Sixth Annual ASPO Conference – Cork, Ireland

The sixth annual international conference of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil & Gas (ASPO) takes place in Cork, Ireland over Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th September 2007.

The title, “Time to React”, was chosen because it resonates on two levels, the most obvious is designed to target the mainstream public for whom the concept is still quite new and generally poorly understood. The second is for the more seasoned student of Peak Oil where the focus of attention is moving from trying to predict when peak might occur to the realisation that the range of possible dates is finite and even the most optimistic forecasts suggest that our modern society faces a truly significant challenge in dealing with the phenomenon of Peak Oil.

It is also recognised that Peak Oil will occur within the context of the equally grave challenge we face from the threat of Global Warming. As Global Warming moves into mainstream consciousness we will explore the relationship between these two critical challenges.

The Conference will feature speakers who are leaders in the industry, with Dr. James Schlesinger (former US Secretary of Energy); Lord Ron Oxburgh (former Chairman of Shell UK); Herman Franssen (former Chief Economist of the International Energy Agency); and Eddie O’Connor (Chief Executive of Airtricity) already confirmed. The Conference will be attended by over 500 delegates from across the globe.

Registration is available here: http://www.aspo-ireland.org/

Below the fold, the provisional programme.

Speaker Profiles

Day 1

09:00 Opening Welcome to ASPO6 ASPO Ireland
09:10 Keynote Energy Security Dr. James Schlesinger
Session 1
Supply: The Industry's Perspective
09:50   Session Chair's Introduction Jeremy Gilbert
09:55 Presentation World Oil Reserves and Future Production Potential Ray Leonard
10:25 Presentation Upstream Constraints Mike Rodgers
10:55 Break    
11:15 Presentation Natural Gas Pierre-Rene Bauquis
11:45 Panel Discussion Eddie Walshe
Chris Skrebowski
James Buckee
Gareth Roberts 
12:45 Lunch    
Session 2
Demand: The Economics
13:55   Session Chair's Introduction  
14:00 Presentation Global Energy Demand Trends Herman Franssen
14:30 Presentation China Syndrome Prof. Xiongqi Pang
15:00 Break    
15:20 Presentation Market Outlook Jeff Rubin
15:50 Panel Discussion Richard Douthwaite
Jim Barry
Carlos Rossi
David Fleming
16:50   Day 1 Wrap-up Prof. Kjell Aleklett

Day 2

9:00 Opening Welcome to Day 2 ASPO Ireland
9:05 Keynote 'Out of Oil, Into Hot Water'
Lord Ron Oxburgh
Session 3
Risk Management & Mitigation
9:45   Session Chair's Introduction Jeremy Leggett
9:50 Presentation Cuba's 'Special Period' Dr Alfredo Curbelo
10:20 Presentation The Nuclear Option Dr Michael Dittmar
10:50 Break    
11:10 Presentation A Framework for Supply and Demand on a Full Planet Nate Hagens
11:40 Panel Discussion Matt Dempsey
Mary Graham
Gerard O'Neill
Philip Walton
12:40 Lunch    
Session 4
Time to React?
13:45   Session Chair's Introduction Eddie Hobbs
13:50 Presentation A Local Government's Approach Debbie Cook
14:20 Presentation Transition Towns - catalysing responses to peak oil Rob Hopkins
14:50 Break    
15:10 Presentation Sustainable Solutions Eddie O'Connor
15:40 Panel Discussion Minister Micheál Martin TD
Michael Meacher MP
Minister Eamon Ryan TD
The Rt. Hon. Edward Schreyer
16:40 Closing Remarks Ireland's Energy Future Minister Eamon Ryan TD
17:10   Conference Wrap-up ASPO Ireland

And not to forget a chance to meet many of The Oil Drum staff!

ASPO is a not-for-profit organisation founded by retired oil geologist Dr Colin Campbell, now living in Ireland, with national chapters around the world and the aim of advancing awareness and understanding of the subject of ‘Peak Oil’.