Astana to host World Petroleum Council meeting

A meeting of the First Petroleum Council will be held during 7th Eurasian Forum KAZENERGY, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Director General of KAZENERGY association Dzhambulat Sarsenov. “I would like to say that hosting the petroleum council in Astana is quite a serious event. Normally hosting of the petroleum council's meeting is followed by hosting of its congress. This is a sort of the first acquaintance with the country to research its potential,” Sarsenov said at the press-conference. According to him, representatives of over 60 countries will come to Kazakhstan. The country will introduce the foreign guests to its capacities, the condition of its energy market and its related international activities. Astana being chosen to host the World Petroleum Council is very significant for Kazakhstan's image and is a demonstration of its capacities. it also certifies of the growing authority power of the country in the energy sector. According to Sarsenov, this year’s welcoming speeches will be given by Kazakhstan Prime-Minister Karim Massimov, former Prime-Minister of Spain José María Aznar, Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, President of the World Petroleum Council Dr. Renato Bertani and other high officials. International Herald Tribune and The New York Times are expected to cover the event and even take part in a business lunch on development of gas sector in Kazakhstan and Eurasian region. The plenary meeting of this year’s forum is called A World in Transition: Shaping Sustainable Energy Future. It will include discussion of the energy sector's future and issues like Kazakhstan’s role in the global energy security, in particular, in the European Union's energy security. The participants will review acute energy issues and discuss new development scenarios. The forum will also cover development of new transport routes in Eurasia. By Shynar Ospanova