Energy Exports Conference 2019

More than US$150bn of global projects requiring UK products and services were discussed in Aberdeen by over 20 major operators, including Aramco, BP, Ørsted and Shell, at the Energy Exports Conference (EEC) on 18–19 June 2019.  

Organised by the EIC, the two-day conference included high-level discussions offering financial, practical and in-country support to UK companies in the oil and gas, power and renewable sectors that are looking to export or expand into new markets around the world.

The agenda was packed with lively panel sessions and presentations featuring 100 speakers from companies such as ADNOC, Bechtel, BP, Pertamina, Petronas, Shell, Subsea UK and Uganda National Oil Company.

A plenary session featured government ministers and CEOs from export agencies and specialists including the Department for International Trade, UK Parliament, Scottish Development International and UK Export Finance, and Oil and Gas Authority opened the conference.

Speaking at the conference, EIC CEO Stuart Broadley said, ‘Helping UK companies export is a passion of the EIC. Going global can seem daunting. It needn’t be. We are committed to enabling the UK energy supply chain to export its products, services and expertise into global markets.

‘This is the biggest event we have ever organised. It is vital that UK companies take advantage of global opportunities out there. By attending the EEC, energy service firms potentially did three months’ worth of business, having had access to project updates, market intelligence and networking, in just two days.

‘Success at the event could contribute to one of the key planks of the UK oil and gas industry’s “vision” for the next 15 years.’ Vision 2035 envisages a doubling of the UK supply chain’s share of the global export market, which would bring in an additional £150bn in revenues over the period.

Sir Ian Wood, Chair, Opportunity North East, commented, ‘As we enter a period of transition, we are witnessing a huge move to diversification and a shift from oil to gas to wider energy markets, such as tidal and carbon capture and storage. The best way for the UK supply chain to take advantage of such opportunities is to talk to people in these new markets.’ He said this conference was the perfect opportunity to do just that.

During the keynote plenary session focusing on bilateral trading links between Aramco and the UK, Talal Al-Marri, President and CEO of Aramco, said, ‘Aberdeen is the centre of excellence in oil and gas. Aramco has ambitious growth plans over the next 10 years as we transition to become the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals company.

‘In order to achieve this, we need to work with best-in-class partners – many of whom are based here in the UK. I believe the level of collaboration between the UK and Aramco can be higher and there are still huge opportunities within mainstream and downstream projects.’

Aramco plans to invest US$500bn over the next 10 years in the global energy market and to diversify away from oil, presenting an unparalleled opportunity for the UK supply chain to win significant work on global projects with one of the largest national operators in the world.

Also speaking at the conference, Andy Samuel, Chief Executive, Oil and Gas Authority, emphasised the importance of global and innovative partnerships. ‘The UK has world-class supply chain capabilities. The UK makes up 40% of global subsea exporting capabilities, with the North East and Aberdeen leading the way. It’s essential we work together with global partners to tap into the vast potential on offer.’ He said the inaugural event had turbo-charged such opportunities.

The exhibition hall at EEC was a bustling hub of activity. Companies had the opportunity to raise their profile, showcase new products and services to buyers and position themselves as a leading voice in the global energy industry – to a crowd of more than 500 UK supply chain delegates, tier one contractors and leading global operators.

It is hoped that the EEC will become a regular event, with another instalment to be placed in the calendar in 2020, then returning every two years.