SIR Ian Wood KT GBE, Chairman of Opportunity North East (ONE) and The Wood Foundation, will headline the Opening Plenary at the Virtual Energy Exports Conference (vEEC Week) on Monday 28 September.
A vocal advocate of supporting the UK energy industries and accelerating the energy transition to more sustainable sectors, Sir Ian will welcome delegates to the fully virtual event focused on highlighting global export opportunities and assisting newer exporters.
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Sir Ian Wood KT GBE, who also opened last year’s inaugural Energy Exports Conference, said, “As a mature province with a highly skilled, internationally experienced supply chain in oil and gas, the UK can be an example of how the natural synergy between oil and gas and energy transition will fast track solutions, and accelerate the growth of the renewables supply chain.
“It is timely that we should be discussing international opportunities and export support when the global economy presents additional challenges for exporters. We must retain our strong international and outward-looking approach to build on our existing oil and gas export activity to support international energy transition projects and drive further export growth.”
Ministerial representatives from the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments will also take part in opening the event, expected to be attended by 3,000 delegates from around the world over the four days.
Graham Stuart MP, Minister for Exports since February 2020 and returning to speak at vEEC, is responsible for export policy and promotion, including export strategy.
He said: “Global energy demand is expected to grow by one-third in the next twenty years, at the same time as emissions need to be drastically reduced. This provides a huge opportunity for innovative UK companies to contribute to the global challenge while building prosperity and climate leadership at home.
“As we seek to recover from COVID-19 the government is determined to support our energy sector to build back better and use international trade as a major part of doing so. That’s why our new Export Strategy will have clean growth at its heart and why we are working hand in hand with industry to develop markets around the world.”
He will be joined by Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs from the Welsh Government and Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands in the Scottish Government.
Welsh Government Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said: “Investment in renewable energy is a core strength of our strategy for the Welsh economy. We want to support our businesses to take advantage of the transition to a low carbon economy, in Wales and abroad. Sustainable economic growth is at the heart of our international ambitions and we look forward to sharing our experience.”
Completing the Opening Plenary line-up is Energy Industries Council (EIC) CEO Stuart Broadley and EIC President Campbell Keir.
With travel restrictions and continued COVID and market uncertainty, vEEC is more important than ever together to bring together key energy project decision makers with the UK’s supply chain
Over US$500bn worth of project opportunities will be presented by major project decision makers from around the world at the event, with many in key energy markets in the Americas, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe.
More than 100 speakers will take part in 50+ live sessions over the four days, including global operators and developers Total, Equinor, BP, ADNOC and ExxonMobil.
Organised by EIC in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, Department for International Trade (DIT), Oil & Gas Authority (OGA), OGUK, Opportunity North East (ONE), Scottish Development International (SDI), Scottish Enterprise (SE) and UK Export Finance (UKEF), the EIC’s flagship event is now in its second year after a successful inaugural edition in Aberdeen last year.
