ARCO LEADER ADMITS

2/9/99- Houston, Texas - ARCO Chairman Mike R. Bowlin says the world is entering "the last days of the Age of Oil: and urges the energy industry to pay more attention to alternative transportation fuels, including natural gas. Bowlin said natural gas and renewable fuels will play decisive roles in the energy mix or the future and that the "global demand for clean energy - natural gas, renewable, electricity and new energy technologies - will grow faster than overall demand for energy." To energy providers, he says, "Embrace the future and recognize the growing demand for a wide array of fuels, or ignore reality and slowly - but surely - be left behind." His statements echo those made last year by Texaco's leader.