France to host the World Gas Conference (WGC) in 2015

In today's Council meeting, held in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, the Council members of the International Gas Union (IGU) elected Paris, France, as venue for the WGC in 2015.

Following today's election of France and Paris as host for the WGC in 2015, France will also hold the Presidency of IGU from 2012-2015.

For the triennium 2012-2015, France has designated the below key people with extensive gas experience: 

• President: Jerome Ferrier (TOTAL)
• Coordination Committee  (CC) Chairman: Georges Liens (GdF Suez)  
• CC Secretary: Yves Tournié (TOTAL)
• President NOC: Daniel Paccoud  (Association Française de Gaz) 

Mr. J. Ferrier,France, speaks to the IGU Council just after the announcement of France  and Paris as host for WGC 2015. From left: Mr. G.Bouchard(Gdf Suez), Mr. D.Paccoud (AFG,French Charter member) Mr. J.Ferrier and  Mr.Y. Tournié(TOTAL)

Other candidates for the Presidency 2012-2015 and hosting of WGC 2015 were Brazil and Qatar.

The present IGU Presidency is held by Argentina with the fothcoming WGC to take place in Buenos Aires from 5-9 Octobre 2009.  Malaysia will take over the Presidency after WGC 2009 until 2012, and Malaysia will then host WGC in 2012.

StatoilHydro (Norway) is hosting the IGU Secretariat since 1. November 2007. The Secretary General,Mr. Torstein Indrebø,  and the Secretariat is located in Oslo, Norway.