Local delegation participating in Offshore Northern Seas 2002 next week in Norway

Next week, 23 delegates representing 13 local companies and organizations will travel to Stavanger, Norway for Offshore Northern Seas 2002, an international petroleum conference and exhibition that is expected to attract 30,000 participants from all over the world.

Offshore Northern Seas is held every two years and alternates with Offshore Europe, which is held in Scotland. This year, the event runs from August 27-30 under the theme "Energizing a New Generation." Offshore Northern Seas is considered one of the world�s leading conferences and exhibitions for the global oil and gas industry. It has become an important forum for the international offshore industry and key to an expanding market for petroleum-related technology and services.

"Newfoundland and Labrador�s petroleum industry continues to grow and develop," said Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Kelvin Parsons. "By participating in events like Offshore Northern Seas, our companies can capitalize on their capabilities in this field and capture international business opportunities."

Minister Parsons and Mines and Energy Minister Lloyd Matthews will join the Newfoundland and Labrador companies and organizations at Offshore Northern Seas.

The local delegation consists of:

• A. Harvey & Company Ltd. (St. John�s)
• Atlantic Business Magazine (St. John's)
• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• Bull Arm Site Corporation
• Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board
• C-CORE (St. John's)
• City of St. John�s: Economic Development and Tourism
• ConPro Group Limited (St. John�s)
• Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association
• Publishing World Inc. Atlantic Oil Works (St. John�s)
• Robinson Blackmore Printing and Publishing (St. John�s)
• Town of Paradise

Offshore Northen Seas includes an Exploration Promotion Forum. The Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, in conjunction with the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board (CNOPB) and the Department of Mines and Energy, will give a presentation at the forum. In this joint presentation, the CNOPB will summarize the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore regulatory framework and current offshore activity. The Department of Mines and Energy will provide an overview of oil and gas exploration and development in our province, and the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development will describe Newfoundland and Labrador�s significant industrial infrastructure that enables us to support the offshore petroleum industry.

"The Exploration Promotion Forum, in particular, will give Newfoundland and Labrador the opportunity to advise an international audience of the opportunities available in the petroleum industry in our province," said Minister Parsons.

Minister Matthews said that this conference is another important opportunity to promote this province�s offshore oil and gas potential. "The Department of Mines and Energy continues to take advantage of international conferences to provide the global petroleum industry with valuable information concerning our offshore resource potential. By meeting prospective investors, we have the opportunity to encourage new investment and growth in our petroleum sector."

The Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), a participant, will work with the Department of Mines and Energy and the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development to help promote the capabilities of its 450 members and to seek out new business opportunities in this growing industry.

The Department of Mines and Energy and the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development will continue to participate in activities that promote this province�s oil and gas potential.

Media contact:

Josephine Cheeseman, Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, (709) 729-4570

Darrell Mercer, Department of Mines and Energy, (709) 729-5777

2002 08 22                                  2:00 p.m.