Following two postponements due to the coronavirus pandemic this year's Flame conference,the long established leading European gas event, convened in virtual format from October 12-15. With 273 speakers and panelists and hundreds of attendees this year's event proved highly successful given the adverse circumstances in the economic and business environment in Europe.
To enable ease of access and participation the event was spread over three days and included both live and prerecorded sessions. Key subjects in this year's Flame included gas market dynamics in Europe and globally, covering both pipeline gas and LNG, the prospects of hydrogen as future key energy fuel, supply and demand,biogas and CCS. From the suppliers side Gazprom Export's CEO, Elena Burmistrova delivered a very inspiring presentation outlining the huge challenges which the company faced this year in view of fall in demand and prices and the need to maintain continuous supplies all over Europe. Also, Equinor's SVP, Martin Anfinnsen expanded on the subject of "Increasing commoditization and the green wing of global gas", while well known analyst James Henderson discussed the decarbonization of the gas value chain.
Extra sessions included a "Biogas Development Forum" and "Women at Flame on Demand" .Keynote addresses included a presentation by IEA's senior analyst Lazlo Varo on the state and prospects of the global gas markets and and an EC presentation on the role of gas in the future of the European power mix.A highly stimulating session proved the one "the prospects for hydrogen & bio methane to 2050- a reality check" which was chaired by Professor Jonathan Stern and included contributions by Tudor Constantinescou from DG Energy, James Watson from Eurogas and Marta Kamola-Martinez from Engie.
IENE's participation
Following an invitation by the organisers the Institute's Executive Director and its current chairman, Costis Stambolis took part in one of the sessions dealing with the supply of natural gas to Europe and specifically the role of East Mediterranean gas resources. Mehmet Ogutcu, chairman of the Bosporus Energy Club, ex Ambassador in Turkey's diplomatic corps and well known energy expert joined in the discussion which was chaired by Ana Stanic, Founder of London based E&A Law firm which specializes on energy law. The discussion centered on prospective European gas demand,the role of gas in a rapidly changing global fossil fuel free environment, the substantial gas deposits of East Med gas and how could these be best utilized and the need for cooperation between the countries in the region in monetizing the known and yet to be discovered gas resources.
