HOUSTON (May 10, 2013) Northwest Territories’ resource potential was front and centre at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas this week.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay and Chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure Robert Hawkins attended the conference, which is focused on offshore resource development and attracts more than 80,000 attendees, many of whom are global leaders in the oil and gas industry.

Minister Ramsay promoted the NWT’s onshore and offshore resource riches to an audience of over 700 people as part of a panel discussion with energy ministers from Libya and Angola and senior oil company executives from Petronas, Kuwait Petroleum Company, Petrobras, and Pemex Exploration and Production.

“We know that the Arctic holds a special and strategic place in the world – politically, environmentally and especially economically, and a lot of that is because of our abundant petroleum potential,” said Minister Ramsay. “The world-class potential of the Canol shale oil as a major energy source continues to grow, and the Offshore Technology Conference helped us to spread the message that the Northwest Territories is open for business to socially responsible companies that ensure benefits from development accrue to the northern economy and residents.”

Minister Ramsay and MLA Hawkins also attended meetings with senior executives of Exxon, Shell, ConocoPhillips and Statoil and discussed their interests and future plans for development in the NWT.  At an NWT-hosted breakfast, Minister Ramsay had discussions with Norwegian, Scottish, American and Canadian representatives who have interests in offshore development. The meeting provided an opportunity to share experiences, learn what others have done to develop their respective industries in a sustainable way, and to discuss made-in-the-north solutions to unique energy supply and development challenges.

The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is the world’s largest event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection. OTC is held annually at Reliant Center in Houston. Each year, OTC attracts more than 80,000 attendees from more than 110 countries and 2,700 exhibiting companies.

For more information, contact:

Alayna Ward
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Industry, Tourism and Investment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-920-8696
Email: alayna_ward@gov.nt.ca