BP has cancelled its attendance at the World Petroleum Council Energy Congress in Riyadh after a missile attack on the Saudi capital’s international airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing a company spokesperson.
The five-day international energy conference proceeded as scheduled on Sunday at a convention centre about 10 km from Riyadh airport, the Saudi energy ministry said, despite the attack and resulting travel disruption.
The airport has been closed since Saturday’s attack, while Saudi authorities reported injuries in another attack on the facility on Sunday.
BP Chief Executive Meg O’Neill had appeared on previous agendas for the conference. The company said it had made every effort to attend but could not send representatives in person because of travel disruption.
“We made every effort to participate in WPC. Unfortunately, due to travel disruption, we are unable to be there in person. We greatly value our longstanding partnerships across the region,” a BP spokesperson said.
Conference proceeds as Saudi Arabia signs energy deals
Saudi Arabia continued with the conference programme, with Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signing three memorandums of understanding with Kuwait, Qatar and Egypt to strengthen energy cooperation, the Saudi state news agency reported on Sunday.
The agreement with Qatar establishes a framework for collaboration across petroleum, natural gas and petrochemicals. It also provides for exploring joint opportunities to develop pipelines for transportation and exports.
The agreements underscored the continuation of regional energy engagement despite the security disruption and difficulties affecting travel to Riyadh.
The World Petroleum Council Energy Congress is a five-day gathering of energy industry representatives and officials. Organisers and Saudi authorities proceeded with the event at a venue separate from the airport, allowing the programme to continue while air travel remained disrupted.
