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The
scope of the project was and still is, to focus
the attention of the international industry on
the Mediterranean area. OMC and MOC aim at being
meeting points for authorities and operators as
well as offering occasions to build new relationships
and co-operations.The
2004 edition of the Mediterranean Offshore Conference,
sister event of OMC of Ravenna, represents
the international confirmation of the importance
of such event for the offshore petroleum industry
in general and for the business relationships
that bind the Northern and Southern shores of
the Mediterranean Sea.
MOC
of Alexandria, that is organised under the patronage
of the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum has now
received from the international market the confirmation
of its role and importance, as the Southern Mediterranean
meeting in conjunction with OMC of Ravenna as
the Northern Mediterranean meeting.
Egypt is one of the World pioneers, certainly
the leading country in Africa, and in the Middle
East to start oil activities. Throughout its long
history of successes, the Egyptian oil industry
has always been interactive with world-wide trends
and encourages holding such international conferences
and seminars in Egypt. We have always believed
that the exchange of knowledge in such meetings
undoubtedly pays off in terms of enhancing innovative
and creative thinking. In fact within the last
5-year plan (1992/93) -(1996/97), 89 agreements
have been signed for oil & gas prospecting
in several areas in Egypt: "El-Salam",
"the South Delta", "North Sinai",
"Beni Suef", "Matrouh", "
The Gulf of Suez " and "Marsa Alam".
Egypt's strong petroleum industry supports the
key chemicals sectors, fertilizers, petrochemicals,
polymers and other chemicals. Plans are also underway
to expand the petrochemical industry in Egypt.
Realising the importance of natural gas, the Ministry
of Petroleum has adopted a comprehensive energy
strategy evolving around gas as its main core.
Following encouraging discoveries in the 1990's,
the future of Egypt's petroleum industry is thought
to be in natural gas rather than crude oil. By
the end of 2001, gas proven reserves increased
to reach 55 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF), as a result
of the successful exploration activities in the
past few years. We have an ambitious plan to more
than double the proven reserves of oil and gas,
targeting investments over 10 billion US $ in
the next few years. These investments will be
directed mainly to deep and ultra-deep waters
in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, which has great
potential for oil and gas discoveries.
It
is important to remember that more than 50 international
oil & gas companies are currently working
in Egypt with investments estimated at about 2
billion US $ annually. This demonstrates their
confidence in the Egyptian economy as well as
the political and economical stability and credibility
that Egypt enjoys. All these factors will ultimately
enhance Egypt’s position as an oil &
gas producer and exporter attracting eventually
more international investments.
In
the next few years, the offshore oil & gas
industry will face great challenges to explore
in remote and difficult areas and ultra-deep waters
that require applying the most up-to-date technologies.
We look forward to the outcome of such conference
to help overcome these challenges and contribute
to the future success of the oil & gas industry.
The
MOC in Alexandria with the OMC of Ravenna provide
every year a meeting point in the Mediterranean
area for national and private companies, corporations,
government agencies, energy authorities from the
offshore, oil & gas markets worldwide.
The
venues of the MOC and OMC conferences are as unique
as the events themselves:
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Alexandria, the leading cultural centre of the
world in the 3rd century BC, famous
for the extensive library, which revives today
in the magnificent Bibliotheca Alexandrina, is
the 2nd largest city of
Egypt, a commercial and economic centre and the
main offshore hub of the country due to its location
on the Nile delta;
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Ravenna, the last capital of the Western
Roman Empire in 402 AD, still retaining many unique
remains of its glorious imperial past as a Byzantine
city, is the 2nd largest commercial
port of Italy and an important oil and gas center
in the Mediterranean area.
Culture
and technology are the hallmarks of these modern-ancient
cities that through their conference and exhibition
share a common goal: to strengthen co-operation
among Mediterranean Countries and energy operators.
H.E.
Eng. Sameh Fahmy
Minister of Petroleum Arab Republic Of Egypt
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