Warsaw Gas Days 2018 - reinvented, reloaded

© gazeo.comThe "LPG versus methane fuels" discussion panel was dominated by... EVs!

Happy new year!

Time is measured a bit differently in the LPG/CNG/LNG sector – the year usually begins sometime between early March and mid-April, when the major trade event takes place in Warsaw, Poland. In the 2018 season, the fair and exhibition was held on March 14-15, although on the first day focus was on the conference part. For the first time in a long while – or maybe ever – the conference was not just an addition to the fair, but its equally important counterpart. Or maybe it was, in fact, the dominating ingredient of this year's entire formula. But we'll come to that and for the time being, let's focus on the fair instead.

Moving on

Because the event was moved from the EXPO XXI exhibition centre to the Novotel Centrum hotel in downtown Warsaw, the exhibition part naturally had to become smaller and more intimate. There was less bombast to the stands, but there were also fewer of them, with most of the major manufacturers notably missing from the show floor. However, we're not going to list the absent ones, instead focusing on those who did come to Warsaw to showcase their latest and greatest products, technologies and services.

© gazeo.comFortunati is Romano's new brand for select markets

Poland vs the world

As usual, Italian, Turkish and Chinese companies were present. As previously (regarding Warsaw Gas Days as the natural successor to GasShow), Romano of Italy and Atiker of Turkey shared a stand, but this time they didn't show the jointly developed liquid state direct LPG injection system presented in 2017. Instead, a new product brand – Fortunati – was introduced, set to conquer new markets across the world. As for Polish companies, the most prominently present ones were Elpigaz and Palacar, although certain others – e.g. Gomet and Certools – were also there. The latter presented an autogas refueling adapter with the coupling dish made of pressed sheet metal instead of turned brass. Until now, only Tomasetto offered adapters and refueling valves using this technology.

© gazeo.comOver 93% of all LPG used in Ukraine is consumed as autogas

The only way is up

And now the conference. Judging by data provided by speakers, the golden days of gaseous fuels are yet to come. For instance, Volodymyr Dolnyk of consulting company Upeco spoke of the Ukrainian autogas market. It has been growing spectacularly since 2014, with rise rate in 2016 as high as 32,2% over 2015. The 2017 figure is less impressive (7,5%), but it only goes to show the first wave of development is over and stability is here, although the market will continue to grow at a moderate rate. Interestingly, Ukrainian motorists already buy more autogas than petrol or diesel and as far as the number of LPG-powered vehicles is concerned, the country is already the fourth largest market in the world, behind Turkey, Russia and Poland.

© gazeo.comNo matter if it's Gas Forum, GasShow or Warsaw Gas Days - Elpigaz is always there!

Regarding global supply of gaseous fuels, it's steady and growing, in no small part thanks to the shale oil and shale gas revolution in the USA and elsewhere. As long as there is oil and natural gas, there will always be abundant supply of LPG as well and rising consumption already reflects the market's confidence in the latter fuel – over the past five years, demand has rose by 20 million tonnes to 145 million tonnes in 2017 and over the next five years it's expected to grow by another 20 million tonnes.

Steadily ahead

2018 may not have been the year with the greatest number of product premieres and technological breakthroughs, but as evidenced by data presented during the conference, the market in in excellent overall condition. Now that gaseous fuels are becoming recognised for their smog-reducing potential, their popularity is bound to solidify worldwide. And we're already looking forward to hearing more good news at the 2019 Warsaw Gas Days a year from now.