In 2024, St. Petersburg International Gas Forum (SPIGF) brought together more than 34,000 participants from 54 countries. Its convention program included 110 events that covered 19 topics, in particular, gas infrastructures in regions, collaboration with BRICS and SCO countries, hydrogen energy, LNG, research and development in the gas industry, import substitution, digital transformation, human resources development and sustainable growth. Thematic sessions, conferences and round table discussions welcomed about 800 speeches of industry professionals, including officials of the federal and regional regulatory bodies, relevant associations and unions, directors, senior and technological engineers, scientists, as well as emerging specialists and students of industry-oriented universities. Exhibitions arranged during SPIGF took all the premises available in Expoforum. At the area of 50,000 sq. m over 600 companies showcased their research and technology projects along with innovative solutions designed for the gas sector.
One venue, even as spacious, state-of-the-art and hi-tech as Expoforum, really couldn’t contain it all, as throughout its existence SPIGF reached an unprecedented scale. That’s why this year some of the events of the Gas Forum took place in convention halls of Hilton St. Petersburg Expoforum. The Plenary Session of OMR 2024 International Exhibition and the Conference for Shipbuilding and Equipment and Technologies for Development of the Arctic and Continental Shelf arranged during the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum was held in the Mariinsky Palace. The enormously spacious Gazprom Arena became a place for a gala dinner dedicated to the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum and the 10th anniversary of Expoforum Convention and Exhibition Centre.
SPIGF was attended by guests from the countries of Europe, the CIS, the Asian-Pacific Region, Africa, and the Arab world. This year, the events taking place during the Forum were covered by more than 400 journalists from 200 Russian and foreign media.
“Previous Forum events were no match to this one. We’ve reached the highest, the advanced level. Exhibits, technologies and equipment presented at the Forum were collaboratively designed and produced by Gazprom, R&D institutions, universities, the Russian Academy of Sciences. This ecosystem is operated smoothly, is well-coordinated and last but not least, it is focused on certain targets, on certain results. We feel confident about the future. Everything we’ve seen at the Forum is a world-class result,” said Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee.
The key event of the Forum was the Plenary Session where they talked about the new world order being established in global energy. The meeting was participated by Alexey Miller, Sergei Tsivilev, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Roman Sklyar, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey, Huang Yongzhang, Vice President of the China National Petroleum Corporation, Jamshid Kuchkarov, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Viktor Karankevich, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus.
One of the fundamental topics discussed at SPIGF 2024 was international collaboration enhancement. One way or another, these prospects were brought up by all the participants of the business agenda. Another essential issue raised at the Forum was development of the petrochemical sector. Its companies produce feedstock required for making the broadest range of goods, including consumer products, medical goods and even foods. The most common example of such stock material is plastic of all kinds. Every year, we use increasingly more of it. According to the experts who spoke at SPIGF, by 2050 the demand for plastic making stocks is going to increase more than twofold despite the global ambition for circular economy and deplasticization policies. Russia possesses all the opportunities to take the leading place in the global market of petrochemical products: this was the conclusion made by the participants of the panel discussion named Petroleum Chemistry: New Development Horizons for Innovative Products and Materials, New Technological Patterns. “Further growth of the petrochemical sector is of strategic importance for the state. It increases the demand for sophisticated technologies and promotes advanced operations,” said Dmitry Zavalov, Deputy CEO of the Russian Energy Agency of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation is already implementing the programs to help with that. Since the first sanctions were imposed in 2014, more than 70 bln rubles have been allocated to support the oil and gas industry. “We’ve incorporated all the industry players at the venue of the Oil and Gas Equipment Import Substitution Coordination Board managed by two Vice Prime Ministers: Denis Manturov and Alexander Novak. Our objective is to make sure that by 2030 the Russian oil and gas industry becomes completely independent,” concluded Hadjimurat Saadulaev, Head of Oil & Gas Procession and Water Gas Treatment Equipment Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
Moreover, this year at St. Petersburg International Gas Forum they talked about sustainable development of the industry and environmental matters, about digital transformation and introduction of AI-powered technologies, design and construction issues, innovations, underground gas storage, legal risks and new approaches to marketing and PR in the gas sector.
SPIGF 2024 was also the place for a whole pack of ceremonies participated by Alexey Miller. In particular, they started new gas supplying and infrastructural facilities for consumers located in all federal districts of the Russian Federation. With it, 1,900 house properties will get a chance to connect to pipeline gas. Further, they launched Gazprom’s Metrology Centre with the State primary standard of gas consumption. This Centre is the first Russian platform where high-precision gas volume metering devices can be tested, validated and calibrated. On top of that, they started a new condensate de-ethanization unit at the Urengoy Plant in order to get the condensate ready for transportation. This unit is an essential element of Gazprom’s network utilized to process the resources mined in the Nadym-Pur-Taz Region.
Another event arranged during SPIGF was its traditional Youth Day. This year, 30 students from 12 countries were chosen from the 300 applicants. They got a chance to meet at Expoforum in St. Petersburg and discuss the hottest issues related to development of the energy industry.
Genuine achievements made by the Russian industry and science were displayed at SPIGF 2024 exposition. In fact, several dedicated exhibitions were arranged during the Forum. They were InGAS Stream 2024 – Innovations in the Gas Industry Specialised Exhibition, Import Substitution in the Gas Industry Corporate Exposition of Gazprom, ROS-GAS-EXPO International Specialised Exhibition of Natural Gas Industry and Technology for Gas Facility and OMR 2024 International Exhibition and Conference for Shipbuilding and Equipment and Technologies for Development of the Arctic and Continental Shelf. One more exhibition that took place during the event presented the collective stands by the Russian regions: the Perm Territory, the Republic of Tatarstan, the Moscow, Astrakhan, Chelyabinsk, Penza and Omsk Regions. The official delegation led by Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, took a tour around the exhibitions set up at St. Petersburg International Gas Forum. For instance, they were introduced to Oleg Dobrobot, an inspecting robot made by Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk in collaboration with Cognitive Pilot. Further, they viewed the IT polygon project designed for gas transporting companies by Gazprom CPS IT Company and examined KTT-50, a new full-revolving pipe-laying crane manufactured by Klintsovsky Truck Crane Plant. At the stand of Kazakhstan adorned with handmade carpets and paintings they played musical instruments and demonstrated authentic jewelry.
At the 12th InGAS Stream 2024 – Innovations in the Gas Industry International Exhibition the most cutting-edge technologies for the oil and gas sector were presented. At Gazprom Gas Engine Fuel stand, the visitors of the Forum were presented natural gas operated LADA Vesta and BAIC U5 Plus adjusted for people with disabilities. Peterpipe Company showcased a wide range of polyethylene fittings, and Electroshield Samara brought distribution gear in compliance with international standards. PeterburgGaz put on display their Seeker mobile laboratory for gas leak detection, and Mosoblgaz showed their affordable top-quality gas equipment. Goreltex exhibited explosion-proof equipment, Turbulentnost Don demonstareted different modifications of ultrasound gas flow meters, TekhnoProm presented BKM-5 corrosion monitoring unit, and Bunter Group showed a model of a spherical vessel that is currently produced in Russia. These innovations outline that Russian manufacturers pursue technological independence and further growth of the local industry.
As part of the Forum Gazprom arranged their Import Substitution in the Gas Industry Corporate Exposition. The exhibits were brought by leaders of the industry, by equipment manufacturers, technology developers and academic institutions. All of them presented the most state-of-the art projects required by the gas industry.
The outdoor section of SPIGF 2024 exposition included portable gas tank trucks, eco-friendly Moskvich automobiles, dump trucks and tractors running on natural gas. The list of exhibits included a BelAZ 90-tons quarry truck that runs on LNG with a dump module for cryogenic tanks, a Galichanin 100-tons portable crane on Volat chassis by the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant, and two collaborative projects by RariTEK: CNG-operated BELARUS tractors produced by Minsk Tractor Works and the world’s first LNG-operated POLESIE grain harvester.
The Gas Forum participants could attend several meeting venues at once. As usually, the Business Matchmaking Centre worked to promote new relations between suppliers and customers. This year, over 1,800 meetings took place there. For the first time ever, SPIGF hosted the New Technologies for the Gas Industry presentation day, which was attended by more than 50 oil, gas and industrial companies. During all the four days of the Forum, the Business Lounge, a communication venue for business gatherings in an informal setting, was opened. This year, SPIGF participants were invited to take a technical tour to the Vsevolozhsk Gas Turbine Heating Power Plant: there the specialists were demonstrated gas turbine units in operation and learnt about new heat and electricity generation technologies. Besides, they were told about the main stages of the electricity production cycle.
The convention program of SPIGF 2024 was really packed, there was time not only for business meetings and serious discussions, but also for entertainment and sport events, too. For instance, Winline Billiard Club arranged at the Forum venue hosted WINLINE Cup of President of the Russian Gas Society. Chess enthusiasts were invited to try their strength in intellectual battles of chess with grand masters in the simultaneous exhibition sessions. Trophies won by Zenit Football Club were displayed at their stand, and Luciano, Zenit’s forward, gave autographs to the fans. Gas Forum Golf Tournament’ 24, the official golf competition, took place in the MillCreek golf club.
Gazprom Mezhregiongaz opened the Gas for Russia media studio at their stand. Guests of the studio talked about gas infrastructure development and extension in the Russian regions, as well as about social, cultural, sportive and historical initiatives.
Russia – Co-occurence of Good News online studio established by St. Petersburg Diary (Peterburgsky Dnevnik) and ExpoForum International was operated at the Forum venue, too. During the live streams, the hosts and journalists interviewed the key participants and media VIPs of the event.
A special mobile app was created for the participants of St. Petersburg International Gas Forum, which made it possible to solve all the needs of users: from managing a personal schedule and making appointments to booking restaurants. SPIGF mobile app is the result of the joint work of ExpoForum International and Gazprom ID Operator: a memorandum of intent to develop digital solutions was signed by companies this year at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The Imperial Porcelain Manufactory, which celebrates its 280th anniversary in 2024, showed some outstanding porcelain art from the imperial times to the participants and guests of the Forum. With those services of dishes, vases and sculptures they told the guests how porcelain reflected not only tastes of emperors and empresses but the major landmarks of Russian history, too.
“Everything Gazprom does has a quality label on it. Today, the Gas Forum is in the Top 3 of the major gas events of the world. One day, it will be global project Number One. The record-breaking results obtained in 2024 leave no room for doubt about that,” said Sergey Voronkov, CEO of ExpoForum International and President of the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs. Further, he invited the participants to attend the next Forum scheduled for 2025.
SPIGF 2024 was powered by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation and the Government of St. Petersburg.
The coorganisers of the SPIGF 2024 convention program: Gazprom, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, State Council of the Russian Federation working in the area of Energy, Gazprom Mezhregiongaz, Gazprombank (Joint Stock Company), Media Miry, Gas Industry Magazine, T1 Holding, COMITA Group, Gazprom UGS, Gazprom Transgaz Belarus, Russian Gas Society Union of Oil & Gas Producers of Russia, National Oil and Gas Forum, Institute of Oil and Gas Technology Initiatives, 1C Company, TEK Torg, Hydrogen Energy Committee of the CIS Business Center and B1 Group.
SPIGF 2024 general partner: Gazprom.
General sponsor: TMK.
Industrial partner: Almaz – Antey Air and Space Defence Corporation.
SPIGF 2024 partners: Ural Steel Group, Gazprombank (Joint Stock Company), COMITA Group, Rossiya Bank, HMS Group, United Metallurgical Company, Salavat Catalyst Plant, Gazprom GNP Holding, United Engine Corporation, RUMO, Rosatom State Corporation, FracJet-Volga, Gazprom ID Operator, Bunter Group, Norrexim RUS, T1 Holding, Gazstroyprom, NPK Morsvyazavtomatica, Technoavia – St. Petersburg, GT Energo, RNG Engineering, Polycell Scientific and Production Association, Tyazhpressmash Group, Gazprom CPS, Legenda Intelligent Development, Zenit Football Club
and the National Oil and Gas Forum.
Telecommunication partner: Rostelecom.
Official insurance partner: SOGAZ.
Gala dinner partner: Winline.
Style partner: Indever menswear studio.
Cultural program partner: Imperial Porcelain Manufactory.
Organisation partners: Karelian mineral water plant; Specialty RU.
Official translating company: Voice of the World translation agency.
General information partners: Territoriya NEFTEGAS and Gas Industry magazines.
General industrial information partner: Neftegaz.ru.
General industrial media partner: Sphere. Oil & Gas magazine.
Strategic information partner: Exposition Oil Gas magazine.
Official industrial information partner: Power and Industry of Russia newspaper.
Official industrial media partner: Oil and Gas Industry magazine.
Publisher of SPIGF Show Daily official newspaper: United Industrial Publishers.
Official restaurants: Lamb, Palkin, Stroganoff Steak House, Magadan, Syrovarnya.
Organiser: ExpoForum International.
Exhibition program co-organisers: FAREXPO and RESTEC.