About 4 000 delegates from around the world gathered at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg, on Sunday night to attend the opening of the 18th World Petroleum Congress (WPC).
The red carpet was rolled out and guests were entertained by drummers, dancers and singers in-between welcome speeches and meals.
The congress, seeking to ensure among other things, that inhabitants of oil-rich yet poverty stricken African countries receive the benefits of the national resources, begins on Monday and ends on Thursday.
”We are hoping that this congress will provide practical ways and means that benefit people, especially in the less developed world,” said Eivald Roran, president of the WPC.
President Thabo Mbeki said the petroleum sector was central to global economic and social development.
He said: ”energy makes the world go round. Energy is the life-blood of social and economic development”.
”The big issue is the current oil prices. Poor countries and poor people should not be left defenceless against high oil prices.”
He added he was confident that the congress would convey a message of hope to the world.
All speakers at the opening, including Lindiwe Hendricks, the Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs, and speakers from co-host countries, Algeria, Angola, Nigeria and Libya, stressed that the outcome of the conference must be a positive one, that would make a significant contribution to the oil industry.
Hendricks said the conference was seen as a stepping stone for greater economic growth.
She stressed the importance of intra-Africa trade and of public private partnerships within the oil industry.
”It is important for growing capacity and there is a need to have greater levels of local suppliers participating in the industry,” said Hendricks.
”We need to also facilitate the role of women and small business in the industry.”
Chairperson of the SA National Committee of the WPC, Ayanda Mjekula, said, through the congress Africa would benefit from the chance to reflect on issues of pertinence to the continent such as management, corporate governance, revenue, social challenges such as HIV/Aids and continuing poverty in oil-rich countries.
”We hope that by the end of the week, the congress is not regarded as one of the world organisations that has failed humanity.”
The World Petroleum Council was founded in London in 1933 and has 62 member countries each with a national committee from the petroleum industry. – Sapa