The Gastech final countdown is here

HH The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Lt.General HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will perform the conference opening ceremony on Monday 4 December at the Emirates Palace and the exhibition and conference run until Thursday 7 December at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre.

'What a show it is going to be' says event director, Tony Stephenson of dmg world media. 'Delegate registrations are coming in thick and fast from all around the world - from 60 countries so far; and we are well set to break through the 1500-delegate mark. We've 120 speakers including government ministers, CEOs and presidents from the most influential companies in the commercial and technical gas world.

'The exhibition is proving just as successful and has attracted over 300 exhibiting companies from more than 30 countries and is taking up a greater amount of space than ever before. Registrations to attend just the exhibition are mounting up on a daily basis. Interest in the post-event Technical Tours has been high too. We are looking forward to a highly stimulating and successful week.'

'We would like to thank our hosts ADNOC and its group of companies for the way they have worked with us to ensure the success of this year's event; as have our co-hosts Dolphin Energy. Abu Dhabi has certainly proved a highly topical and popular choice of venue for this year's Gastech and this is, in great part, due to the help that our hosts have provided. There is no doubt in my mind that Gastech 2006 is a true 'milestone' event.'

Gastech 2006 sees a host of innovative features including 'Fuelling the Future' aimed at attracting young blood to the industry; the first-ever Gastech and LNG World Shipping hosted buyers programme; GasTV Live, the first Gastech Open Golf Tournament; the IT Zone; Meet at the Oasis; and poster sessions - information on all these 'Gastech Firsts' is also on the website.

As ever, Gastech is rich in networking events. Speakers will be attending the Excellence in Energy Awards the evening before Gastech opens; hosts, ADNOC, sponsor the opening Gala Reception (evening of 4 December); Chevron sponsor the Official Exhibitor and Delegate Party on 5 December; and the Gastech 2008 hosts - PTT Public Company Ltd and co-hosts TCEB (Thailand Conventions & Exhibition Bureau) - sponsor the 2008 launch event on 7 December.