels in the energy transition journey. The key role of LNG is demonstrated by the more than 500Mtpa of prospective projects are under development. All project developers are currently confronted with several challenges to bring new projects onstream. These range from regulatory bottlenecks; securing a critical mass of creditworthy buyers; inflation impacting their costs of materials and labour; and challenges from new low-carbon energy sources. How are developers managing and successfully resolving these issues? What are the realistic prospects for further FIDs within the next two years and the prospects to deliver projects on time and within budget?

• How are projects throughout North America, Middle East, Africa, and Asia navigating around challenges and innovating to deliver affordable, reliable and cleaner LNG?
• How are financing models and LNG contracts adapting to the new market dynamics?
• What technological innovations are differentiating new supply projects?
• How are sellers meeting buyers’ requirements to provide lower-carbon LNG?
• What is the unit cost of decarbonisation of scope 1 and 2 emissions?
• The importance of collaboration with local communities to guarantee project success
• Innovative capacity building to provide on-the-job training and upskilling in the local community
• How are global companies overcoming labour constraints when executing multiple projects around the world?

Session 6 - The LNG trading landscape: Pioneers shaping the global energy future

Unprecedented pricing volatility, market illiquidity, margin calls and pushing contractual terms to their limits have made LNG trading a very complex business over the last few years. 2024 sees yet more disruptive events with extra shipping days to deliver cargoes as a result of terrorist activity around the Middle East and in the Red Sea and the slow recovery from the drought in the feeder lake to the Panama Canal reducing LNG transits significantly. If we add to this the extension of the new Methane Reduction law in the EU that took effect in August - which includes LNG imports and will see a methane intensity cap introduced by 2030 - the  outlook for LNG trading is that it will become more  complex and will have to accept new costs in being compliant with regulations. Meanwhile, a cold winter in 2024/5 could bring increased demand and a rebound in pricing. How will the trading community position itself to respond to the ongoing challenges and what type of marketplace are they preparing themselves for?

• Supply on supply competition:  What opportunity does this represent for LNG trading between 2025 – 2030 and what does this mean for LNG buyers?
• Are we transitioning from a sellers’ to a buyers’ market or is there a huge latent demand ready to step in and buy as prices moderate? 
• What are the challenges and opportunities of trading in the context of geopolitical tensions?
• ​How are publicised commercial disputes affecting global LNG market dynamics? 
• Are buyers prepared to rely on the short term markets or are they migrating to more flexible long-term contracts? 

Networking coffee break

Session 7 - Cementing LNG’s credentials as a fuel for the net zero scenario

LNG’s credentials as a lower carbon fuel have earned it the reputation as a key enabler of the energy transition within the energy industry. In today’s global landscape, ensuring a reliable, affordable, and decarbonised fuel is becoming more essential. There are now global agreements to become carbon neutral by 2050 and a renewed appetite for tackling decarbonisation. A key pillar in achieving these goals will be the reduction of methane emissions, with methane being the second highest contributor to global warming after CO2. Recent EU regulation has been brought in to achieve this mitigating methane’s release into the atmosphere throughout the entire supply chain through improved measurement, reporting, verification, and leak detection technology. But how does this impact the LNG industry and the technologies operating within it? How can the sector collaborate further to strengthen LNG’s adoption as a fuel for the net zero economy?

• By how much will CCUS, methane detection, and upstream abatement measures significantly reduce the carbon footprint of LNG?
• What progress has been made in reducing methane emissions across the LNG supply chain, and what are the next steps for further improvement?
• How can the adoption of GHG-neutral LNG certification schemes ensure transparency and encourage wider adoption of these cleaner fuels?
• To what extent can biomethane, E-LNG, and green LNG become viable alternatives in the market, considering their production processes, scalability, and cost competitiveness?
• What technological advancements are needed across the entire LNG value chain (liquefaction, downstream operations, fuel sources) to achieve carbon-neutral LNG cargoes and ultimately reach net-zero emissions targets?

Session 8 - The EU Methane Regulation and its impact on the global LNG market

Networking lunch

Session 9 - LNG infrastructure: Promoting innovation and collaboration

The global LNG market is evolving with new demand patterns, business models, technological advancements, and decarbonisation.  All combine to create a dynamic landscape with the emergence of new players disrupting traditional models. FSRUs are providing a rapid security fix for markets. In addition, the LNG market has undergone a series of high-profile mergers and acquisitions over the past year creating new multi-asset portfolio companies and challenging traditional market dynamics. Some players have exited the business.

• How are commercial and technological innovations contributing to security of supply
• How can market developers adapt their LNG offerings and project development to attract new long-term customers and secure innovative financing?
• How will the expanding range of participants affect different segments of the LNG value chain (producers, midstream, downstream)? What are the opportunities for new forms of collaboration?

Networking coffee break

Session 10 - World LNG shipping panel: Navigating through challenging global LNG shipping scenarios in 2025

Shipping is continually challenging in 2024: Managing an ageing global fleet, geopolitical turmoil disrupting trade routes and spiking insurance costs. There is an unprecedented number of vessels on order which will push the global fleet in excess of 1000 vessels / units.  As the next wave of LNG export projects come on stream, will there be enough ships to meet demand? How many newbuilds will enter the market in the next five years? What new technology is being employed to improve efficiency and meet IMO decarbonisation targets?

• Impact of geopolitical disruption on shipping rates, insurance costs, delivery times and cargo costs
• Decarbonisation of the LNG shipping fleet: What is influencing shipowners when determining fuel choices?​ What about emerging regulations and emission standards?
• Global LNG shipping fleet stock take – how will new orders impact on previously limited shipping fleet capacity?

Chair’s closing remarks

Welcome coffee

Chair’s opening remarks

Session 11 - LNG for transportation: Will LNG be the marine fuel of choice?

The global shipping industry is facing a structural shift. With tightening regulations on emissions and a growing focus on sustainability, traditional heavy fuel oils are no longer a viable long-term option. LNG has emerged as a promising contender, offering a cleaner alternative. What is the path to LNG being the dominant marine fuel of the future, and what critical questions remain surrounding LNG's potential as the leading clean marine fuel? What are its current limitations hindering its widespread adoption, and how does it compare against emerging alternatives?

• Can LNG overcome current limitations to become a leading clean marine fuel?
• How will LNG compete with emerging alternatives like methanol in cost, availability, and lifecycle emissions?
• What infrastructure investments are needed to accelerate the adoption of LNG as a marine fuel?
• How will the development of bio-LNG and synthetic LNG impact the long-term viability of LNG in shipping?
• What policy and technological advancements are necessary for a sustainable shipping industry?

Networking coffee break

Session 12 - Unlocking Capital - Financing global LNG infrastructure development

According to recent reports by Reuters and the IEA, the global LNG market is poised for substantial growth, with an estimated US$190 billion earmarked for new LNG import infrastructure between 2021 and 2025. FSRUs, onshore LNG import terminals and new pipelines will all play a role in building a more complex and global network. However, the majority of these investments will be concentrated in the burgeoning Asian markets, which are projected to account for over 75% of the global LNG import growth during this period. China and India alone account for $109 billion of the $190 billion planned globally. Investment at such a scale will require financiers to collaborate globally across continents and explore all avenues including new and innovative financing models to support this unprecedented level of growth and investment. What are the challenges and opportunities presented by this scale of investment in LNG infrastructure? Where will financial models differ by region? What role will public pressure of ESG play as we approach various climate targets? And what is the appetite for LNG from multilateral lenders post COP28?

• How can policy moves create an enabling environment for LNG financing and investment?
• How is the landscape of project finance evolving for LNG infrastructure, considering factors such as risk mitigation strategies, long-term offtake agreements, and the role of export credit agencies?
• How can capital markets be leveraged to finance LNG projects, including the issuance of green bonds, infrastructure funds, and the potential for securitisation of LNG assets
• The increasing importance of ESG factors in investment decisions, and how LNG projects can remain bankable
• How do finance models differ between North American and Asian markets, and what lessons can be learned from the greater size of the North American pipelines?

Session 13 - AI and digitalisation’s role in optimising the LNG value chain and accelerating the energy transition

AI and digitalisation are already transforming how energy is produced, consumed, and distributed. Processes are driven more than ever before by data and AI will be crucial to effectively digesting the wealth of information at the industries fingertips. The transformative analytic power of AI will accelerate decarbonisation efforts, helping to propel the LNG industry towards a credible and sustainable future. How can these cutting-edge technologies unlock new opportunities for a cleaner and more secure energy landscape? However, it is estimated that 47 GW of power generation capacity will be required to support data centre demand growth in the US alone through 2030, with 60% of this coming from natural gas. Will this hinder the progression of AI and, at the same time, how will it impact LNG supply and LNG pricing?

• How might AI optimise carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technologies, or autonomous LNG vessels?
• Can LNG suppliers produce enough LNG to service the new wave of LNG exports alongside the growing demand of data centres?
• How can AI-driven predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms optimise LNG supply chains, reduce operational costs, and minimise environmental impacts?
• How can blockchain and smart contracts revolutionise the LNG trading and risk management, fostering greater transparency and efficiency in the market?

Networking lunch