Iraq Reconstruction conference & exhibition to launch in conjunction with POWER-GEN Middle East

13-15 September 2004, Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

TULSA, Okla., March 3, 2004 -- Iraq Reconstruction: Petroleum / Power / Water / Fire & Safety / Telecom, a new conference and exhibition focusing on the largest reconstruction project in the world, will run alongside POWER-GEN Middle East 2004. Both events will stage at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain from 13-15 September 2004.

Organized by PennWell Corporation, a global business-to-business information provider, Iraq Reconstruction conference will address the roles of the international petroleum, power, water, fire & safety, and telecommunications industries in the largest reconstruction effort since the end of the Second World War.

The conference and exhibition will serve executives and professionals interested in exploring business opportunities in Iraq. The event's web site is http://ir04.events.pennnet.com/.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Paul Bremer has estimated that $60-70 billion will need to be invested in Iraq over the next five years and funds are starting to flow into the country.

As the Restore Iraqi Oil (RIO) and Iraq Infrastructure II programmes move the recovery of Iraq into second gear, and donor and other funding starts to flow into the country in 2004, PennWell's timely Iraq Reconstruction conference will offer professionals with interests in Iraq valuable access to uniquely qualified experts, including leaders of the effort to rebuild Iraq.

The accompanying Iraq Reconstruction exhibition will be located alongside the POWER-GEN Middle East exhibition, and will feature individual pavilions devoted to petroleum, water, fire & safety and telecommunications.

Now in its third year, POWER-GEN Middle East is the premier power industry event serving the Middle East region. Launched in 2002 by PennWell, POWER-GEN Middle East immediately established itself as the market leader in the region, attracting 4,000 industry professionals at each of its first two stagings in Abu Dhabi.

At the October 2003 conference senior executives from Bechtel and the Iraq Ministry of Electricity met to speak publicly for the first time since the end of the conflict in Iraq. POWER-GEN Middle East comprises a multi-track 3-day conference covering technical and strategic topics on the region's growing demand for electricity, in parallel with the largest exhibition dedicated to power in the Middle East, featuring more than 130 international exhibiting companies.

Iraq Reconstruction 2004 and POWER-GEN Middle East 2004 will both run concurrently with Water Middle East 2004 -- a major international exhibition and conference for water technology. All three events will be held under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Bahrain, H. H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Water Middle East is organised by the Bahrain Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Nuernberg Global Fairs. Iraq Reconstruction is also supported by the Iraqi Professional Forum.

Robert F. Biolchini, president and chief executive officer of PennWell Corporation said, "We are pleased to host our first Iraq Reconstruction conference and exhibition in Bahrain in conjunction with our first trip to Bahrain to conduct POWER-GEN Middle East 2004. Our launch of Iraq Reconstruction is timely and will benefit from its simultaneous staging with POWER-GEN Middle East, the foremost power event in the Middle East. PennWell's expertise in the petroleum, power, water, fire & safety, and telecommunications sector will enable us to deliver valuable cross-industry information and contacts for professionals from both within and outside Iraq."

According to Bob Smock, vice president of PennWell's Global Energy Group, "Our ability to serve the global energy industry is in great part due to the continued support of our hosts. We are particularly grateful for the support we are receiving in 2004 from the Prime Minister, H. H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and from the Ministry of Electricity & Water and the Ministry of Commerce. We also believe that our parallel event Iraq Reconstruction, with its focus on vitally important industries, will contribute to the overall effort of providing a better life for the people of Iraq."

Established in 1910, PennWell Corporation is an international multimedia provider of business intelligence, producing 45 print and online publications, 59 conference and exhibitions, research, databases, Internet- based services and other information products to strategic global markets.

PennWell publications supporting Iraq Reconstruction and POWER-GEN Middle East include Oil & Gas Journal, Power Engineering, Power Engineering International, Offshore, Fire Engineering, Water & Wastewater International, and Lightwave. In addition to its headquarters in Tulsa, USA, PennWell has offices throughout the world, including England, Germany, Russia and Hong Kong to provide its customers and partners a truly global service. For more information, visit http://www.pennwell.com .