Norwegian Center of Excellence in Petroleum Studies Launched at NED University

[Riaz Haq]

Official Launching of Norwegian Centre of Excellence in Petroleum Studies & the First-ever Instance of International Collaboration between Pakistan's E&P Industry and Academia.

A landmark event held at Serena Hotel, Islamabad on January 16, 2014 to celebrate the Project for Establishment of Centre of Excellence for Petroleum studies (CEPS) at Department of Petroleum Engineering, NED University and Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Norway - NED University & Pakistan Petroleum Limited (NUNEP) for enhancement of Research & Development for Exploration & Production of Hydrocarbon Resources of Pakistan. The CEPS has been approved by PIP section of Planning & Development Division, Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms and is being funded by Norwegian Government under Pak-3004 Institutional Co-operational Programme (ICP). The MoU between NUNEP will help in formulation of strong technological base for Research & Development at CEPS by utilizing the expertise & resources of the tripartite partners.
Inaugurating the event Professor M.Afzal Haque, Vice-Chancellor, NED University welcomes the honorable and distinguished guests and emphasized on the need of quality education & research.
Dr.M.Afzal, project Director, ICP highlighted the history and present status of projects and Norwegian grant. Head, Petroleum Engineering Department, NED University, Professor Abid Murtaza Khan, highlighted its significance, a sentiment echoed by Professor Emeritus, Stanford University, USA Dr Khalid Aziz & Professor Jon Kleppe, Director Centre for Integrated Research, NTNU, Norway. For his part, MD/CEO, PPL Asim Murtaza Khan gave an overview of the E&P industry as well as initiatives taken by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to incentivize E&P business and draw local and foreign investment. He also stated that the tripartite MoU, the first-ever instance of international collaboration between Pakistan's E&P industry and academia, will go a long way in training qualified professionals.
Chairman HEC,Gilani praised the establishment of Centre for higher education and linkage between the industry & Academia for development of indigenous resources. Norwegian Ambassador to Pakistan H.E Ms. Cecilie Landsverk congratulated for the establishment of CEPS and assured full support on behalf of herself and her Government. Jam Kamal, State Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, while emphasizing on the need of quality education & research said that Pakistan will start exploring shale oil/gas reserves to deal with the long-standing energy crisis. Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was present on the occasion as chief guest who unveiled the plaque for the Centre and congratulated those involved in the effort. In his address, Abbasi underscored the need for academic and technical competence to revamp the E&P industry and have more exploration activities to meet the country's rising energy demand. Speaking about the project; He reiterated the government’s support for such initiatives.
Professor Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, Dean (CEA), while thanking the Chief Guest, Guest of honour
and all other dignitaries from Public and Private sector, to Government of Pakistan, PIP Section,
Ministry of Planning, Development & Reforms for approval of the project, Norwegian
Government for its funding, Foreign Counterparts & Guests for taking out their time to
participate and Grace this occasion. He also thanked Pakistan Petroleum Limited for its generous
support for organizing this programme.
MD and CEO PPL, Asim Murtaza Khan, Vice Chancellor NED University Professor
Muhammad Afzal Haque and Head, Department of Petroleum Engineering and Applied
Geophysics at NTNU Professor Egil Tjaland signed the MoU on behalf of their respective
institutions in the presence of Chief Guest and other dignitaries. Pro-Vice Chancellor NED
University, Dr.S.F.A Rafeeqi, MD/CEO’s of major Petroleum Companies including OGDCL,
OMV, MOL, Schlumberger & officials from Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform,
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources, Norwegian Embassy, NUST, PPL & public sector
organizations were also present on the occasion. The occasion was widely covered by media and
news papers of January 17,2014 (Dawn,The News, Buisness Recorder, Daily Times, Daily
Express, Daily Dunya, Daily Khabrain) .

http://www.neduet.edu.pk/news_events/news/30-01-2014/1.NEDwebsite%2...

http://www.neduet.edu.pk/news_events/news/30-01-2014/2.Photos.pdf

http://www.neduet.edu.pk/news_events/news/30-01-2014/3.ppl%20ptv.mp4

http://www.neduet.edu.pk/news_events/news/30-01-2014/4.%20Press%20C...

[Riaz Haq]

Here's a Norwegian report on the launch of the Petroleum Center in Pakistan:

An MoU for industry-academia collaboration in the petroleum sector was signed Thursday between NED University of Engineering and Technology (NED), the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL). The MoU represents an "industry-academia linkage for indigenous petroleum expertise," said Vice Chancellor at NED University Dr Muhammad Afzal Haque. Central to the collaboration is the new Centre of Excellence for Petroleum Studies at NED University of Engineering and Technology, also inaugurated at the ceremony.

Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Mr Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, chief guest at the ceremony, pointed out that energy security is Pakistan’s most critical issue. He further said he hoped the centre established with Norwegian support would allow the petroleum sector in Pakistan to grow. He used the fact that Pakistan is one of three countries in the whole world – Brazil and Norway being the two others – that makes its E&P (Exploration & Production) data available online as a clear sign of the government's commitment to the industry. Federal Minister Mr Abbasi was joined by several other speakers in commenting on the uniqueness of the collaboration bringing industry and international academia in the petroleum-related sector together for the first time.

HE Ambassador Ms Cecilie Landsverk stressed Norway’s commitment to the Institutional Cooperation Programme that funds the collaboration between the NTNU and NED universities, as well as a range of other institutional partnerships. These partnerships help not only in transfers of knowledge, but in developing institutional and personal relationships.

http://www.norway.org.pk/News_and_events/News/Norway-supports-indus...