Oil company websites publish the text of many important speeches. They are easy to read and contain a wealth of information. These carefully worded documents are designed to educate but also to place public pressure on Governments to act in the interests of major oil companies. In so doing, they give us an insight into the challenges the oil companies foresee and their strategy for dealing with them. They state the challenges clearly, but never to cause concern. And of course, they make a strong case for their ability to meet the challenges, with the right kind of help.

Read them with a critical mind, for these are their chosen words. Assume that the challenges are even greater and more difficult to resolve.

Summary Articles

What Shell and BP say about Energy Supply

What they say about Sustainable Development

BP Speeches

Energy and International Relations: The Changing Agenda
Nick Butler, Group Vice President Strategy & Policy Development
Venue: John Hopkins University, Washington, 19 September 2005

European Energy Security
Nick Butler, Group Vice President Strategy & Policy Development
International Institute for Strategic Studies, Geneva, 17 September 2005

Link to full list on BP website

Shell Speeches

Sustainability of supply?
Jeroen van der Veer, Chief Executive
World Petroleum Congress, Johannesburg, 29 September 2005

Link to full list on Shell website