(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 27, 2006 ) WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Honorable Samuel W. Bodman, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, will provide special remarks at the Corporate Council on Africa’s (CCA) Africa Oil & Gas Forum. The forum will be held at the Bethesda Marriott on Pooks Hill Road, November 29 to December 1, 2006.

Secretary Bodman’s remarks on Friday, December 1st will provide a rare opportunity for attending ministers, private sector firms, and others interested in energy-related issues to meet, learn about, and discuss the changing realities of the petroleum industry in Africa. A financier and executive by trade, Secretary Bodman is well respected in the energy community and forum attendees will be eager to hear his views on the Administration’s plans for creating enhanced energy and economic ties between the United States and Africa.

Secretary Bodman was confirmed into office as Secretary of Energy in 2005. He previously served as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury beginning and as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce. Secretary Bodman has a plethora of private sector experience including Director, CEO, and Chairman of Cabot Corporation, a Boston-based Fortune 300 company with global business activities in specialty chemicals and materials and President and COO of Fidelity Investments and a Director of the Fidelity Group of Mutual Funds. Secretary Bodman holds an ScD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Cornell University.

“We’re pleased that Secretary Bodman will speak at the event. His participation sends a positive message to persons responsible for U.S. energy supply from Africa, as well as OPEC leadership that the United States is looking to solidify, improve, and elevate its energy partnerships with African nations,” said CCA President, Stephen Hayes.

The U.S. Department of Energy is co-sponsoring CCA’s Africa Oil & Gas Forum for the second year. The event provides a rare platform for key players in the energy industry to meet and discuss current and future relations between the U.S. and nations of Africa. Africa’s strategic importance to meeting U.S. energy needs is growing. The 2006 Africa Oil & Gas Forum plays an important role in promoting dialogue regarding the U.S. and Africa’s shared goals of energy security and economic development.

WHAT: Samuel W. Bodman
Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

WHEN: Friday, December 1, 2006
Special Session, 9:00-10:00AM

WHERE: Bethesda Marriott Hotel
5151 Pooks Hill Road
Bethesda, Maryland

Established in 1993, CCA is a nonpartisan 501(3) (c) membership organization of nearly 200 U.S. companies dedicated to strengthening the commercial relationship between the U.S. and Africa. CCA members represent nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa. Visit CCA on the web at www.africacncl.org

CONTACT:
Kathleen Wells
The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA)
Tel: (202) 835-1115
Email:

Contact Information:
The Corporate Council on Africa
Joseph Nchor
Tel:
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