After Lyon, it's time for Katowice

From Lyon...

This year's congress brought together some 2,000 delegates, more than 300 organizations (companies, associations and public institutions) and more than 100 sponsors and exhibitors. The conference part featured 68 speakers, a record number in the history of the event. Among the exhibitors there were members of the Polish LPG Organization such as Chemet SA, Otodata Technologies Europe Sp. z o.o., Vitkovice Milmet SA and Hexagon Ragasco.‍

This year, the organizers presented new features that further enhanced the Congress program:

• Two stages with programs: theSTAGE for debates about the future of the industry and the political and legal conditions that shape it, and theFORUM for discussions about the market and product offerings.
• A series of sessions to improve participants' skills: theWORKSHOPS, which included a workshop on the place of LPG in ETS2.
• The first-ever European industry awards ceremony in 6 categories: theAWARDS.

The Forum's program covered topics related to liquefied petroleum gas, from heating and mobility to legislation and market trends. The main conclusions of the discussions pointed to the important role of renewable LPG in the energy transition of rural areas. In this context, stable legislation is fundamental to a growing product portfolio.

The legislative situation in France was extensively discussed, in particular the debate on the path of the French government's phase-out of heating boilers. Challenges facing the municipal sector, but also small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas, came up in the discussion. SMEs often use fuel oil and propane gas (LPG) and aspire to transition to renewable energy, although they are often overlooked when public policies are made. Industry representatives-including Jean-Laurent Nectoux, a consultant on CSR and sustainability strategies and vice president of Rossignols-discussed the use cases of LPG in their companies and the phenomenon of switching from natural gas to LPG due to rising costs after Russia's full-scale aggression in Ukraine.

Among the most interesting contributions was an analysis by Alice Francou, a representative of Antargaz, who presented the results of two studies on the suitability of heat pumps in off-grid rural residential buildings - an important point, given that in France gas networks cover only 6% of the country's territory. Ms. Francou said that in cases where buildings are large and require extensive renovation, solutions powered by renewable LPG are more cost-effective.

Jan Schouwenaar, CEO of Primagaz, stressed that the energy transition should take an economically rational approach, using both electricity and gas, as electricity alone is often not the most suitable solution for rural areas. He was seconded by, among others, an expert from the research project Énergies et Ruralité Yassine Abdelouadoud, who said that an energy policy based on a mix of technologies and energy solutions is preferable to a one-size-fits-all approach (full electrification) to ensure that consumer needs and expectations are met cost-effectively. The speakers urged policymakers and industry to adopt hybrid heating solutions to address the needs of consumers in sparsely urbanized areas.

Understanding the concerns of autogas users, especially given the impending ban on internal combustion engines (ICE) in 2035, resounded clearly during the discussion of consumer trends in the automotive market. Experts, including Angelique Berden (Westport Fuel Systems), Eglantine Borel (Borel Système Gaz Carburants), David Kling ( Antargaz) and Katarzyna Rutkowska (AC SA, member of the Presidium of the Polish LPG Organization), discussed the importance of assessing consumer preferences in order to choose the right mobility options. The panelists summarized the session with the words:

The affordability and environmental qualities of autogas are key factors for consumers interested in sustainable transportation. There is a legitimate basis for European policymakers to recognize the tangible benefits of autogas, particularly in reducing air pollution in European cities.

Speakers highlighted some of the key challenges facing autogas in Europe, such as EU policymakers' violation of the principle of technological neutrality and favoritism towards electrification of the transportation sector. The autogas market offers exciting opportunities for the future as an important alternative fuel contributing to the green transformation of transportation, but the industry needs to introduce renewable liquefied petroleum gases, which will strengthen the position of our green fuel in the Union and mitigate the environmental impact of road transport, commented Cinch Munson, representative of the World Liquid Gas Association.

An extremely important session was devoted to financing the energy transition. In it, Fabian Ziegler, CEO of DCC Energy, outlined the main challenges facing the renewable liquefied petroleum gas project, in particular delays and higher-than-expected costs. He highlighted the slow pace of project implementation and noted that biopropane is currently four times more expensive than propane, creating a difficult investment climate. Arnaud Cereze of ING Bank highlighted the critical challenges of LPG availability and affordability, noting the 3 pillars of investment credibility: technological feasibility on a commercial scale, the industry's determination to bring the product to market, and the project's affordability as part of the path to achieving climate neutrality in Europe. He noted the role the European Investment Bank (EIB) has to play in such innovative projects, and the need for regulatory stability for new investments.

The closing session of the Lyon Congress was attended by Oleksiy Sobolev, Deputy Minister of Economy, Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalization of Ukraine, among others. He outlined how Ukraine is working to integrate its energy system with the European Union and discussed how important the LPG sector is for Kiev. The speakers then discussed how LPG contributes to national security and mitigating the effects of crises around the world.

At the end of the European Liquid Gas Congress in Lyon, Ewa Abramiuk-Lété, managing director of Liquid Gas Europe, and Bartosz Kwiatkowski, director general of the Polish Liquid Gas Organization, jointly invited to the next edition of the Congress, which will be held in Katowice.

...to Katowice

The European LPG Congress has been organized since 1971, but has never before been held in Poland. The event in Katowice will be the first in Poland in the history of the most important industry organization in Europe.

‍May 20-22, 2025 European LPG Congress will be hosted by the International Congress Center in Katowice. Representatives of Liquid Gas Europe and the Polish LPG Organization are already in talks with the local government to ensure that the event will be remembered by participants for its professional preparation and attractiveness to delegates.

The year 2025 will be a special moment to organize the Congress on the Vistula River. At that time, Poland will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, the embargo on Russian liquefied petroleum gas will already be in full force, and the government will be working on the implementation of new European legislation of key importance to our sector - such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), the inclusion of the transport and construction sectors in the_CO2 emissions trading scheme, and the next version of the directive on the promotion of renewable fuels, including biopropane and other liquefied petroleum gases.

Liquid Gas Europe and the Polish LPG Organization will strive to make the event in Katowice truly regional - we will seek the participation of delegates from the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the Congress, taking into account cooperative relationships with Polish entrepreneurs, as well as from Ukraine. Poland has become Ukraine's main supply base for liquefied petroleum gas since 2022, and cooperation between Ukrainian and Polish entrepreneurs has increased significantly. In light of the need to adapt the Ukrainian market to European regulations, the potential for the exchange of experience between companies remains very high. We hope that the European LPG Congress in Katowice will become an important forum for such exchanges and the establishment of new business contacts.

In 2025, it will be the European LPG Congress, not ours Gas Fuels Forum will be the most important industry event of the year in Poland, a priority event for POGP. We invite you to register today.

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