ConocoPhillips Chief Urges Cooperation on Energy Policies

The sometimes adversarial relationship between the U.S. government and oil industry should become more collaborative to hammer out an energy policy, the head of Houston-based ConocoPhillips told business leaders Thursday.

“If we want to retain our world leadership, we must have sound energy policy that enhances our competitiveness and economic strength,” Chairman and CEO James Mulva, 61, said in a sharply worded speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.


The industry faces global tight supply, increasing demand and diminishing access to many resource-rich areas, he said.

Mulva noted that some recent congressional proposals would hike taxes on oil companies, remove some tax breaks or open the door to lawsuits against exporting countries that the U.S. relies upon for imports.

Houston Chronicle