Global Energy Show expected to draw thousands to Calgary, highlight 'global energy story'
The Global Energy Show is expecting more than 30,000 attendees at Calgary's BMO Centre this week, featuring speakers from around the world.
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In May, the show revealed that Haitham Al Ghais, secretary general of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, would appear as a keynote speaker.
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The event will also feature more than 350 speakers, including energy industry CEOs, leaders from the private sector and elected officials.
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Broadly, the conference aims to tackle big questions and issues, looking at Canada's energy mandate over the next five years.
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'We really wanted to . . . put a stake and say, let's make a conference this year that's going to tell a global energy story,' said Nick Samain, senior vice-president of dmg events and head of the energy show.
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In terms of what will come out of this year's show, goals include some influence on federal policies and to 'reinforce' many important discussions around energy, according to Samain.
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Talk coming from Ottawa and Prime Minister Mark Carney around Canada as an 'energy superpower' has created an air of cautious optimism from delegates, added Samain.
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'Over the next five years, we've got some really big decisions to make that could fundamentally change our (lives),' he said.
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Amanda Bryant, a senior oil and gas analyst with the Calgary-based Pembina Institute, highlighted many 'issues of the moment.'
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'Nation-building projects. What does that mean? What is (actually) in the national interest? How do we weigh costs and benefits?' she posed.
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'How do we take Canada into the future, and what does it mean to be an energy superpower for Canada?' Bryant added.
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She hopes to get more 'nuance' around many of the questions facing the industry.
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Rather than just a slogan of 'we need to build pipelines,' she proposed ensuring that options are explored that 'will be economic and actually will have longevity.'
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Bryant is speaking for a panel at the show on Wednesday afternoon focused on tackling methane innovations for cleaner energy production, which she specializes in.
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'That panel will really focus on opportunities to mitigate methane emissions from the oil and gas sector,' said Bryant.
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