Current and Former Heads of OPEC to Address The Corporate Council on Africa

(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 21, 2006 ) Washington, D.C. – Current and former heads of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are confirmed to speak at the The Corporate Council on Africa’s (CCA) annual Africa Oil & Gas Forum to be held this year from November 29 to December 1, 2006, in Washington, D.C. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, the Honorable Edmund Daukoru, is OPEC’s current President of the Conference and Secretary General. Minister Daukoru will open the event with remarks addressing the conference theme of Expectations & Reality. His speech will set the stage for constructive dialogue on what African nations and oil companies with operations on the continent expect to gain from current and future oil and gas investments. The Honorable Chakib Khelil, Minister of Energy and Mining from Algeria and former President and Secretary General of OPEC in 2001, will also address the conference. Minister Daukoru and Minister Khelil will each share their views on the types of partnerships that African nations seek from oil companies considering investments in Africa. The objective of these discussions is to assess whether expanding global competition in the energy sector, driven by emerging national oil companies, creates any unique challenges for U.S.-Africa bilateral relations. Each minister will also address important issues pertaining to their respective legal environments, local content, and natural gas reserves. “By presenting at CCA’s 2006 Oil & Gas Forum, OPEC’s current and past leadership is making a strong statement about the importance of Africa’s role in meeting global energy demands. OPIC is also affirming the importance of continuing Africa’s positive engagement with the U.S. public and private sectors,” says CCA President Stephen Hayes. CCA’s 2006 Africa Oil & Gas Forum will also highlight other salient industry issues such as changing global energy markets and the strategic importance of African oil and gas producing countries to the United States. Financial sponsors of this conference thus far include ExxonMobil, Chevron, Marathon, Devon Energy, and the Republic of Mali. For additional information and to register online, visit CCA’s website at www.africacncl.org or email Katherine Wells at kwells@africacncl.org. REGISTRATION RATES: • CCA Members: $750 • African Attendees: $750 • Non-Members: $1,000 • Government: $550ACCOMODATIONS: Bethesda Marriott Hotel5151 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, MarylandRoom Reservations: 1-301-897-9400 CCA, established in 1993, is a nonpartisan 501(3)(c) membership organization of nearly 200 U.S. companies dedicated to strengthening the commercial relationship between the United States and Africa. CCA members represent nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa.CONTACT:Kathleen Wells Email: kwells@africacncl.org Tel: 202-835-1115www.africacncl.org

The Corporate Council on Africa
Joseph Nchor

kwells@africacncl.org