World LPG Forum welcomes 1,400 attendees

The “Tomorrow’s Energy Today” roundtable reflected the theme of the World LPG Forum and featured a discussion on the future role of propane in the energy market. Photo courtesy of the World LPG Association

The 31st World LPG Forum, which took place in Houston, drew about 1,400 attendees from 76 countries, while a total of 88 countries participated in the exhibition.

The theme of the forum was “Tomorrow’s Energy Today,” under which the World LPG Forum debated the role of propane in shaping the future energy transition. According to the World LPG Association (WLPGA), this is an issue that resonates across the globe in various markets and the discussion around the topic will continue over the coming years.

A roundtable titled “Tomorrow’s Energy Today” featured panel discussions on the future role of propane and how the fuel can contribute to the low carbon energy transition. The panel featured senior representatives from the U.S. and Europe. The forum also had a wide range of sessions available to attendees on topics such as the future of propane, communication, potential growth markets and the secrets behind best practice stories that will drive the future of the industry.

During the event, the Women in LPG Global Network (WINLPG) awarded its first Woman of the Year award to Lesieli Taviri, general manager of Origin LPG in Papua New Guinea. The runner-up is Jessica Alderman, director of communications for Envirofit International in the U.S. WINLPG also held a Knowledge Exchange, which welcomed members from over 14 countries and featured a presentation by Geetika Verma of Indian Oil Corp. and Paige O’Dell, chair of WINLPG. The organization also welcomed Women in Propane as an official national chapter of WINLPG.

The Global Technology Conference showcased new technological innovations in the industry. Over 200 delegates heard about some of the latest technological advances in the industry as over 11 papers were presented. Paygo Energy won the WLPGA 2018 Innovation Award for its presentation of a digitally controlled smart valve fitted to domestic LPG cylinders, which lowers the barrier for low-income households to access propane and deters illegal fills. WLPGA CEO James Rockall presented the Innovation Award to Fausto Marcigot, who represented Paygo Energy.

The World LPG Forum will be held in Amsterdam in 2019.

*Featured image courtesy of the World LPG Association