Chairperson of the Korea City Gas Association

Vice-Chairman of World Energy Council

First natural gas from Indonesia was brought in 1986. Since the introduction of natural gas, city gas customers have grown rapidly. In 1987 city gas was provided to 4.5 million households. As of the end of 2006 there were over 12.1 million users utilizing 17.6 billion cu. m of gas amounting to 10.6% of Korea’s energy consumption. Despite the fact that, in the late 80s most of our gas consumers were private households using gas for cooking, currently not only do households, commercial users, businesses, and manufacturers use gas, but also consumption now encompasses small scale cogeneration, fuel cells, and CNG for automobiles. It is needless to say that daily start-up and daily shut-down large scale power plants of KEPCO sibling companies also utilize natural gas.

Recent years have seen an increase in the price of oil and climate change treaties enacted to protect the earth’s environment meaning that the energy industry can expect to face many changes. As gas consumption has steadily increased, the environmentally-friendly aspects of natural gas have received even more attention while focus has shifted to its being a next generation energy source. As a result, perhaps more than ever, there is a critical demand for the development of new technologies and products.

The worldwide development of a variety of scientific technologies including IT and NT along with the creation of new technologies and products for the gas industry have been publicized every two years at the Gas Korea Exhibition, which has become a forum where with representatives of the gas industry can share important information.

Next year will see the opening of Gas Korea 2008. As in previous years, this exhibition will offer the chance for the gas industry to present an overview of its prospects in a high quality setting. I look forward to this exhibition being an opportunity to spark even greater growth and development in our gas industry, too.

Chairperson of the Korea Gas & Petroleum Appliances Association

In spite of short history of 35 years, gas appliances industry of Korea has improved stability, convenience and quality up to the level of advanced countries by making efforts to develop innovative technologies to achieve competitive advantage. Moreover, gas appliances industry of Korea is recognized around the world in terms of its eco-friendly technical power and designs. Behind such brilliant development includes government’s efforts to expand gas with enhanced policies, increase of consumers’ preference toward Korean-based gas appliances, and domestic gas appliances suppliers’ passion and efforts to develop and expand advanced products. In particular, GAS KOREA, bi-annual gas industry display, has played a pivotal role in supply and expansion of gas appliances.

GAS KOREA is sponsored by an organization committee which consists of gas-related government, organizations and associations including GAS Newspaper. In 2006, many domestic and overseas companies and organizations participated in GAS KOREA where those concerned in gas can share useful information and exchange different opinions. GAS KOREA contributing to gas industry development is expected to provide more benefits because its size and contents is enhanced continuously.

In particular,「GAS KOREA 2008」is planning to provide participants with various programs such as introduction to new energy technologies and display of many different items, seminars and workshops.

I truly hope that many global gas companies will introduce their innovative products and have an opportunity to make a good relationship with Korean gas industry in GAS KOREA 2008 which will be held in Seoul in April 2008. Thank you!