THE 19TH WORLD PETROLEUM CONGRESS EXCEEDS THE FORECASTS OF THE SPANISH ORGANISING COMMITTEE.

July 3rd 2008

• This edition has broken records of delegates attendance
and of journalists
• The main players of the sector have gathered in Madrid this
week for the most important international event of the
oil and gas industry
• Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of
Saudi Arabia, receives the Dewhurst Award as
an acknowledgmentand celebration of career

The 19th World Petroleum Congress, which ends today in Madrid, has become one of the most important Congress’ since this third yearly event began to be held as a forum for professionals in 1933. This 19th edition has exceeded expectations, not only in terms of organisation, but also because it has surpassed almost every magnitude of previous editions.

The President of the World Petroleum Council, Randall Gossen, has stated that he is “very satisfied with the magnificent organisation of this 19th edition, as well as the number of attendees, the high level of the topics discussed and the large number of authorities who have assisted on a global level. Madrid has been a great host and this has been one of the best Congress’ ever organised.”

From his part, the President of the Spanish Organising Committee of the 19th World Petroleum Congress, has declared that “we are extremely satisfied by how the Congress has progressed. All our expectations have been exceeded and I believe that we have responded well to the trust given to us by the World Petroleum Council in November 2004, when we were chosen to organise this 19th edition.”

Jorge Segrelles also provided the main magnitudes of Madrid’s Congress, which has made it one of the most significant since the creation of this event 75 years ago. Jorge Segrelles detailed, “4.300 delegates have attended, as well as 35 ministers and 500 CEOs. The total number of companies which have participated is 260, and we have had over 14.500 visitors in the 15.300m2 surface area set up the World Petroleum Exhibition and the Global Business Opportunities Centre, and more than 35.000m2 destined to IFEMA for the 19th World Petroleum Congress.”

Juan Bachiller, Vicepresident of the Spanish Organising Committee pointed out “Both exhibitors and congress delegates have expressed their satisfaction for the perfect development of the Congress, for the integration of all the events celebrated under the same roof and for the business contacts established.” Mr Bachiller also shared some of the most relevant facts of this Congress, “590 speakers have participated, the 700 youth professionals that have participated in this edition and the great media coverage of the event, with 546 journalists from 263 media from all around the World”.

Madrid has been throughout the week, the world capital of oil and sustainability, and has hosted important personalities from the oil sector, and it has marked the current affairs of media coverage in the areas of politics, economics and society.

The 19th World Petroleum Congress has covered the most controversial themes of current affairs in the oil sector: sustainability, social responsibility and human rights. Efficient consumption, prices, increases of demand, supply and cooperation between international and local companies. All of them under the same umbrella; the Congress theme, “A World in Transition: Energy Supply for a Sustainable Growth”.

This afternoon, the 19th World Petroleum Congress will hold its closing ceremony with the speech of Ali Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources of Saudi Arabia, who will receive the Dewhurst award for his professional achievements.

The Spanish Organising Committee will pass on the organisation of The World Petroleum Congress to Qatar, whose capital, Doha, will host the next edition of the most important forum of the global hydrocarbon industry in 2011.