Over 2,000 oil and gas professionals from around the world gathered in London this week for International Petroleum (IP) Week. They came to hear from senior energy industry figures, participate in one of the leading fora for the oil and gas sector, and share knowledge and experience through the many networking opportunities on offer. Highlights included keynote addresses by UK Energy Minister, Charles Hendry, and by Bob Dudley, Group Chief Executive, BP.

The three-day annual conference organised by the Energy Institute (EI) began with a discussion of demand growth, the global impact of recent incidents such as Macondo and Fukushima, along with the latest developments in technology to improve security of supply.

Global energy demand is projected to rise by one third from 2010 to 2035 with fossil fuels continuing to provide the majority of the energy required. It is no surprise that Asia is set to dominate this growth in demand in 2012 with China alone accounting for half of the new demand.

This introduced further debates on the need to invest in new technologies to ensure security of supply, on the future of transport fuels and future developments in Africa, Russia, the Artic, the Middle East, among others….

At the IP Week lunch on 21 February, Charles Hendry, UK Energy Minister, pointed out that whilst appreciating the important role the oil and gas industry plays, particularly in terms of supply and employment, the contribution of renewables and other low carbon technologies must also be recognised. He called for a new Carbon Capture and Storage competition including gas to decarbonise important oil and gas supplies and working more closely with industry to improve predictability around future policy making.

Over the course of IP Week, two of the continuing themes of discussion were the acute shortage of talent and the need to educate the general public about how the risks attached to each technology are mitigated and the industry’s safety records.

Bob Dudley, Chief Executive, BP, brought the events to a close at the IP Week dinner, reiterating the role the oil and gas industry has to play in future energy supply, and the challenges of meeting increased demand with new technologies and exploration of new frontiers. He recognised that the industry needs to face up to scrutiny and also must engage society more to gain their understanding.

'IP Week 2012 was a vibrant three days of intense dialogue and networking', commented Louise Kingham OBE FEI, Chief Executive, Energy Institute. 'Never one to rest on its laurels, the industry is responding to the challenges it faces with renewed vigour. It remains as complex as ever, driven by high technology and a variety of skills and talent. However, much more needs to be done to promote science and engineering skills, to encourage young people to consider an energy career and become part of the generation to lead the industry into the future'.

To support those new to the industry, the EI hosted a professional development programme for recent graduates at IP Week. This included sessions on developing networking skills and attending career surgeries to hear from industry executives on how to get ahead.

IP Week 2013 is held in London from 18-20 February.

Tags: Energy Institute