Bangkok--25 Mar--Chevron Thailand Chevron brings to Thailand the global University Partnership Program, helping position Thailand as a regional center for Geoscience Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production Ltd. and Chulalongkorn University today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch a new international master’s degree program in Petroleum Geoscience, opening in 2009. The program is set to make Chulalongkorn University a regional center of geoscience. As part of its commitment, Chevron Thailand will provide funding of US$10 million during the first five academic years between 2009-2014. The funding includes providing specialist lecturers from international reputable universities, scholarships, research cooperation. Graduates from this program will help fulfill a demand for qualified petroleum geoscientist in Thailand and throughout the Asia Pacific region. . “Chevron is the one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. In Thailand, we are the leading company in oil and gas exploration and production,” said Tara Tiradnakorn, President of Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production Ltd. “Chevron is proud to contribute to improving peoples’ lives through a wide range of social programs. We realize the importance of education as the foundation of all developments; therefore, we have been working with the public and private sectors in supporting education projects”. Tara added, “We are pleased to be the founder of the international master’s degree program in Petroleum Geoscience at Chulalongkorn University, the first of its kind in Thailand and the region. We hope to attract quality students from around the region and contribute directly to people development in the energy industry. This program will help create local petroleum specialists to substitute experts from overseas in developing new energy resources in the Kingdom.” The Chevron University Partnership Program, or UPP, is a global program developed in conjunction with leading universities around the world such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia, University of Western Australia, Stanford University and Texas A&M University to establish new programs, support faculty and provide student scholarships. The collaboration extends to research and technology. Universities are selected based on their excellent reputation, forward thinking and result-oriented education development. Chulalongkorn University President Professor Khunying Suchada Kiranandana said, “On behalf of Chulalongkorn University, we are honored to be a part of this program. By being selected to found the international master’s degree program, Chulalongkorn University will receive financial support for the establishing period of five years from 2009 to 2014. It is a pleasure to see private company give importance to education development. In the current energy situation, petroleum exploration and production is increasingly important to national development. The international master’s degree program in Petroleum Geoscience will definitely contribute to the country’s needs of quality human resources in this field”. This project also received support from Department of Mineral Fuels, the Ministry of Energy, reflecting cooperation from all parties, the government, private sector and the university.Krairit Nilkuha, Director-General of the Department of Mineral Fuels presided over the signing ceremony, said, “It is my pleasure to see cooperation between Chevron, a global energy company and Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s leading academic institute, in founding the international master’s degree program in Petroleum Geoscience. The cooperation will lead to more efficient human resource in petroleum geoscience and exploration. The program will also contribute to the government policy in energy security by optimizing indigenous petroleum resources.” “The project is a forward step for Thailand’s educational development by being the first master’s degree in Petroleum Geoscience in the country and the region. Thai academic personnel will have a chance to work with well-known universities in other countries. This will benefit the long-term development of geoscience in Thailand,” Krairit added. Chevron Corporation is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. We have approximately 59,000 employees and conduct business across the entire energy spectrum — exploring for, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas; refining, marketing and distributing fuels and other energy products and services; manufacturing and selling petrochemical products; generating power; and developing and commercializing the energy resources of the future, including biofuels and other renewables. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com. Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production Ltd. has run business in Thailand for more than 45 years and maintained its standard on environment and safety. In 2007, Chevron operates more than 195 platforms that have a total average daily production of 138,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate (71,000 net) and 1.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas (916 million net). For more information, please visit www.chevronthailand.com .