Political changes across Latin America – Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico, Columbia and Brazil - are having significant implications for the energy sector.

According to the editor of Latin Petroleum, “[W]hat makes these times unique from others…is that the governments, many turning more toward the left each day, are reclaiming their sovereignty and rising up to Big Oil and smaller foreign oil companies operating in their nations.” March 21, 2006, www.latinpetroleum.com/article_5582.shtml

Venezuela has raised tax and royalty rates while chasing hundreds of millions of dollars in alleged back taxes. Indigenous protestors in Ecuador are calling for nationalization of the hydrocarbon industry threatening current operations of foreign oil companies. Newly-elected Bolivian President, Evo Morales, appears to be an eager protégé of Hugo Chavez and energy is a hotly debated issue in the upcoming Mexican elections. Are the headlines exaggerated or reflective of fundamental change?

Speakers:

Heliodoro Quintero, President of HQ Petroleum Consultants in Caracas, Venezuela

Presentation: Helidoro Quintero: Latin America Turns Left

Patrick Esteruelas, Eurasia Group, New York

Presentation: Patrick Esteruelas: The Politics of Oil in Latin America

Moderator:

Edward Morse, Executive Advisor, Hess Energy Trading Co., LLC

Bios:

Heliodoro Quintero, President of HQ Petroleum Consultants in Caracas, is a former Venezuelan Ambassador (Governor) to OPEC, 1996-2000, Manager, Corporate Planning (1994-97)and Oil Products and International Trading (1988-94) Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).

Patrick Esteruelas, Latin America Analyst, Eurasia Group, is a former Senior Analyst, Intellibridge Corp, Washington, DC, (2003-5), Financial Services, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC (2000-3), MS Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced and International Studies (2003), BA, London School of Economics (2000).

Edward Morse, is the Chairman of the Energy Forum Advisory Board and executive advisor, Hess Energy Trading Co., LLC, a leading specialist on the commercial aspects of the international gas and oil sector. His career in the energy sector spans more than two decades and includes senior positions in business, government, academia and publishing. Dr. Morse earned his doctorate in politics at Princeton University and his masters degree at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Registration:

The McGraw-Hill Building requires security check in, please register no later than March 29th.