ADCO (Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations) - a company in which Shell holds a 9.5 per cent shareholding - recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first shipment of oil from Abu Dhabi's onshore oil operations, marking a major milestone in the company's history.

"This was a momentous occasion for ADCO, Abu Dhabi and for the UAE," says André van Strijp, General Manager of ADCO, "and it was celebrated with several events and the production of a glossy hardback book entitled 'From Under Desert Sands - ADCO's 40 Years of Oil Exports 1963-2003'.

"ADCO always portrays the very first export of oil from the Emirate as the most significant date in the company's history, despite the fact that the company's origins go back to 1939 when it was called Petroleum Development [Trucial Coast] Ltd.

"Since that time, ADCO has grown from being a small operating company to become one of the world's largest production companies with a daily output of crude oil in excess of one million barrels per day.

"Today ADCO operates from many fields with an enormous infrastructure, and right from day one ADCO has recruited and trained local staff to work within the company at all levels.

"The future for ADCO is looking very bright, as for 2004 we have development plans to expand our capacity which will involve investments of several billion dollars over the next few years," he concludes.

Officially minted one dirham coins were also produced to mark the 40th Anniversary celebrations, with ADCO's logo on one side, and this was seen as a significant recognition by the Government of the UAE of the contribution made by ADCO to the development of the UAE and its people.

Kuwait Shell took a stand at the 'Britain in Kuwait' exhibition, which took place in December 2003. The exhibition was opened by His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who was accompanied by Sheikh Ibrahim Al Duaij Al-Sabah, Governor of Farwaniya.

Kuwait Shell took its place amongst other prominent companies which exhibited at the well-attended exhibition which attracts British companies established in Kuwait. The 2003 event also attracted UK-based companies seeking to develop new business in Kuwait.

Kuwait Shell was well represented and Country Chairman Ken Taylor and Kuwait Shell's External Affairs Co-ordinator, Reem Al-Sabah, had the opportunity to greet old friends of Shell on the stand and to make new acquaintances.

"The whole world was shocked by the human, cultural and material losses caused by the Bam earthquake in Iran last year," says Robert Weener, Shell's Country Chairman in Iran, "and employees of Shell in Iran organised a spontaneous collection to raise funds to provide assistance for the victims of the earthquake.

"Through contributions from Shell staff in Tehran, Dubai, London and The Hague a total of US$ 11,000 was raised. This sum was used to help alleviate the immediate needs of those whose homes were damaged by the earthquake.

"A number of colleagues also visited those injured in the earthquake in various hospitals in Tehran to provide emotional support or worked as volunteers as part of the relief effort in the stricken city itself.

"Members of the Committee of Managing Directors of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, offered their condolences to the people and Government of Iran, and donated US $150,000 to help in the restructuring effort in Bam City.

"The scale of loss at Bam was immense but Shell hopes that through this small contribution it may, in some way, have helped to alleviate the suffering of all those concerned."

Many of the world's experts on corporate social responsibility (CSR) will be speaking at the Middle East's first international forum on sustainable development to be held in Dubai on 25th and 26th April 2004. The First International Corporate Social Responsibility Summit is led by the Dubai Development and Investment Authority (DDIA) and Shell.

John Elkington, Chair of SustainAbility, one of Europe's leading authorities on sustainable development, will give the keynote speech at the opening ceremony. Mr Elkington was elected to the UN Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1989 for his "outstanding environmental achievements".

Salem bin Dasmal, Deputy Director General of DDIA, who will also make a keynote speech at the Summit, said, "The outstanding panel of speakers at the event will help guide us on how to make valuable and lasting contributions to society through the support of health, environmental and educational activities. They will tackle the issues of business regulations in the Middle East, of building the skills necessary to achieve CSR goals, and of the increasing pressure on corporations to account for their environmental and social performance."

The Summit will cover the responsibilities and imperatives of corporate citizenship, promote understanding of the market opportunities created by sound CSR practice and demonstrate how effective CSR communication can contribute to building a more positive brand image.

Speakers from a number of global multinationals, including British American Tobacco, Cisco Systems and Shell, will examine international CSR practices by commercial organisations and suggest ways of developing the practice further in the region.

Other topics on the agenda will range from the effects of CSR on shareholder value, CSR guidelines and standards, global principles and local implementation. Participants will also have a chance to take part in a workshop aimed at developing CSR strategies and frameworks for their own organisations.

"CSR is fast becoming a normal part of a company's activities," said Hussain Al-Mahmoudi, External Affairs Manager, Shell Markets Middle East, "and Shell is delighted to be driving this initiative forward together with the DDIA."

The creation of the Summit underlines Shell's focus on sustainable development which is about meeting present needs without compromising future prospects. The company supports a range of social and environmental activities in the UAE and works to become a prime example of corporate social responsibility worldwide.

Some of the region's leading energy companies were rewarded at a ceremony held in Abu Dhabi last winter, presided over by Saeed Ismail Al Khoory, Assistant Undersecretary, Administration and Foreign Affairs, UAE Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. The event, entitled 'Excellence in Energy Awards 2003', was held as part of the Oil Barons' Ball.

The awards are given to organisations voted for by readers of 'Pipeline' magazine. Categories were: Health and Safety; Environment; Industry Technology; Industry Services; Information Technology; Project of the Year; Overall Excellence in Energy; Outstanding Achievement.

Shell working in the Middle East was awarded the Environment Award, which was accepted by David Westerman, Deputy Managing Director of Shell Abu Dhabi.

Shell Egypt, with co-venturers Petronas Carigali Overseas Sdn Bhd and the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company, successfully drilled to a planned total depth of 3,613 metres in the first well, Kg45-1, of a planned three wells exploration drilling programme in the Northeast Mediterranean Deepwater (NEMED) Concession, offshore Egypt. The well is confirmed as a discovery, which has significantly extended the known distribution of hydrocarbons into the far outboard area of the Nile Delta, some 100 kilometres northwest of previous discoveries.

The well is located approximately 150 kilometres north of Alexandria in 2,443 metres of water. The Kg45 well sets a new water depth record for drilling in the Mediterranean.

An extensive evaluation programme was completed as planned, including analysis of recovered hydrocarbon samples. The information from the well is currently under evaluation.

"We are very pleased with these first results from the NEMED drilling programme. The well was drilled safely and successfully according to plan. We have significantly advanced our goal of gathering critical information to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of this high potential deepwater concession. This is a very encouraging start to the NEMED drilling programme," said Andrew Vaughan, Chairman of Shell Companies in Egypt.

The semi-submersible drilling rig 'Stena Tay' drilled the well, utilising Shell's surface BOP technology. The well was operated by Shell and Bapetco, a joint venture of Shell Egypt and the Egyptian General Petroleum Company.

The 'Stena Tay' is currently preparing to move to the second well location, located approximately 25 kilometres northeast of the Kg45 well.