Bandar Seri Begawan - The Sultanate's very own PetroleumBRUNEI is participating in a key conference and exhibition in the Philippine capital for major players in the oil and gas industry.

The 8th ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE) Conference and Exhibition 2005 was opened yesterday by Philippine President, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, at the Philippines International Convention Centre ("PICC"), Manila.

The high-profile three-day event, which is held every four years on a rotational basis amongst ASCOPE members, is attended by more than 400 delegates, including representatives from 20 countries.

According to a press release from PetroleumBRUNEl, the conference which has the theme "Energising ASEAN to Meet the Challenges of the New Millennium", saw the presentation of papers by various experts and distinguished personalities from the oil and gas industry.

As an ASCOPE member, PetroleumBRUNEI or Brunei National Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad, presented its report, just like other AS COPE members.

Along with the other ASCOPE members, PetroleumBRUNEl participated in promoting the company and Brunei's oil and gas industry at the exhibition which is held in conjunction with the conference. Soon after the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the exhibition, President Arroyo toured and viewed the PetroleumBRUNEl exhibition pavilion where Acting Chief Executive of PetroleumBRUNEl, Awang Mohammad Reduan bin Haji Mohd Yusof, presented the Philippine President with a memento from PetroleumBRUNEl.

Other participating exhibitors include major oil and gas industry players such China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC); China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC); Schlumberger; Technip; Shell; ConocoPhillips and Saudi Aramco.

The PetroleumBRUNEl press release said, "Prior the 8th AS COPE Conference and Exhibition, ASCOPE also held its 31st Council Meeting on 28th November 2005 at the Peninsula, Makati City, Manila.

The meeting saw the participation of PetroleumBRUNEI for the first time since Brunei Darussalam-membership to the grouping in 1985. PetroleumBRUNEl officially became a member of ASCOPE with effect from 4th October 2005.

"ASCOPE was formed under the ASCOPE Declaration in Jakarta in 1975. As ASCOPE evolved over the years, it has become more businessoriented in its various areas of cooperation, for the mutual benefit of ASCOPE member countries. ASCOPE is also a forum for its members to address emerging regional issues and challenges relating to the petroleum industry in the ASEAN region."

Meanwhile, a joint press statement issued following the 31st ASCOPE Council Meeting, stated, "The Council lauded the progress made by the various Committees and Task Forces under ASCOPE, towards becoming a more business oriented cooperation, and collectively addressing emerging regional issues and challenges relating to the petroleum industry in ASEAN. This has created greater synergy and new business opportunities of mutual benefits among A SCOPE Members.

"In this regard, the Council noted the initiatives and activities conducted, thus far, by the Exploration and Production Business Development Committee, the Processing and Refining Business Development Committee, the Trading and Marketing Business Development Committee the Technology and Services Committee, the ASCOPE TAGP Task Force the ASEAN Gas Consultative Council and the ASCOPE Gas Centre. Some of the programs initiated by these Committees include amongst others, sharing of drilling rig utilisation, clean fuel initiative, term supply arrangements for crude and products, and the review of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement." -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin