9th ASCOPE Conference & Exhibition hosted by Thailand, 18-20 November 2009 in Bangkok

18 Nov 2009

Energy leaders from 10 ASEAN nations, experts and more than 200 global energy firms get together at the 9th ASCOPE Conference and Exhibition held at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani in Bangkok. With the theme of “Fueling the Future of ASEAN towards Sustainable Development”, the energy leaders are determined to expand the network of energy partners and identify a number of targeted regional initiatives to develop together for the benefit of enhanced energy security within the region. This biggest Southeast Asia event for oil, gas and energy was officially opened by Thailand’s Energy Minister, Dr Wannarat Channukul. In his opening remarks he emphasized that “ a comprehensive energy partnership is one of the priorities for ASEAN energy policy. Energy developments that will take place in the region over the next decades represent real opportunities for its member countries and those concerned.” He further added that “ASCOPE 2009 provides the opportunity for the leaders of ASEAN to translate their policies into actions, extends the knowledge and technology to achieve these goals and creates the international networking platform for new businesses and strengthened regional partnership.”
YBhg Tan Sri Dato Seri Mohd Hassan Marican, President and Chief Executive Officer of PETRONAS, sounded out the warning that the traditional exporters of Association of South East Asian Nation (Asean) members such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam will turn into net importers of hydrocarbons within the next decade. Addressing the session on ‘ ASEAN CEO Summit on Vision for the Coming Decades’, he added that closer co-operation within Asean would be needed to help meet the growing demand for energy, given that the global economic crisis has not changed medium-term demand forecasts against the backdrop of falling investments over the past year.
To drive energy sustainability, the agenda includes a full spectrum of topics addressed by energy experts in their respective fields, useful insights into the issues most pertinent to securing the region’s energy future, plus the sharing of knowledge, experience and perspectives on trends and challenges that ASEAN and global energy markets are facing. The technical and business update sessions featured opportunities from both the upstream and downstream standpoints. More than 200 energy firms from more than 30 countries showcased their latest innovations on the exhibition space of over 9,500 square metres. The leading exhibitors include PTT, PETRONAS, Chevron Thailand Exploration & Production Ltd, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Technip Geoproduction, Germanischer Loyd Industrial Services Asia, China Petroleum Technology & Development Corporation and Schlumberger.
Datuk (Dr) Abdul Rahim Hashim, President of the International Gas Union (IGU), delivered a paper on ‘Unleashing The Potential Of International Partnerships’ in the plenary session. He stressed on the importance of joint efforts, cooperation and partnership between the NOCs, IOCs and service companies for maintaining long-term sustainability of the oil and gas industry.
Other highlights of ASCOPE 2009 include an energy quiz contest to create greater awareness of sustainable energy development for university students and the Vessel Management Seminar.
Once every four years the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE) gathers together all of its most senior staff in an atmosphere of mutual cooperation to discuss the major issues facing our industry.
The first ASCOPE event was in 1977 and since that time it has moved between the member countries that make up the ASCOPE council. The event has always provided an environment for active collaboration within the region with the ultimate objective being the development of its petroleum resources. Over the years ASCOPE’s reputation as a platform for business and knowledge has grown and it now attracts not only industry leaders from within the ASCOPE member countries, but from throughout the world.

ASEAN COUNCIL ON PETROLEUM (ASCOPE) is the name for both the regional association of national oil companies and its international meeting. Members of the ASCOPE association are drawn from the ASEAN countries, namely :
Brunei Darussalam – Brunei National Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad (PetroleumBRUNEI)
Cambodia – Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA)
Indonesia – PT PERTAMINA (PERSERO)(PERTAMINA)
Lao PDR - Ministry of Energy and Mines
Malaysia – Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS)
Myanmar – Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE)
Philippines – Philippines National Oil Company (PNOC)
Singapore – Kepple Corporation Limited (Kepple) Top