Along with Oil Search managing director Peter Botten, Duma will speak about the impact of the PNG Government reaching an agreement with the ExxonMobil-led PNG LNG consortium on fiscal terms for the $11 billion project.

Other speakers at this year's SEAAOC, include Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson, Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson, APPEA chief executive Belinda Robinson, ConocoPhillips Australia president Joe Marushack, and Luluk Sumiarso, Director General of Oil and Gas, Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Issues discussed will include local exploration and production updates, energy security, environmental sustainability and downstream industry development.

Henderson said he hoped the conference would provide the ideal forum to promote debate on establishing downstream industries.

"The event will also focus on key developments in the Timor Sea, Browse Basin and North-West Shelf - areas of huge importance to the development of oil and gas ventures in the region," he said.

Delegates can also tour the Darwin LNG plant or attend pre-conference workshops.

These seminars will focus on the viability of floating liquefied natural gas, developments and trends in the Asia Pacific LNG industry and market, gas monetisation options and addressing the knowledge gap in a tight oil and gas labour market.

Conference organisers, IIR, say this year's SEAAOC is set to be the biggest and best-attended event yet following last year's record attendance of more than 350 people, SEAAOC will be held at Darwin's Holiday Inn Esplanade.

To register, phone: (02) 9080 4090, fax: (02) 9299 3109, email: info@iir.com.au, or visit the website: www.seaaoc.com