Twentieth World Petroleum Congress Closes

Doha, December 08 (QNA) - World Petroleum Congress closed today at Qatar National Convention Centre. The conference that ran for five days has witnessed the participation of more than 6,000 people amongst whom were 30 ministers and a number of chairmen and CEOs in oil and gas sector in more than 100 countries. HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr. Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada pointed in his closing speech to the conference success on organizational and logistical levels. Al Sada spoke of the conference as a place for exchanging information, ideas, experiments and lessons related to a wide variety of topics in energy sector. HE reiterated his confidence in the wisdom and knowledge shown by speakers, which would enrich the future of energy sector around the world. Speaking of the reasons for the conference success, Al Sada mentioned Qatar National Convention Centre that WPC is its first event to stage. Al Sada also pointed to the wide participation from media personalities and experts who offered a record that shows the exceptional mechanism of the conference. The minister said that the conference was a great event that touched on many issues such as carbon dioxide emissions and the many proposals suggested to limit their effect. Al Sada highlighted Qatar's keenness on showing the Arab culture and the spirit of Arab hospitality, which was clear in the Arabian Nights held in Katara Valley of Cultures. Many investment agreements were signed during the conference between Qatar and international oil firms, HE said. Agreements included one with Shell to develop a petrochemicals complex in addition to other agreements that have to do with purchasing and transporting liquefied natural gas and an agreement between Qatar Petroleum and Centrica. "We work to offer you the tools, facilities and services that help you achieve your goals and ambitions," Al Sada said as he expressed his hope that Qatar "has lived up to it promises of making the conference a success''. Al Sada also expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported the conference, delegates, presentors, Organizing Committee members and volunteers. HE wished Russia best of luck in successfully organizing the 21st edition of WPC. In a similar speech, WPC President Randy Gossen has pointed to the conference success thanks to the efforts of HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr. Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, the Higher Organizing Committee, the Organizing Committee and participants. Gossen said that the conference agenda dealt with all the petroleum related issues especially technical and technological ones with the participation of a number of ministers, executive officers, academicians and representatives from multinational oil firms during about 100 workshops. Gossen added that the conference aspects focused on establishing a dialogue between producers and consumers in order to secure energy supplies worldwide while stressing on the necessity of creating partnerships among those running the industry to enhance investments in the sector. Workshops touched on the environmental aspect, Gossen said noting that participants reiterated the significance of considering the environmental aspect during the production phase. Gossen highlighted participants' optimism regarding the future of the demand for oil and gas while pointing to the necessity to increase investments in energy sector to secure consumers' needs. WPC President also said that participants discussed technical issues related to the technology used in the sector and its role in preserving the environment and securing energy supplies. Gossen said that the significance of the conference lies in its contribution to enhancing communication between energy firms, academicians and experts in the field, which paves the way for a new phase that helps in the enhancement and excellence of the sector. The conference discussed the different technical and economic sides of the oil and gas industry, said Gossen. Gossen also announced Dr. Renato Bertani from Brazil as president of the next WPC edition, scheduled to be held in Russia in 2014. For his part, Russian Energy Minister Mr. Sergei Shmatko said during the closing ceremony that Doha has managed to make the conference a historic occasion being held in one of the most significant oil producing regions. Shmatko expressed his pleasure that his country will host the next edition of WPC in three years. Shamtko said that discussions with experts and officials in the energy sector will be taking place in the build up to the conference in order to prepare comprehensive programs that would provide an exchange process that enriches participants in the conference. Shamtko hoped that his country would manage to host the conference at the desired level, reiterating his confidence that participants will get the chance to know about the Russian culture during the conference. Three Russian teams performed in the closing ceremony along with a Qatari choir that sang the values embedded in the conference such as innovation, cooperation and investment. A sand drawing artistic show was performed too. The ceremony featured a documentary about the first WPC that was held in Moscow in 1971. (QNA)