International exhibition and conference Oil and Gas Uzbekistan (OGU-2007), largest event of oil and gas sector of Uzbekistan, opened in Tashkent on 15 May. This year the exhibition marks its 11th anniversary.

The jubilee exhibition will be held on 15-17 May in Tashkent at Uzexpocentre, UzA reports. The organizers of the event are Uzbekneftegaz, Tashkent city administration and Chamber of Commerce, Industry of Uzbekistan, I.T.E. Exhibitions & Conferences Ltd. (Great Britain), GIMA (Germany) and others. The sponsors of the exhibition are Lukoil (Russia) and Petronas (Malaysia).

Uzbekistan is a key supplier of natural gas. It is the third largest extractor of natural gas in the CIS and benefits from a large proportion of the fuel and power in the Central Asian region.

Uzbekneftegaz National Holding Company has one of the largest supplies of fuel and power resources in Central Asia. Over 64 billion cubic metres of natural gas, and around 8.6 million tones of liquid hydrocarbons are extracted per annum. The extraction of hydrocarbons has increased by over 54% since 1991.

Over 800 companies from 35 countries participated in the exhibition since its establishment and over 60,000 people visited it. The exhibition demonstrates achievements of local and foreign companies in oil and gas sector.

Uzbekistan od developing mutually advantageous cooperation with such known companies in the world, as Lukoil, Gazprom, Stroytransgaz, Soyuzneftgaz (Russia), Dresser Rand (Holland), Zeromax (Switzerland), CNPC, CPTDC, CINOPEC (China), NPC (Iran), Petronas Carigali (Malaysia), KNOC (Republic Korea), Baker Hughes (USA), and Bumar (Poland).

Over 142 companies are participating in the event from 18 countries: Austria, Germany, Netherlands, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey, Iran, United Arab Emirates, China, USA, Malaysia, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It is expected that over 800 official delegates will participate in the conference. According to forecasts, over 10,000 people will visit the exhibition this year.

Over 40 new companies will be taking part, including the following manufacturers of oil and gas equipment: OP Eean LLC, UbiFrance, Schneider Electric, Tuymazin Plant of Geophysical Equipment and Instrument, Turkuaz Machinery, Tuha Petroleum Exploration & Development Corporation, Aktybinsk Plant of Oil Equipment, Alki-Technik GMBH, Albatros CJSC, Asia Caspian Engineering, Bacou Dalloz, Catu S.A., Confind, Mannesmann Fuchs Rohr GMBH, Sanar and many others.

This year, OGU 2007, the 11th International Exhibition for the Oil & Gas Industry will enable specialists to familiarise themselves with the latest achievements of international and domestic companies in the production of oil and gas, and the transportation and processing of hydrocarbons, as well as helping to implement future projects within the industry. A large part of the exhibition is reserved for state-of-the-art technology for the production and high-level processing of oil and gas. Leading oil and gas companies will also present their latest achievements with regard to technology for transporting oil and gas, field exploration and development, and developments in geodynamics and hydrocarbonaceous potential in the Central Asian region.

An international conference entitled: "Oil and gas industry of Uzbekistan: trends of development and prospects for cooperation" will be held alongside the exhibition on 16-17 May 2007 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Tashkent.

Confirmed participants include representatives of the subdivisions of Uzbekneftegaz, as well as leading scientists from the CIS and other countries around the world, including high-level representatives of government organisations from Uzbekistan and abroad, and heads of large Uzbek and international companies. Over two days, more than 400 delegates will discuss issues relating to the enhanced development of hydrocarbon deposits, the use of alternative energy sources, and the prospects for the Uzbek oil and gas industry.