The World Petroleum Congress South African National Committee selected Sandton Convention Centre to be its bidding partner for the prestigious 18th World Petroleum Congress 2005. Established in 1933 as a neutral, non-political institution to promote the management of the world`s petroleum resources for the benefit of humankind, the World Petroleum Congress (WPC) is an international organisation with its Secretariat based in London.

 With 59 members drawn from both OPEC and non-OPEC countries, it fosters the application of scientific and technological advances in the petroleum industry.  

The triennial congress attracts several thousand delegates from more than 90 countries, with the last congress held in Calgary, Canada in 2000, being attended by more than 5 000 representatives from governments, oil, gas and related industries, academics and the international media. The next congress is due to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in September 2002.  

It is anticipated that the hosting of the week-long World Petroleum Congress would generate significant spin-offs for both South and Southern Africa. According to Jim Gray, the chairman of the Canadian Organising Committee for the Calgary congress, both Canada and Calgary benefited greatly.

The WPC Southern African Bid was submitted at the beginning of September to the secretariat in London. This will be followed by a presentation to the World Petroleum Congress at its executive board meeting in Shanghai in mid-September. If the bid is successful, it will be the first time in 70 years that the Congress has been held in Africa.

There is considerable support amongst member countries for an African destination and initial discussions have seen support in principle from Energy Ministers in SADC, the regional development organisation, for the 2005 congress to be held in the sub-continent, with South Africa as the host country. Deon Viljoen, executive director of the Sandton Convention Centre says the Sandton Convention Centre is extremely proud to be part of the Southern Africa bid and will embark on a collaborative and partnership approach with the national, Gauteng provincial governments and tourism agencies to ensure the success of the congress.

Consideration is also being given to holding an oil and gas exhibition alongside the WPC in 2005. Viljoen says a similar exhibition in Calgary saw an additional 40 000 people pass through the city.