On Tuesday 26th June 2007, Tony Blair’s last full day as Prime Minister, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Peak Oil and Gas (APPGOPO) held its inaugural Annual General Meeting, ensuring that the issue of declining global oil supplies will feature much

The Oil Depletion Analysis Centre (ODAC)

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Thursday, 28 June 2007

For Immediate Release

6th International Peak Oil Conference To Be Held In Cork, Ireland

The Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO), a global not-for-profit organization which aims to raise awareness about the timing of the peak of the world’s production of oil and gas, yesterday, Wednesday 27th June, announced that it is to hold its 6th International Conference in Cork City Hall on 17th – 18th September 2007. The Conference, entitled ‘Time to React?’ seeks to highlight a future where oil and gas demand outstrips supply.

The Conference will feature speakers who are leaders in the industry, with Dr. James Schlesinger (former US Secretary of Energy); Lord Ron Oxburgh (former Chairman of Shell UK); Herman Franssen (former Chief Economist of the International Energy Agency); and Eddie O’Connor (Chief Executive of Airtricity) already confirmed. The Conference will be attended by over 500 delegates from across the globe.

Dr. Colin Campbell, founder of ASPO, said:

“The peak of oil and gas discoveries cam e during the 1960s and this must be followed by a peak in production. While some believe that we are already at the peak at 85 million barrels per day (mbpd), industry experts consistently express doubts of ever getting above 100 mbpd which is forecast to happen within the next decade. If steps are not taken to manage demand it will soon outstrip supply and a return to the scenes during the oil crises of the 1970s can be expected. Ireland will certainly be one of the countries most affected by oil and gas supply failing to meet demand, with 70% of our electricity forecast to be generated from natural gas under a business as usual scenario. We must reduce our demand and develop our rich natural and sustainable energy resources. The ASPO Conference is an important way of communicating the various challenges this peak in production will bring, as we try to prepare ourselves for a world with increasingly more people having to share increasingly less oil and gas.”

Richard O’Rourke, ASPO Ireland Director and member of the ASPO6 organising committee, said:

“It is both testament to the importance of the subject and Dr. Campbell’s standing in it that we’ve been able to attract an incredible line-up of some of the world’s top experts on the subject of energy security. We’re particularly pleased that Dr. James Schlesinger, former US Secretary of Energy during the Carter administration and the second oil crisis, will be giving the opening keynote address at the conference.” Speakers are coming from all over the world including Cuba, China, Venezuela, the USA, and Kuwait.

Michael O’Brien, Senior Engineer, Cork City Council, said:

“Cork City Council is delighted that ASPO have chosen to hold this event in Cork. It is an international conference of thought leaders in the energy sector, and something that has become a hot topic in Ireland. Cork City Council believes the ASPO conference is particularly relevant to the city as we are involved in numerous alternative energy initiatives that are consistent with the theme of the conference.”

The Conference will highlight the issue of oil and gas supply, the nature and extent of our dependence on oil and gas, and the risks associated with both. Ireland has a number of viable alternatives to fossil fuels that are now being explored. NTR, a leading developer and operator in renewable energy and sustainable waste management, is the main sponsor of the 2007 ASPO Conference.

Jim Barry, Chief Executive, NTR plc, said:

“The approaching peaking of oil and gas is a real threat to our society. Over the last 150 years, oil and gas has provided the catalyst for huge growth in industry, transport, trade and agriculture. As a society and economy we are almost completely reliant on the continued availability of fossil fuels. By acknowledging the prospect of peak oil and gas, through organisations such as ASPO, we can help underpin the imperative to find alternatives and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels - something NTR plc is committed to. We hope this event will create more positive awareness around the need to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy for the benefit of all members of society.”

Brian Donaldson, General Manager, Marketing & Retail, The Maxol Group said:

“As Ireland’s oldest and foremost independent oil company, Maxol has long recognised the significance of Peak Oil supply and its consequences for Ireland and the global economy as declining production pushes fuel prices ever higher. Maxol’s involvement in the ASPO conference is about raising awareness of the Peak Oil issue and the immediate need to invest in, and develop alternative sources of renewable fuel. Maxol has taken the lead in providing Irish motorists with bio-ethanol blended fuels and is fully committed to increasing bio-ethanol’s share of its total fuel sales. Maxol currently sources its bio-ethanol locally in the Irish market.”

The 2006 ASPO Conference was held in Pisa, Italy.

For registration, details of speakers, and the full Conference schedule please visit http://www.aspo-ireland.org

Ends

Issued on behalf of ASPO / NTR plc by the Oil Depletion Analysis Centre (ODAC).

Enquiries

Nigel Heneghan / Mark O’Connor

Heneghan PR

Tel: 086 258 7206 / 087 282 7865

Notes for editors:

The Oil Depletion Analysis Centre (ODAC) is a UK-registered educational charity working to raise international public awareness and promote better understanding of the world's oil and gas depletion problems. Further information is available at http://www.odac-info.org/. ODAC is the ASPO branch in the UK.

2. ASPO: www.aspo-ireland.org. ASPO is a not-for-profit organisation founded by retired oil geologist Dr Colin Campbell, now living in Ireland, with national chapters around the world and the aim of advancing awareness and understanding of the subject of ‘Peak Oil’.

3. ASPO produce a monthly newsletter and through their website disseminate information about peak oil and gas.

4. Global oil discoveries peaked in the 1960s and are rapidly declining as oil becomes harder to find. Today there is a growing gap between new oil discoveries and production. Oil is a finite resource. US oil production peaked around 1970. A global peak in oil production is imminent.

5. NTR: www.ntr.ie. NTR plc is a leading Developer and Operator in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Waste Management. NTR’s core businesses in Wind Energy (Airtricity), Bioenergy (Bioverda) and Recycling led Waste Management (Greenstar), together with the Group’s proven development capability, provide a unique platform for significant growth in shareholder value. In excess of eighty per cent of Group turnover is already derived from these business sectors.

6. MAXOL: www.maxol.ie. Ireland’s oldest and foremost independent oil company is owned by the McMullan family and with a turnover in 2006 of €810m, it is one of the largest and oldest family owned concerns in the country. The Maxol Group, which has operated in Ireland for 87 years, markets a comprehensive range of oil and petroleum products to all sectors of the Irish Market, through its Retail, Commercial, Home Heat and Lubricants divisions. Maxol has been investing and expanding aggressively in recent years and currently has a network of 250 service stations and 50 authorised heating oil distributors throughout Ireland.

In September 2005 Maxol launched Ireland’s first bio-ethanol fuelling pump at its Beach Road service station in Sandymount and has subsequently opened a further 19 similar pumps around the country with plans to extend this to 32 sites by end year. E85 is a mix of 85% bio ethanol and 15% petrol and is suitable for use in be-spoke flexi-fuels vehicles sold by Ford, Saab and Volvo.