Petroleum MinisterDharmendra Pradhan, who is here to showcaseIndia's oil and gas field discoveries at the CERAWeek conference, visited LyondellBasell Houston Refinery and Channelview petrochemical complex.
During his visit yesterday, Pradhan was accompanied by Consulate General of India in Houston, Dr Anupam Ray, Senior Officials from Oil and Gas sector, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH).
The tour was preceded by a breakfast meeting with an overview of the US petrochemical industry by IHS Markit industry analysts.
Pradhan also visited Houston consulate for a community-wide reception and meet and greet which was attended by major Indian-American organisations and members of the community in Houston.
Pradhan and senior officials from Oil and Gas sector will showcase India's small and marginal oil and gas field discoveries at the conference.
Pradhan is scheduled to have several bilateral meetings with visiting petroleum ministers, including those from Canada, UAE, Israel, USA, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Russia and also Secretary General of International Energy Agency (IEA).
He will also meet and exchange views with renowned experts from hydrocarbon sector, including Dr Daniel Yergin and Bob Dudley, Group Chief Executive of BP.
Pradhan, Russia's energy minister Alexander Novak and Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau will be among those to address the international gathering of industry, policy and financial leaders at CERAWeek 2017, organised by the UK-based IHS Markit from March 6 to 10.
"We look forward to Novak's perspectives on behalf of Russia, the world's largest oil producer and those of Pradhan's on behalf of India, the world's fastest-growing major energy market as well as future prospects for its domestic oil and gas production," said Yergin, conference chair and vice chairman of IHS Markit.
"We look forward to Justine Trudeau's perspectives on US, Canada relationship and are pleased to honour him with the CERA Week Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award for his commitment to expanding Canada's leadership role in the sustainable development of its natural resources to help to meet the world's future energy needs," saidYergin.
CERAWeek is ranked among the top five corporate leader conferences in the world with top speakers that will provide new insights and dialogue to the future of energy.
"Overall, this is a really unique event in terms of its scope and reverence," Jeff Marn, senior manager for corporate communications at IHS Markit, said.
"It's a unique gathering where we are going to have probably nearly 3,000 delegates from more than 60 countries attending," he said.
TexasSenator John Cornyn, the Senate Majority Whip, will
join AlaskaSenator Lisa Murkowski, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, in a discussion led by Yergin, on the future of US energy policy.
According to Marn these two speakers were selected in particular because they are both highly respected in their areas.
The speakers' unique position to discuss the future of energy while the United States is in a point of transition, will be able to contribute to this year's theme of transition.
The dialogue is on the agenda for 9:35 am (local time) on March 10 and is titled "What's Ahead in Washington?"
Marn said the conference holds a strong global presence featuring attendees from over 60 countries, energy administrators from over a dozen countries, government officials, CEOs and senior executives from major oil and gas companies, power companies, renewable energy companies and leading technology and financial firms.
Marn described the CERA Week as a "unique and rare opportunity" to get high-level insight from a broad spectrum of policy and industries, saying, "I want to stress the global nature of the conference."
"This is a rare opportunity for us to have insights of two extremely respected senators on where they see US energy policy going, where the agenda goes with the new administration, priorities and, overall, the outlook for the energy as US policy sees it."
This is the 36th CERAWeek to take place and continue to discuss energy future,according to the CERAWeek website.
The speakers will be able to contribute to the energy policy moving forward by discussing what the future energy world will look like with a new presidential administration, Marn said.
Petroleum MinisterPradhan also met Bob Patel, CEO of
LyondellBasell, a USD 31 billion petrochemical company and discussed prospects of working together.
Pradhan also visited Houston consulate for a community wide reception which was attended by major Indian-American organisations and members of the community and friends of BJP in Houston.
"Had a nice interaction with friends from Overseas Friends of BJP in Houston;great to see their enthusiasm & commitment for party & ideology," he tweeted.
