New Delhi:Energy ministers from ten oil producing countries will attend an internationaloil and gas conference to be held here from January 15 to discuss global concernsrelated to the hydrocarbon sector.

The ministers are expected to resolve many international concerns related tothe oil and gas industry by precipitating a collective approach toward thechallenges, based on discussions among many of the OPEC oil ministers who wouldbe attending the conference.

The conference will see oil ministers of Nigeria,Iran, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Qatar,Sudan, Romania, Myanmar,Sri Lanka and Yemenparticipating in the conference.

The 7th International Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 'Petrotech-2007' isbeing hosted by the Petrotech Society and organised by Oil and Natural Gas Corpunder the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry.

Petroleum Secretary M S Srinivasan said that the conference would provide anopportunity to showcase Indiaas a hydrocarbon rich country.

 "India is seenas a country with tremendous hydrocarbon potential. India is only an under-exploredcountry and not under-endowed," he said.

The theme for the conference would be 'Energy, Economy, Equity, Ecology'.Several cabinet ministers, ministers of state, bureaucrats, CEOs andpolicy-makers will also attend the event.

Apart from the ministerial participation, a host of international oil and gascompanies are going to take part in the conference. Among the companies areBritish Petroleum, Petrobras, British Gas, Shell, Sinopec, PDVSA, Transocean,Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Reliance.