World Petro. Cong. to bring energy leaders to Istanbul

By Ebru Sengul

ANKARA (AA) - The 22nd World Petroleum Congress (WPC), the largest meeting of the oil and gas industry, will start on July 9, with a high-level official opening ceremony at the Istanbul Convention Center (ICC), according to the statement released by the World Petroleum Council on Wednesday.

"Ministers and top Turkish officials will welcome over 5,000 participants to the 22nd World Petroleum Congress," the statement read.

The Congress, of which Anadolu Agency is the Global Communication Partner, will feature the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other heads of state, as well as the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Turkey Berat Albayrak, Minister of Energy of Russia Alexander Novak, Minister of Oil of Bahrain Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India Dharmendra Pradhan.

Top industry leaders including the CEO of Turkish Petroleum Besim Sisman, President of SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev, Secretary General of OPEC Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, CEO of Royal Dutch Shell Ben Van Beurden, Executive Director of International Energy Agency Fatih Birol, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil Corporation Darren W. Woods, CEO of BP Bob Dudley, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco Amin H. Nasser, CEO of Total Patrick Pouyanné, President and CEO of GE Oil and Gas Lorenzo Simonelli will address the theme 'Bridges to our Energy Future', and debate the future of the oil and gas industry.

Azerbaijan's SOCAR is confirmed as the Co-Host Sponsor for the Congress, joining a prestigious line-up of leading oil and gas companies who are also supporting the Congress, according to the statement.

"150 exhibitors from 50 countries will participate in the World Petroleum Exhibition as part of the 22nd WPC and will take the opportunity to visit and network with the industry’s global decision makers all under one roof," the Council also said.

- Tillerson to receive Dewhurst Award

Rex W. Tillerson, U.S. secretary of state will be honored with the highest recognition of the World Petroleum Council, the Dewhurst Award for his “outstanding contribution to the oil and gas industry,” the Council noted.

"Rex W. Tillerson will receive this distinguished lifetime achievement award on Sunday, July 9 during the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd World Petroleum Congress, at the ICC Istanbul. Secretary Tillerson is only the tenth recipient of the Dewhurst Award in the history of the WPC," the Council added.