The Minister of Highways, Road Development & Petroleum Resources Development of Sri Lanka, Hon Kabir Hashim led the Sri Lanka delegation comprising Chairman CPC, Mr G.S. Withnage to the conference PETROTECH – 2019 as observers, from 10th – 12th February 2019 at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida – Delhi NCR, India.

The Prime Minister of India inaugurated the PETROTECH – 2019 conference and called for responsible pricing of crude oil that balances interests of both, producers and consumers highlighting the need to have universal access to clean, affordable and equitable supply of energy.  

While addressing the conference, Hon Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship of India noted that PETROTECH 2019 shall be an effective platform to strengthen global oil and gas engagement.  

On the sidelines of the Conference, Minister Kabir Hashim and Hon Dharmendra Pradhan had a brief meeting at the India Expo Center, Delhi NCR. The two Ministers exchanged views on increasing cooperation in economic and commercial activities between the two countries.  Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed his Sri Lankan counterpart the keen interest among the Indian companies for their participation in the energy sector in Sri Lanka. 

The Conference hosted two Ministerial sessions and a CEOs’ Conclave with participation from overseas ministerial delegations, heads of international organizations and CEOs of oil and gas companies. The conference hosted three plenary sessions on five theme sessions and technical sessions which were addressed by eminent speakers and technical experts which witnessed the participation of the global oil and gas industry.

During PETROTECH 2019, the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship of India launched the third round of India’s mega oil and gas auctions held under new Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP). Under OALP III, 23 blocks spread across 12 sedimentary basin are on offer including; 19 on-land blocks (including 5 Coal Bed Methane blocks), three shallow water blocks and one deep-water block. According to the Oil Ministry of India, the bidders would be able to submit their bids through an online e-bidding portal starting 11 February 2019 up to 10th April 2019.

Along with the Conference, the event included the PETROTECH 2019 exhibition with focus on development in technologies for exploration & production, process control, refining and pipeline and services, systems, products, oil field hardware, software, analytical instruments, Renewable, R&D, HSE, training and publications of technical literature.  

“PETROTECH – 2019” is the 13th edition of this international event. It has been well attended in the past by Indian and International participants. The last edition held on 2019, witnessed participation from Energy Ministers of 18 countries including Sri Lanka, over 7000 delegates and over 500 exhibitors; foreign and Indian companies. 

The conference was attended by the Energy Ministers of eighteen countries including UAE, Mexico, Oman, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Mauritius, Surinam, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Bangladesh among others.