MADRID TO HOST THE 19TH WORLD PETROLEUM CONGRESS

May 8th 2006

Spain has been selected to host the most prestigious event in the international oil and gas industry in 2008. Held every three years, the World Petroleum Congress is often referred to as the ‘Olympics of the petroleum industry’. The 19th WPC will be held in Madrid from the 29th June – 3rd July 2008 under the theme: A World in Transition: Delivering Energy for Sustainable Growth. Dr. Pierce Riemer, Director General of the World Petroleum Council, the organisation behind the Congress, provided this background: “The previous Congress was held in Johannesburg in 2005. The 18th World Petroleum Congress attracted more than 3500 delegates, over 500 speakers and 400 exhibitors including high level government delegations and key decision makers from the largest international companies such as BP, Chevron, CNPC, ExxonMobil, Gazprom, PDVSA, Petrobras, Saudi Aramco, Schlumberger, Shell, Sonatrach, Total and many more. We are excited about bringing the Congress to Spain for the first time and look forward to another groundbreaking event for the petroleum industry.”

The Congress Programme Committee is currently preparing a wide-ranging Technical Programme to recognize the scientific, technological and professional achievements of the petroleum industry High level plenaries from global leaders, interactive Round Tables and in-depth Forums and Posters on a wide variety of industry aspects will address the status quo and the main challenges the sector is facing.

Renato Bertani, President of Petrobras USA and Chairman of the Congress Programme Committee, announced that several new features will be included in the programme for the 19th WPC. “Best Practice Keynotes on the main issues in the upstream, downstream, natural gas, renewables and management of the industry will add further to the quality of the programme. Key issues such as balancing the requirements of supply and demand, social and environmental responsibilities of the industry and ensuring the attraction and retention of the next generation of professionals will be addressed throughout the four days of the Congress. The Official Opening Ceremony will set the standard for the week, with the Spanish Night and the Dewhurst Lecture promising to provide special highlights for the Congress.”

Spain is an ideal location at the crossroads of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Europe and Africa and with a significant presence in South America. The country now has a liberalized oil and gas market shown by its presence in different phases of the business – from refining to petrochemicals and from distribution and marketing to natural gas – of leading international companies such as: Repsol YPF and CEPSA, respectively Host Sponsor and Co-Host Sponsor of the Congress, as well as BP, CHL, Enagas, ENI, GALP, Gas Natural, Shell and Total.

The 19th WPC has already received support from the highest levels in Spain. The King of Spain, H.M. Juan Carlos, personally extended his support to the members of the Board of the World Petroleum Council and the Spanish Association to organize the 19th WPC, led by Antonio Brufau, CEO of Repsol YPF, during an audience at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.