Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is playing an increasing role in the shipping and road transportation industries as an alternative to diesel and petrol in many parts of the world. To date, LNG is mainly used in Hong Kong for power generation. With the imminent completion of a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), there are opportunities to extend the use of LNG to other sectors. For example, Hong Kong could become a key part of a regional LNG bunkering network after Singapore.
Using LNG as a low-carbon fuel could help Hong Kong reduce local air pollution. While LNG is not a carbon-free fuel, it still has a major role to play as a transition option until other zero-carbon solutions become market-ready. This is one of the recommendations made in the Report on the Public Engagement on Long-term Decarbonisation Strategy submitted by the Council for Sustainable Development to the Government.
Given the local and regional contexts, Business Environment Council (BEC) will organise a webinar on 17 December as part of a research and engagement project on LNG bunkering in Hong Kong. The main objectives of the webinar are to raise awareness on the potential of LNG and to resume the discussion among key stakeholders on this important topic.
Speakers:
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Mr Christian Hubner Since July 1st, 2019 Dr. Christian Hübner is the Director of the Regional Programme Energy Security and Climate Change in Asia-Pacific of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation (KAS) based in Hong Kong SAR/PR China. Before, he has been the Head of the Regional Programme Energy Security and Climate Change in Latin America of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation (KAS) based in Lima, Peru. Prior to this position he has worked as Coordinator for environmental, climate and energy policy within the KAS department of European and International Cooperation in Berlin. His thematic priorities are energy transition policy, geopolitics of energy security, economic evaluation of climate policy instruments and Blockchain-Technology. The three years before joining the foundation Christian Hübner has been research associate at a research institute of the Leibniz Association. There, as a trained economist, his focus has been on environmental economic analysis of ecosystems.
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Mr Joseph Law Joseph is currently the Senior Director – Planning and Development of CLP Power, the Hong Kong electricity business of CLP Group. CLP Power is a vertically integrated electricity supply business, serving 6 million people in its supply area. Joseph is responsible for corporate and strategic planning, tariff and regulatory management, as well as commercial project development. He has worked in different parts of the energy business from finance, renewable energy development, project management, strategic planning and commercial development. Joseph has a banking background before joining CLP and is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Certified Public Accountant.
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Mr Martin Cresswell Martin is a Marine Engineer who has spent over 40 years operating, managing and building merchant ships for the China Navigation Co Pty Ltd, CNCo; a private company owned by John Swire & Sons London. He was a Board Member for 15yrs before retiring in November 2016, after which he joined the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, HKSOA, as part time Technical Director. Martin commenced his seafaring career with the P&O Steam Navigation Company in 1969 and on the completion of his cadetship in 1973 joined the China Navigation Co Ltd in Hong Kong. After spending 8yrs years at sea with CNCo, rising from junior engineer to chief engineer, sailing on general cargo and container ships, bulk carriers, ferries and passenger ships, offshore AHS vessels and crane ships he joined the ship management team in Hong Kong. Martin’s career in ship management ashore with CNCo started in mid 1981 and lasted 35yrs. His first role, as Technical Superintendent, was managing multipurpose and container vessels. This was followed by a short period as Assistant Operations Manager, working for the newly established sister company Swire Pacific Offshore. However, after only 12mths he was requested to return to CNCo and was sent to the UK as a Newbuilding Superintendent to supervise the building of a bulk carrier. After delivery of the ship, he returned to CNCo HK as Ship Manager managing bulkcarriers, multipurpose and container vessels plus a passenger vessel. Martin was promoted to Fleet Manager in 1995 and General Manager Fleet in 2002 and made a Director. When CNCo moved from Hong Kong to Singapore in 2009 his position was renamed Fleet Director. During his career with CNCo, Martin was responsible for the general design and construction of more than 50 merchant vessels ranging from feeder container and multipurpose ships to handy sized bulkcarriers, transhippers and a cement vessel. The newbuilding’s were all built for long term use by CNCo so were especially designed and built to be as reliable and economical as possible. Other notable responsibilities were the major conversion of a passenger vessel and lengthening of 5 multipurpose container vessels. Martin has completed numerous professional and management courses; while at sea gaining his UK DTI First Class Motor Certificate of Competency and in management ashore a Higher Diploma in Advanced Ship Management from Strathclyde University and attending the Swire Advanced Management course at INSEAD, France, and the Swire Tsinghua University course, Beijing. Martin is a member of the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology UK, IMarEST, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, HKIE, and The Nautical Institute, UK. Martin was the Chairman of the HKSOA Technical Committee from 1996 to 2009 and has been an active member of the LR and DNV Technical Committees in both Hong Kong and Singapore.
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Mr Tahir Faruqui Tahir is currently General Manager of Downstream LNG in Shell LNG Marketing and Trading. Previously, Tahir was President of Shell North America LNG and General Manager Origination – North & Central America in Shell LNG Marketing and Trading. He held the role of Vice President for Energy Retailers (Aggregators) at Shell Energy North America where he was responsible for reviving and growing the portfolio in deregulated markets for gas and power. Tahir has contributed in various other roles in Shell in Commercial and Finance domains, including Business Development, Structured Finance, E&P Finance, and venture capital/private equity. Prior to Shell Trading, Tahir also gained experiences in Strategy Consulting during his tenure at Bain & Co., as a public accountant for HRS, and as a stockbroker for Chatfield Dean / Wells Fargo. Tahir holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and BBA (Hons.) from University of Karachi (IBA).
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Mr Simon Ng Mr Simon Ng is Director – Policy & Research of Business Environment Council. He is responsible for BEC’s work on policy advocacy, thought leadership development, and collaborative research on various environmental issues that BEC focuses on. Trained as a geographer, Mr Ng is known for his ground-breaking work on ship emissions inventory in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta in which his collaboration with the shipping industry led to the launch of the Fair Winds Charter. He is also well regarded for his research and engagement work on walkability. |
Supporting Organisations:
Successful registrations will be notified separately. For further information, please contact us at event@bec.org.hk or 2784 3958.
