The World Petroleum Council (WPC) is a non-advocacy, non-political organisation with charitable status in the U.K. and has accreditation as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) from the United Nations. The WPC facilitates an open dialogue around oil, gas, energy and their products and is dedicated to the promotion of their sustainable management for the benefit of all.
WPC has been called "the world’s premier oil, gas and energy forum since 1933." It is widely recognised to "include the most prestigious national energy companies and agencies of the world"
World Petroleum Congress
The premier conference that is organized by the World Petroleum Council is called the World Petroleum Congress. Starting in 1933, the congress was held every four years until 1991, with a 14-year hiatus in between 1937 and 1951 because of World War II. After 1991, it was held every three years until the year 2000. There was a move to have it hosted every two years after the 2000 edition, with Rio de Janeiro hosting one in 2002, but the cycle returned to every three years after that. In order to host a congress, there is a bidding process by interested cities for one in a particular year.
Note: Due to the onset of COVID-19, the 23rd World Petroleum Congress was moved from 2020 to 2021.
Awards
The Dewhurst Award
This award is named for Institute of Petroleum President Thomas Dewhurst (1881-1973), who organized the first World Petroleum Congress in 1933, and is awarded to individuals who have shown "excellence in the petroleum industry." 2021: Daniel_Yergin 2017: Rex Tillerson 2014: Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah 2011: Guilherme De Oliveira Estrella 2008: Ali Al-Naimi 2005: Lord Brown of Madingley 2002: Euan Baird 2000: Pierre Jacquard 1997: Kenneth T. Derr 1994: Sir Peter Holmes 1991: Abdul Rahman Al-Athel