DHAHRAN Jan 19, 2002 -- Saudi Aramco is a major player in the fifth annual Saudi International Oil, Gas, Petrochemical and Power Exhibition, called SOPEC 2002, Feb. 4-7 at the Dhahran International Exhibition Center in al-Khobar. 

SOPEC 2002 aims to cover the oil and gas industry with pavilions on gas technology and e-commerce. The exhibition will feature over 100 of the major players in the Saudi Arabian energy industry. In addition to Saudi Aramco, companies participating include Shell, British Petroleum, ExxonMobil, Conoco, Occidental Petroleum, Schlumberger, 3M, Al-Abdulkarim and many leading companies from 15 countries. 

For the past five years, SOPEC has attracted more than 500 companies from more than 25 countries. 

SOPEC 2002 coincides with the opening of the Kingdom’s upstream hydrocarbon sector to foreign investment. In June 2001, the Kingdom awarded three gas ventures to a consortium of multinational oil companies, offering an array of investment opportunities in the Kingdom for gas exploration, development, production and processing, pipeline infrastructure, petrochemical industry, water desalination and power generation. 

The event will include social and formal activities ranging from technical seminars and tours of petroleum installations to a gala dinner with the theme of an authentic Bedouin night. 

SOPEC 2002 is being organized by ITE Group of London. It is one of 250 events the company has organized in more than 25 countries.

For more details, check out the Web site at www.ite-exhibitions.com/og/sopec2002; write Tariq Mohammed, ITE Group Plc., 105 Salusbury Road London, NW6 3RG, UK; call 44 (0) 207-596-5000; fax: 44 (0) 207 596 5111; or e-mail: tariq.mohammed@ite-exhibitions.com