Energy Cities Team for Future Security
Posted: 27 November 2006
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Prince Mohammad ibn Fahd ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, inaugurated the World Energy Cities Partnership's (WECP) annual meeting here on Nov. 18, emphasizing Saudi Arabia's hopes for a peaceful and secure world.
 "It has been proved through the ages that development and progress require a secure and stable world free of wars, tensions, injustice and violence," Prince Mohammad said.
In his keynote address, he said, "Your meeting today in our country is a major step toward realizing positive participation and exchange of expertise for the development of our cities and for promoting cooperation in all areas."
Mayors and other leaders from 14 cities - from Calgary and Halifax in Canada to Daqing and Dongying in China - came together for the three-day event. The WECP, according to its Web site, is "first and foremost a route to partnerships in petroleum-related activities." It is an organization in which cities "share experiences, contacts and provide support for each other in tackling common industry issues."
From the audience, a delegate from Aberdeen , Scotland , urged those present to give more thought to how energy could be conserved for future generations.
Dammam mayor and former Saudi Aramco executive Dhaifallah A.F. Al-Utaibi agreed, saying the environment and concern for the future was on the mind of everyone at the event.
Every city that has an energy producer is concerned about its effect on the city's environment, he said, adding, "The Energy Cities Partnership is very important because the cities represented have the basic elements for economic and industrial development that bring prosperity to their surrounding environment."
Saudi Aramco played an important role in the forum.
Muhammad A. Tahlawi, senior member of Saudi Aramco Affairs' Research and Advisory Group, took part in a panel discussion and talked about how Saudi Aramco as an energy company has contributed to the Kingdom's environment, education and economy.
On Nov. 19, the mayors and delegates visited Saudi Aramco, where they saw the Saudi Aramco Exhibit, the Heritage Gallery and Oil Supply Planning and Scheduling. Company executives hosted them for a lunch.
There, senior vice president of Exploration and Producing Abd Allah S. Al-Saif said, "As the leading producer and exporter of oil, and the supplier of the natural gas that powers the Kingdom's economic development and diversification, we at Saudi Aramco are embarking on massive programs to meet this growing demand, reliably and responsibly. But no company, no matter how large or how capable, can do it alone.
"Institutions and organizations like the ones you represent also have an important role to play, whether they are public sector bodies, private sector businesses, or nongovernmental organizations. Therefore, ongoing cooperation and the exchange of information among cities which have a close relationship with energy producers is critically important, and I believe the World Energy Cities Partnership program is a vital contributor to that exchange."
The city leaders then flew to Shaybah, where they toured Gas-Oil Separation Plant II (GOSP II) before watching the sun set from the top of a dune in the Rub' al-Khali. |
