Petroleum Conference Opens tomorrow in New Plymouth
Source: PEPANZ
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The 2017 New Zealand Petroleum Conference opens tomorrow in New Plymouth, the first time the Conference has been hosted
in Taranaki.
Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand (PEPANZ) Chief Executive Cameron Madgwick says it is
fantastic to be bringing New Zealand’s premier upstream petroleum conference to Taranaki, the home of New Zealand’s oil
and gas industry.
"The industry has a long history in Taranaki - with the first well in the British Empire drilled at Moturoa, on the New
Plymouth foreshore in 1865," says Mr Madgwick.
"Since that time, the oil and gas industry has gone from strength to strength in the region.
"Today oil and gas accounts for 41 percent of Taranaki’s regional GDP, provides two percent of the region’s employment
and is one of the reasons Taranaki has the highest regional GDP in the country.
"Across the country, over 11,000 people are employed directly as a result of Taranaki’s oil and gas resources. Oil is
one of the country’s top ten export earners, gas is used extensively as a primary energy source, and the royalties and
taxes from the industry fund a wide range of essential government services and infrastructure," says Mr Madgwick.
Over 400 delegates from across New Zealand and around the world will be gathering in New Plymouth over the next two days
to hear from international experts, industry leaders and politicians about the future of the oil and gas industry in New
Zealand.
"Delegates will hear about both about the opportunities and challenges that exist within New Zealand’s oil and gas
industry, what steps can be taken to grow the industry and what its future is in a world working to reduce carbon
emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change."
Mr Madgwick says the industry is committed to being open and transparent.
"We know we haven’t always done the best job at explaining how the industry operates to New Zealanders and are committed
to changing that.
"Earlier this month, we launched www.energymix.co.nz, which aims to better explain how the oil and gas sector operates in New Zealand. We are also making all the
presentations from this year’s petroleum conference available to watch on www.petroleumconference.nz."
Ends
Note to reporter
The Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand (PEPANZ) is the upstream oil and gas industry
association.
PEPANZ members currently account for an estimated 95 percent of New Zealand’s petroleum production. PEPANZ also
represents more than 30 associate member companies that provide a wide range of goods and services to the industry.
ENDS