World Petroleum Congress in Istanbul to begin

By Diyar Guldogan and Ebru Sengul

ISTANBUL (AA) - The 22nd World Petroleum Congress (WPC), the largest meeting of the oil and gas industry, is set to start Sunday at the Istanbul Convention Center (ICC).

The congress, of which Anadolu Agency is the global communication partner, will be held in Istanbul between July 9 and 13.

It will feature Turkish President Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Minister of Oil of Bahrain Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Khalifa and Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

As the previous host country in 2016, Russia's Novak will hand over the official emblem of the World Petroleum Congress to Turkey.

On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a former ExxonMobil CEO from 2006 to 2016, will receive the highest recognition of the World Petroleum Council, the Dewhurst Award, for his “outstanding contribution" to the oil and gas industry.

Before the congress, Tillerson will meet his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu and, after the congress, he will is expected to be received by Erdogan at Tarabya Presidential Residence.

Erdogan is expected to address the congress on Monday.

High-level executives from leading energy companies and up to 50 energy ministers will be attending the congress, of which the theme is "Bridges to our Energy Future".