ACERA Attends WACCC Business Forum & Exhibition: Innovating for A Sustainable Future —— Role of Natural Gas

On Friday, the 6th of December 2024, Mr. Lu Yongfeng, President of the Australian Chinese Energy and Resource Association (ACERA), was invited to participate in the Business Forum & Exhibition: Innovating for A Sustainable Future, organized by the Chung Wah Association and the Western Australian Chinese Chamber of Commerce together. As a keynote speaker, Mr. Lu delivered a speech titled “Energy Transition and Natural Gas Role,” focusing on the trends and challenges of the energy transition and exploring the critical role of natural gas in achieving global emission reduction targets. ACERA Vice President Xipo Zhang, Deputy Secretary-General of ACERA Richard Cao, and Executive Committee Member Ms. Kong also attended the event. They joined experts, academics, and industry leaders in the energy and resources sector in this significant forum.

Pictured from left to right are: Ms. Cancan Kong (Executive committee member of ACERA), Mr. Yongfeng Lu (President of ACERA) , Mr. Ting Chen (President at Chung Wah Association),Mr. Xipo Zhang (Vice President of ACERA) and Mr. Richard Cao (Deputy Secretary-General of ACERA)

President Lu emphasized the growing importance of natural gas as a transitional energy source amid the accelerating global energy transition. He analyzed the shift in energy demand from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy sources, particularly highlighting the near doubling of wind and solar power generation over the past four years. President Lu pointed out that the increasing demand from Australia and China for natural gas is particularly significant in emerging economies, where its application in the industrial and power sectors continues to drive economic growth. Based on these analyses, President Lu called for further exploration of the critical role natural gas plays in energy security and global emission reduction efforts, advocating for economically feasible solutions to achieve a sustainable energy transition.

The forum also featured a roundtable discussion, where President Lu focused on the vital role of government in driving energy industry transformation. Participants, Raj Surendran-CEO of Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia (TLEA), Samantha Smart-the Partner at Squire Patton Boggs, engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as policy support, industry incentives, and regulatory innovation. They also examined how governments can foster collaboration to advance energy technologies, ensuring market stability and sustainability. During the discussion, attendees unanimously agreed that governments play a dual role as both policymakers and resource coordinators, as well as market facilitators, which is essential for achieving the 2050 net-zero target and enhancing industry competitiveness.