The 30th International Conference “Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan-2025” (OGT 2025) opened with a compelling address by Andrea Stegher, President of the International Gas Union (IGU), emphasizing the critical role of natural gas in meeting a quarter of the world’s energy needs. Speaking for the first time in Ashgabat as IGU President, Stegher outlined the organization’s vision for gas as a cornerstone of global energy security, affordability, and sustainability.
Representing an organization founded in 1931, Stegher highlighted the IGU’s extensive reach, covering around 70 countries, 140 members, and 90% of the global gas market across the entire value chain. With 14 technical committees and 500 volunteers worldwide, the IGU serves as a vital platform for knowledge sharing and technical collaboration.
“Gas is serving a quarter of today’s global energy needs,” Stegher declared, noting that rising energy demand necessitates increased investments to ensure energy security and affordability.
He emphasized a holistic approach to sustainability, balancing security, affordability, and climate considerations in a geopolitically complex world. The IGU, he stressed, is committed to fostering collaboration across regions to address these challenges collectively.
Stegher introduced the IGU’s recent Manifesto, which champions “Gas with a capital G” – encompassing various gaseous molecules and technologies tailored to diverse regional energy needs. This approach acknowledges the necessity of multiple pathways to meet the growing energy demands of a global population while tackling climate challenges.
“We – the Gas industry – provide a product that is affordable, reliable, available, and easily dispatchable, one that can be easily integrated with renewables, and one that addresses the renewables’ intermittency! But also provides great advantages in industry utilization, plus heating our homes where needed”, he noted.
The IGU President called for “more of” in key areas: more investments, more scalable technologies, and more engagement with stakeholders, including policymakers, regulators, and financial institutions.
Stegher expressed enthusiasm for exploring new partnerships with Turkmenistan, a nation with vast gas resources and significant potential to expand its global energy influence.
As the conference unfolds, Stegher’s address sets the stage for discussions on advancing gas as a key fuel for a sustainable future, reinforcing its integral role in human progress and global growth. ///nCa, 22 October 2025