TUROGE, Turkey’s premier conference for the oil and gas industry was held on 11 - 13 March 2009 at the Sheraton Hotel & Convention Centre, Ankara. Major issues affecting the energy sector in the region resulted in a packed delegate hall and it was widely viewed as being the best edition of TUROGE in the event’s eight year history.
A major oil importer, Turkey has recently stepped up efforts to exploit hydrocarbon reserves in the south eastern region and the Black Sea. Days before the event, the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) signed exploration deals with ExxonMobil and EOG. TPAO’s Chief Executive, Mehmet Uysal later noted that he hopes Turkey will become self sufficient in energy by 2023.
Exploration issues and much publicised energy transport projects such as the Nabucco pipeline attracted high ranking delegates including government representatives from the EU Commission, Hungary, USA and Ukraine. These delegates were in addition to representatives of the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and influential professionals from the oil and gas business community.
Key issues presented and debated included energy security and the diversification of gas supply to Europe. The concluding sessions opened up lively debate with frank views exchanged on issues relating to Turkey’s role as a transit country for oil and gas supplies to the west.
The Conference Programme Manager, Veronica Zhuvaghena said. “There are a number of important issues currently affecting the region and this helped to spark some fascinating and engaging debate. The degree to which delegates contributed to discussions was markedly different from previous years. This is an event with a bright future”.
Event Manager, Vladislav Grabovsky agreed. “This year marked a turning point for TUROGE. Previous conferences have been shaped by domestic oil and gas issues but this year, the event was defined by Turkey’s increasing international importance. The growing amount of interest in the geo-political and commercial aspects of Turkey’s oil and gas sector is being well reflected at this event”.
TUROGE is supported by the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, TPAO and the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) and co-organised with the Turkish Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Chamber of Geophysical Engineers. The 2009 event was sponsored by BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Fenwick Elliott, GDF Suez, GSP, OMV and RWE.
The next edition of TUROGE is scheduled to take place at the same venue on 16 – 18 March 2010.
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