BCGA panel flies the flag for global cooperation and partnership

The British Compressed Gases Association annual conference had a distinctly international flavour in Manchester today.

The opening panel discussion featured Rich Gottwald, President and CEO of the [US] Compressed Gases Association, Roger Sayah, General Secretary of the Middle East Gases Association, and Sandrine Devos, Head of Public Affairs at the European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA).

All the speakers spent time reflecting on cross-border challenges involving standardisation and harmonisation, and on the importance of maintaining relationships with regulatory bodies and policymakers.

Despite the US facing a lot of challenges right now with international tariffs “changing on a daily basis” and uncertainty with broader energy policy direction, Gottwald said, “We will continue to talk about how important hydrogen is … [Our] member companies are going to continue to move towards green energy and provide green hydrogen. We know that in the long run hydrogen is going to be a big part of the economy.”

Gottwald said that the US Compressed Gas Association wanted to ensure that as an association it was leading on standards “so that new companies don’t blow something up and not only set back new industry but the traditional hydrogen industry, too.”

Sayah said the challenge for the Middle East this year was implementing regulations.

“We have a lot of different authorities dealing with inspection,” he said. “Some industrial areas are controlled by municipalities, others by special entities.”

Devos said EIGA’s over-arching theme this year was digital safety, which dovetails with the need to enhance real-world standards and harmonisation.

“There are a lot of opportunities, and I think it’s going to be a theme for the coming years,” she said.

“There’s a new regulation in Belgium that says employers need to train staff about artificial intelligence, [for example]. We are looking at ways to ease communication with [our] members.”