Oil minister inaugurates 1st GCC Petroleum

Minister of Oil Hani Hussein, representing His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, patron of the first GCC Petroleum Media Forum, opened the event with the presence of the Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi, Bahraini Minister of Finance and Supervisor of Oil and Gas Affairs Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammad Al Khalifa, Emirati Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy Dr. Matar Al-Niyabi and a number of GCC oil leaders.  The decision-makers and specialists are gathered here to exchange views and ideas to shape new roads of modern science and creativity to support the petroleum media, "which we hope to develop in the GCC countries as oil is the main source of energy and the main driver of the economies in the GCC countries as well as the global economy," said Hussein during the opening of the forum.  He noted that petroleum media did not take its chance of research and study, in addition to its inactive investment in the dissemination of culture among petroleum GCC countries or in facing the media campaigns targeting oil producing countries.  He added that this event is of great significance in light of many challenges facing the petroleum industry and oil producing countries, noting that there are calls to reduce the consumption of petroleum products and promoting of other energy sources that are more polluting and harmful to human health.  He said "We are being strongly accused at a time when our countries are keen on stabilizing global markets and promoting effective and fruitful cooperation with all parties to ensure a continuous supply to consumers and markets with stable prices." "Oil must enhance the image of its producing countries and highlight its role in the service of humanity and the world," stressed Hussein.  "We hope that this forum will activate the role of petroleum media and invest its tools to highlight the GCC role of service of the international community to provide poor countries with their needs of oil as well as the exploitation of a large part of oil revenues to help the states and peoples in need," he said.  Minister Hussein, accompanied by the forum's guests, then opened an exhibition, which was attended by a number of oil bodies.